Updated:At Least 33 Dead in Va. Tech Shooting

That e-mail talking about forgiveness is noble and is a great way to cope with the losses. We SHOULD have a forgiving heart like God intends. However, it is tough to believe the guy just "snapped". This was obviously planned out. He had several weapons, the first bought March 13, filed the serial numbers off, chained some doors shut ahead of time so students could not escape, killed a couple, went back to his room and reloaded and packed a backpack with knives and more ammo and proceded to do some more human hunting. He also wrote and left notes explaining his actions.

He wasn't instantly pushed to these actions by someone's words or actions, he planned it out and thought about it long enough to decide it was what he really wanted to do. It would be somewhat easier to forgive and feel sympathy if he was for instance a bus driver who lost his temper and crashed...but this was a cold, calculating killer who knew EXACTLY what he was doing. If he planned it out while on some bad medication or something, he's probably realize something's not right when he goes to do the shooting. This wasn't a plan thrown together in a single morning.
I don't really care what his motives were. He obviously had issues, and anyone who is out there enough to do something like this isn't reasonable.

I don't see what your rant is accomplishing, other than really saying the obvious. He killed a lot of people, and meant to do it. We know. I sympathize with everyone involved, including the killer. Whatever twisted ideals was going on in his head, it doesn't provide reason or excuse for his actions. This isn't a product of "propaganda". This isn't a result of gun control laws.

It's a tragedy, and should be reflected upon. I don't really know if there is much of anything to gain from this as a society.

Non-citizens of the United States have no protections under the Constitution and Bill of Rights, including the 1st and 2nd Amendments.

For better or worse, they actually do have protections under the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

For better or worse, they actually do have protections under the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Thanks to the ACLU and a lot of lawyers, yes they do...heck, even members of al Qaeda that are prisoners of war are being treated like citizens by some people...but they should not, morally OR legally according to our founding documents.

That's ridiculous. If TV and games had that much of an influence on society, these crimes would be commonplace, not a horrifying exception. Someone with a mental issue may be unable to distinguish reality from a virtual "killing", but you can't blame the game or TV show. I'm sure there have been psychotic people who have gotten a murder idea from a book before, so should be ban books too?

There is only one thing that made this kid do what he did, and it's mental illness... and I feel so very sorry for the victims.

If there are no objections, maybe we should hold off on the debates. I think there are some interesting issues (see the previous posts, including mine), but right now, maybe we should just pause since gun control laws etc. seem so irrelevant in light of the sheer tragedy of the situation.

charles manson blamed his killing spree on the beatles white album,and now folks are saying this kid got his need to kill from video games.i think either could have listened to roll roll roll your boat 24/7,and still become killers because they both have some type of mental disease or paranoid affliction.
our gun laws here are lax,maybe it is time they were changed some!

Thanks to the ACLU and a lot of lawyers, yes they do...heck, even members of al Qaeda that are prisoners of war are being treated like citizens by some people...but they should not, morally OR legally according to our founding documents.

I couldn't disagree more. I hate the ACLU and their ilk but at the same time anybody who is in this country should enjoy the protection of all our laws and rights equally. We are a country founded on fairness and equality. To apply our constitution to only the chosen within our own country is totally controvert to what we should be as a country. Now when it comes to persons outside the US fighting in a war against us or working against us in some threatening way I can live with having a different set of rules but once you're here though you should have the same rights.

Just to play devil's advocate, is there ever a time when it's time for a country to change what it's all about?

The world is changing every day, so why not the ideals of the country?

Just to play devil's advocate, is there ever a time when it's time for a country to change what it's all about?

The world is changing every day, so why not the ideals of the country?

Well it is very difficult for a country to change it's ideas. You have to first challenge the old thinking with a shock(the VT shooting) and then you have to consolidate new ideas. People may agree the old way needs to go out but if you cannot agree for new thinking change will not occur.

Change is a two step process, and that is why it rarely happens.

Very true.

On a side note, CNN has updated and posted some of the excerpts from the note he left, saying "You all made me do this."

Saying it was because of rich kids, debauchery, and deceitful charlatans. Excuse me, but did you expect you were going to a nunnery or COLLEGE?