30 Confirmed Dead in Tragic Virginia Tech Shooting. Could this have been prevented?

Question

At least 30 people are dead in what may be the biggest mass shooting in American history — and the death toll may rise.



At least 17 injured students were admitted to local hospitals.



Police at Virginia Tech, in Blacksburg, Va., said that the shootings happened at a dormitory and a classroom on opposite sides of the university campus.



Law enforcement sources tell ABC News the shooting may have been set off by an off-campus incident. Details were unclear.



Developing Story From ABC



Could this tragedy have been adverted?

Answer 1

If the other students and professors had been carrying firearms as is their right and I would argue civic duty, only one or two would have gotten shot. Thanks to the liberal hippies, our right to defend ourselves is in danger.

Answer 2

No, I don't think this could have been avoided, no more than 9/11. Families with ******** cannot keep their eyes on their ******** 24/7, but do all they can and more ti be sure they are safe. Some things just can't be imagined before it happens. I know the head of security (MAY *** BLESS HIM AND HIS STAFF) is so devestated. I know they, as all schools, bussinesses, etc,. have emergency plans in place. When an incident actually happens, we go to our plan of action . I just know that the staff and campus police did what they thought were right in thinking the first two were the only ones. No one could imagine that more was to come. My prayers go out to all. This includes all involved, students, friends, family, staff, emergency personnel, we are all effected by this tragedy. I haven't heard anything about the family of the gunmen. My prayers are with them too. They lost their ***** also, and have to live with what he did and horribly he effected so many lives. No one wants to believe their ***** could do something like this. All I can do is pray for all of you, and pray I will do. *** be with you all. Fran Crowe Jasper, Ga. 30143

Answer 3

There is no way for the administration of a school with a hundred or more buildings and 25,000 students to prevent something like this. I know they are taking heat for not closing the whole university after two were killed in a dorm, but honestly they would have to have been psysic to even consider it was more than a domestic issue.

Answer 4

I graduated from Tech in 1994 and lived in West Ambler Johnston for 3 years. In my opinion, there is no way to notify all students at 7am in the morning, as most are asleep or on their way to classes and do not check e-mails. This is a complete and utter tragedy and shock to me but I feel as though the police and the school did everything they possibly could under the circumstances. Who could have forseen that someone would do something so horrible? Definitely not me and not the police, they are human too! The police can only do so much with the information they have. It is not as if they know what an individual will do before they do it. If that were the case then there would be no crime. If it could have been prevented, it is more of a gun policy issue (in my opinion) than it is a security issue of the school. Guns are far too accessible at gun shows and other events than they should be. When I went to Tech I always felt safe and the school had security measures in place for all dorms. It is very upsetting and my heart goes out to all the families and friends of the students and faculty who were lost. I pray that those who witnessed the horror can get through this time and find peace within themselves to get through this. I am deeply saddened by it all. Tech was and is a great school and I hope that this horrible event will not keep new students from deciding to attend in the future.

Answer 5

I think you are right, Katherine. How dreadful for this to happen there. I've been to the campus on a few occasions. It is beautiful, the people are very friendly and graceful, and it does, indeed, feel very secure.

Answer 6

I completely agree going to another big school myself I know that I would not have turned on my TV or checked my university e-mail. I would have gotten out of bed realized I was late for whatever I had to do and ran to where I needed to be. The administration did what they could do at the time. However could it be avoided or not, who is to blame does any of that matter at this point... I personally don’t think so. We as a country need to stop pointing fingers and throwing blame and just be strong and helpful to all in need right now. My condolences to all who have lost someone in this immense tragedy.

Answer 7

Yes and no. It could only have been prevented by individual action...not by relying on the administration. That's the folly of today's mindset...people think a few more laws, a little more government will solve such problems.

Answer 8

VA Tech is not the size of a high school or a local community college. It is a huge university. The size of a small city. You can't just order a lock down because of what had appeared to be an isolated incident. There are students all over the place. How would you inform them all? Also, what's the chance that you will lock-in the shooter? Tragedies happen. We always want to put the blame on someone. How about putting the blame on the shooter? It's sad and unimaginable just like many other mass shootings in the past. We should be focusing our emotions and energy to supporting the students and families involved and affected by this tragedy. Pray for them all.

Answer 9

Good comment. I think it's more important to find out why these shootings are happening and go at the root cause then going crazy with security.

