Shouldn't this tell us something? Wake up America.

I would very much like to know WHEN the handguns were purchased from this dealer and the timespan between the purchase and this sad incident.

Watching tonight's (4/17/07) broadcast from Brian Ross (in prime time) I failed to hear when the firearm was purchased. All that was mentioned was the relative 'ease' with which one can be bought in the state of Virginia.

I implore you, Brian, to please report the entire story regarding these purchases in a prime time broadcast (not GMA, Nightline, etc.).

Thank you.

I live in Kentucky, and yesterday (with no idea about the shootings) bought a pair of 9mm glocks at the same time with 300 rounds of ammo, and 4 extra magazines. The sale went just like the other 15 times I have bought a hand gun....fill out a form, show ID, get a 60 seconds background check and then walk out of the store with my 2 glocks and ammo. This is not uncommon at all. BTW I am a CCW license holder and I believe everyone should always carry a handgun to stop things like this from happening.

P.S. It is terrible what happened to those people at VA Tech. My condolences go out to their families. That loser had plenty of other options to deal with his options rather than do what he did.

what is being done about all this?????? the columbine shooting,
911??????? and now this Virgina Tech shooting???????? how many more people have to be killed??? until there going to tighten up on secruity??????
this world is heading for world hate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If America made gun ownership illegal like most other developed countries, it would save thousands of lives every year.

How can pro-gun supporters live with themselves?

My brother has six Chevy dealerships. There have been many cars and trucks sold at his dealerships over the years that have been involved in accidents that have resulted in deaths.

Should we close him down?
Maybe we should ban Chevrolets?

You know, now that I think about it, if we didn't have jet airliners, the Arabs could not have flown them into the twin towers. Maybe we should ban jet airliners?

How many deaths does the national Safety Counsel attribute to firearms every year? Did you know they rank BEHIND the following in order of the numbers of deaths caused: 1) Motor vehicles 2) Falls 3) Poisoning 4) Drowning 5) Choaking 6) Fires/burns ?

Hey!!! If you really want to save lives like you gun banners claim, why don't you do something about those first six leading causes of accidental death?

And while you are at it, why not do something really swell like ban cancer? You'll be about as effective banning it as you will banning firearms.

Rosa: it is definitely time for you to "head back home," wherever that may be.

Then Howard says "If America made gun ownership illegal like most other developed countries, it would save thousands of lives every year."

But Howard apparently does not see the news that criminals are running amok in the UK and Australia, since their governments confiscated firearms, and sometimes knives, from the law-abiding, leaving a risk-free work environment for crooks.

We have had gun control laws in the USA only since the 1960s, and in that period of time, the criminal use of firearms has increased exponentially.

It's pretty obvious that at the very least "gun control" does not work, and entirely possible that "gun control" has exacerbated the crime & violence here.

LOL! So people who are against weapons are liberal?!

I'm happy to live in a part of the world were its impossible to buy a gun in 15 minutes. Its also not possible in an hour. You know what? There are no gunshops at all! And you know also what? We don't have those massacres! We don't have so many murders! We don't have...

For sure there is crime here. But also for sure only a criminal carries a gun.

Its a shame it never appeared to you there is a relation between guns and killings. Luckly people here in Europe understand that better.

If 1/4 the population carried Glock 9's, concealed and with special permits for an elite safety force, we would protect our citizens and not wait for an over extended police force to respond. If you're not part of elite and you have no permit, you go to jail. Clean out the gun, drug infested communities. Only those with an outstanding past would be considered. For example President Bush - NO.

I was sick listening to GW talk to the student when he's started the biggest blood bath in History.

Thanks for making everyones point Joid. Only the criminals have guns in your country. That is precicely what happened at VT. I don't trust my safety to anyone but myself.

I would rather be beaten up and robbed, than shot down and THEN robbed, because the criminal had a reason to assume that i might carry a gun - up-gunning only intensifies the violence and the career-criminals will be at least one step ahead (of even the police sometimes).

It is true that for at determined person it is posible to kill with all kinds of items, blunt instruments, knives, cars, etc. but a 32-casualty massacre WOULD NOT have been the case if Cho Seung-hui had been running around with a baseball-bat, restricted from more effective weapons by a responsible law.

