Virginia Tech Shooting
In two separate shootings on a Virginia Tech Campus around 9am today, left as many as thirty one people are dead including the gunman. There were also many more injured and the authorities are looking into whether the gunman was killed by his own hand.
The scene was described as “mayhem” as students and police were running through campus, two students even climbed out of windows to get out of the shoot up.
The first reported shooting occurred at West Ambler Johnston Hall, a co-ed dormitory that houses 895 students. The second shooting was in a classroom.
What leads our children to kill each other. What are we doing as parents, or as a society to make children feel that taking revenge my not only killing themselves but other classmates, teachers, faculty and friends is the answer?
Is this the legacy of Columbine? Is it due to the increase of bullying or the availability to firearms in combination with lax parenting?
How can we save our children?
Any reasoning you give it, the answer is still the same, it is a terrible tragedy. It is the deadliest school shooting in US history.
All of the students and parents are in my prayers today, not only as a mother but as a human being.
Virginia Tech, school shootings, school gunman, school shooting, children, teens, college, parenting, parents
April 16th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
My problem is always the same after tragedies like this: How in the HELL do I talk about this with my child? How do I explain how this can happen?
April 16th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
Zoot, My kids are still young enough where they won’t knwo about this, but that will change very soon.
I don’t know how you explain any of the terrible things that happen in this world.
April 16th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
We need to take time to love on those that are not at the top of the social chain. We may never truly know the motive behind such horrific actions that the killer uses to justify his or her means. However when the downtrodden and socially uncool are are excepted I believe a major motive is removed.
http://www.hollywoodsquared.com/
April 16th, 2007 at 5:07 pm
Erinn, I still can’t wrap my head around this. As a parent it scares me absolutely to death. The sad fact is I don’t know if there IS a way to protect the children of this nation anymore.
April 16th, 2007 at 6:00 pm
I’m still considered a child at 15 but speaking as an experienced child in this generation I might be able to offer some help.
I think that all you can do is assure your kids they are O.K. and let them know it exists and ways to deal with it. ie. play dead if it happens at your school. Don’t shield the information from them. (unless they’re too young to understand of course)
I thank my mom she did that for me during the columbine shooting (I was 6) because since then there has been 9/11, the sniper attacks, and the shootings at Virginia Tech. I live in Northern VA, so those were all pretty close to home.
Anyway, please tell your kids if they are 5 or older. They’ll understand what you’re saying. But teach them to be appropriate about it and why it’s wrong. Kids will play games like “school shooter and the student”.
April 16th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
P.S. Sorry, that was a long comment. I know.
April 16th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
I found it interesting that students are turning to Facebook to console each other and gather information.
http://collegecandy.com/2007/04/16/grieving-vtech-students-and-families-turn-to-facebook-for-answers/
April 17th, 2007 at 11:18 am
Christiane, I appreciate a teenagers mindset and ideas for how to help them. Thank you.
bryjax, I didn’t know they were doing such a thing either.
April 17th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
[...] Tragedy April 17th, 2007 by Mark McKinnon This week there occurred a tragic event that has struck many people and caused shock, and pain, and has injected fear and worry into the community, the nation, and the world. The shooting at Virginia Tech is the worst mass murder on a college campus ever. It will reverberate for many years. Why? Why did this happen? There has been much said about mass murder and violence. Books have been written and cases have been studied but there are no easy answers. Some say it is a psychiatric problem, others say it is a problem of society and a symptom of it’s ills. There is no reason. It was senseless. It is my belief that Art can be a comfort in this time of sorrow. [...]
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