Answer 10

if the dumbasses that made the decision for classes to carry on and that it was not that big of a deal when the first shooting happended would have evacuated the school..or put some kind of effort into getting the students to safety then the second shooting probably could have been prevented or atleast not as many deaths. The moment the first bomb threat happened the school should have been put on some kind of alert or probably even cancelled until they found out more information on what was going on...bomb threats are no joke and there was no action taken when the school was threatened. There should have been a **** of alot more security on the campus and they should have been checking everyone that stepped foot on that campus...its no opinion..it is a fact that it could have been prevented and the dumbasses in charge of the school and the police failed to do anything about the threats or the first shooting. With all the attacks thats going on in america over the last several years..there needs to be more security at schools and other certain places...and the people at this campus failed to do so...did not care enough to do so..they should all be fired and then thrown in jail. And as far as getting guns out of society..thats just stupid..if people didnt have guns there would ...

if the dumbasses that made the decision for classes to carry on and that it was not that big of a deal when the first shooting happended would have evacuated the school..or put some kind of effort into getting the students to safety then the second shooting probably could have been prevented or atleast not as many deaths. The moment the first bomb threat happened the school should have been put on some kind of alert or probably even cancelled until they found out more information on what was going on...bomb threats are no joke and there was no action taken when the school was threatened. There should have been a **** of alot more security on the campus and they should have been checking everyone that stepped foot on that campus...its no opinion..it is a fact that it could have been prevented and the dumbasses in charge of the school and the police failed to do anything about the threats or the first shooting. With all the attacks thats going on in america over the last several years..there needs to be more security at schools and other certain places...and the people at this campus failed to do so...did not care enough to do so..they should all be fired and then thrown in jail. And as far as getting guns out of society..thats just stupid..if people didnt have guns there would be no means of protection because the police and other law enforcement officials are apparently unable to protect people..you can say take the guns out of society all you want..but dumbasses would still be able to get their hands on guns one way or another...use your heads people...taking guns out of society isnt gonna do anything..most of the guns used for this reason are probably stolen or hot, not registered or something...the NRA has nothing to do with these murders..dont blame them...GUNS DONT KILL PEOPLE..PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE!!...i almost forgot..there was also a shooting at Virginia Tech not to long ago where two men were killed...what does it take for the campus officials to get some serious security there?..if they would have locked down the campus after the first shooting immediately then the shooter wouldnt have had 2 hours to get into the other building..he never would have been able to get into the building and about 30 lives or so could have been saved..their bullshit excuse about thinking it was just a domestic disupute isnt going to cut it.

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Answer 11

That is a very compelling argument. If you are right, then the university police do bear responsibility.

Answer 12

The law is stupid!
Cops are stupid!
Get guns out of society!
The NRA has run out of excuses!
I am,
George Vreeland Hill

Answer 13

I think they should of called schooled off after the frist shooting happend they should of had the school on a lock down they had enough time to call for a lockdown and had all the roads to the school close telling everyone to go back home yes I think they could of prevented all them Dead's

Answer 14

if virginia tech didnt take steps to frown on or try to outlaw a students right to bear arms on campus,this ******* would have been stopped alot sooner,evading as much damage as was done.just maybe even ,he wouldnt have had the ***** to carry out such a violent act had he know that there was a possibility that students might be armed. i definitely do not believe that more law enforcement is the answer.law enforcement and gun control cannot prevent anyone ****-bent on a homicidal and suicidal mission.

Answer 15

The University leadership failed to implement proper emergency procedures after the early morning murder of two students at the freshman dorm. The university leadership decided the first shooting was an isolated incident and chose to allow classes to proceed as scheduled. In fact, they failed to even notify students and faculty of a gunman being on the campus. Two hours later the second attack occurred and 30 additional students were murdered. The entire University leadership involved in the decision making of 4-16-2007 should be fired. They are a disgrace to education and safety. How dare they insist on students being helpless and then fail to act responsibly in providing for their safety. The campus police force appears to be useful only for writing tickets and making sure no students bring pocket knives onto campus. They played no role whatsoever in this attack. They were utterly useless and impotent!

Answer 16

It is too early to tell.

Answer 17

From what I've heard, response to the initial report was slow and incomplete. I would hope that a tragedy of this magnitude can be prevented in the future.

Answer 18

hindsight is 20/20

Answer 19

Then lets not ****** that the police weren't doing all they could do.
If you lock down the campus you leave the quad open for him to go out
in a blaze of glory ala Texas. Doors locked, kids comming in from their
apartments without the knowledge and nowhere to go. This is a campus
that is larger than the town I live in.

Answer 20

I TOTALLY agree with Bdiddy. Two deaths and the unknown whereabouts of the shooter was more than enough reason to notify students and faculty and shut things down. As Bdiddy said, "********" it was over was foolish, especially in today's world. Too many more lives were lost as a result. If you don't know WHERE the enemy is, how can you ****** he's gone?

Answer 21

If the university had a locked down policy in place this could have been prevented

Answer 22

A killer isnt a killer till he kills. And no one knows their going to do it, till that very second. So saying that there was some way to prevent this like saying there is a way to predict the future.

Answer 23

I have a feeling if they had locked down the campus until they found the guy it would not have happened this way.

Answer 24

With the number of shootings in schools where people have dorms or live nearby and can keep things that they don't want people to find in their own space, have metal detectors!

Answer 25

The right to bear arms is yours and my constitutional right. So to say it would not have happened if guns were illegal is naive. Guns don't kill people. People kill people. Blaming guns for killing people is like blaming your #2 pencil on a misspelled word. To the point, it could not have been prevented, unless he had mentioned it to someone beforehand. It's a terrible thing that people could take other people's lives, but don't ****** that since guns are legal, that everyone is a threat to every other person. People are cruel. People are unpredictable. The tragedy could have been lessened, but not completely prevented.

Answer 26

This couldnt have been stopped once it started but if guns were illegal this wouldnt have happend

Answer 27

Times and attitudes change from generation to generation. In the 1970's when I attended college I believe students would have rushed the gunman rather than just covering up. That is the ones that were not stoned at the time.

Answer 28

PEOPLE ARE CRAZY... U NEVER KNOW WHEN OR WHO IS GONNA LOSE IT..

Answer 29

I have this wonderful invention for preventing this from happening, the
time machine... lets go back since we now know what his plan was and
stop him.

Answer 30

So many mistakes where made in handling of this madman, maybe if something had been done earlier then we would not be a nation in morning.

Answer 31

The University Administration and Police ******* that they killer shot 2 and left campus.

There's a cliche that that says:

"*********** make ***** of you and me".

There should have been no *********** made, the campus should have been shut down ASAP.

They knew that 2 people were dead. Isn't that enough to take steps to ensure the safety of everyone else on campus?!?

The Tactic that Police Departments across the nation have adopted since Columbine is to immediately eliminate the threat.

They ******* the killer was long gone and 31 ADDITIONAL kids are dead and 17 more have serious injuries.

University Police Departments across the nation share Tech's reputation for being little more than babysitters with little authority and even less initiative.

My prayers go out to everyone who has a connection to the University.

Let's not ****** that Steger and the rest of those clowns have learned their lesson. They need to go.

Answer 32

Could have? if Charlie Chan had been taking his meds? if the admin noticed a little bit of a problem with his gruesome english essays? if the overweight donut dunkin security force had a little common sense? I would say yes then. VT will never be the same after this. I am totally sickened by it. You know, I could see maybe if my son or daughter gave their life in the military. They are in harms way and I live with that everyday. A college campus? I would like to put a rope around the parents neck for bringing such a POS into this World!

Answer 33

I don't think anyone saw it coming...

Perhaps something could have be done to prevent the number of casualties but i don't think anything can prevent it

Answer 34

I dont beleive there was anything that could be done to avoid this. Anyone who is capable of taking 30+ innocent lives is so far gone mentally that it would have been impossible in the short time that the university had to get one step ahead of him to try and prevent him from doing what he did.

Answer 35

Charlie Chan most likely went to school for free since he was a foreigner! He was livin the american dream! Let em all in and *** help us!

Answer 36

While I agree with your statement about the illegal aliens, this
peticular one was the son of well to do dry cleaners, so he wasn't
going on our dime.

Answer 37

im not sure what the collage could have done exceopt let the students know a head of time but i want to tell all of blacksburg and va tech that my prays stay with them through this time of tragady and that we will keep them in our thoughts and the victims will never be forgotten

Answer 38

I notice that maybe you need to take basic spelling?

Answer 39

Sadly in this case, it may have been prevented...

"I'm pretty outraged that someone died in a shooting in a dorm at 7 O'clock in the morning and the first e-mail about it had no mention of locking down the campus, no mention of canceling classes," Jason Piatt told CNN. "They just mentioned that they were investigating a shooting," he said.

source

"That's pretty ridiculous. Meanwhile, while they sent out that e-mail, 21 people got killed."