ABC News is extremely anti-gun and it shows. "Roanoke Firearms ... has a history of selling guns which have ended up being involved in murders." - what an inflammatory sentence. They continue: "John Markell, the owner of the gun shop, told ABC News it is the fifth time a gun sold in his store has been used in a homicide."

What ABC News carefully neglects to tell you is that other reports say that this store has sold 160,000 guns over the last few years, so 5 homicide guns is a very small number, compared to the large number that are being used safely and legally for self-protection.

Virginia Tech had created a "gun-free" zone full of unarmed victims. From Wikipedia:
--Begin quote--
Virginia Tech has a policy forbidding unauthorized possession or storage of firearms on campus, even by state licensed concealed weapons permit holders. This policy has been challenged in recent years. In April of 2005, a student licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia to carry concealed weapons was discovered possessing a concealed firearm in class. While no criminal charges were filed, it is unknown what disciplinary action was taken by the school for violating Tech policy due to student confidentiality. University spokesman Larry Hincker, in response to challenges over the authority of the university to enforce such a policy, said "We think we have the right to adhere to and enforce that policy because, in the end, we think it's a common-sense policy for the protection of students, staff and faculty as well as guests and visitors."[122]

Virginia bill HB 1572, intended to prohibit public universities from making "rules or regulations limiting or abridging the ability of a student who possesses a valid concealed handgun permit … from lawfully carrying a concealed handgun" was introduced into the Virginia House of Representatives by delegate Todd Gilbert. The university opposed the bill, which died in subcommittee in January of 2006. Spokesman Larry Hincker responded "I'm sure the university community is appreciative of the General Assembly's actions because this will help parents, students, faculty and visitors feel safe on our campus."[123]
--End quote-

I wonder how safe Mr. Larry Hincker FEELS now. Virginia Tech guaranteed a safe working environment for the gunman who was able to murder 32 unarmed and defenseless victims.

No Carlton, you make a mistake. This murderer is a boy with who commited this because he was lovesick. He was in a bad mood. And he could purchase a gun.
And thats exactly why there are 30+ people dead. Because he could simply purchase a gun!

A criminal is someone who acts to get any benefit out of it. This murderer didn't act because of that. So he's not a criminal.

Yeah Bruce, reading and thinking aint easy.

I forgive you.

I have watched the news surrounding this incident, and before I say anything, I want to say that the families of the victims, including the shooter, have my condolences, and I hope you all find a way to move on with your lives. It may not mean much, but it is from my heart.

Gun ownership in the United States is protected under the US constitution. Every American has the right to bear arms, this is one of the fundemental rigths that makes this country so free. When I hear or read of people that want guns banned in the US, tighter gun control laws, so on and so on, I ask the same thing every time. "What if a gun is used to save your life one day? Then will you be so opposed to guns?" I know the answers, and I think most would say "no, I think I would be thankful that my neighbor, co-worker, random guy on the street had one at the time". Others would stand thier ground and say "well, if guns were under more control, then a gun would not be needed to save my life". Folks, guns dont kill people, people kill people. I own several handguns, even a Glock 9, two of them, does that make me a killer? No, these guns are for two purposes. Protection, which I have used one for, three times, firing once and yes, killing a man. Recreation. Yeah, recreation, I take them to the gun range, squeeze of a few rounds and then clean them, put them away. It took me more than 7 months to get a gun permit, and I have to say that I think it is absolutely insane the process an American Citizen must go through to get permission from the local Sherriffs office to excercise my right as an American. God forbid I need a gun when someone breaks into my home and I have to protect myself against a gun wielding thug with a golf club, baseball bat or super soaker, cause without a permit, I am in just as much trouble as that thug.

The point I am trying to make is this. Get off your high horse when it comes to guns, not everyone that owns one is a killer and just because you dont believe in guns, does not mean that I should have to jump through hoops to own one.

You folks from the U.K and Austrailia. As much as I respect the laws of other countries, it is not your place to be blog spot critics of other countries laws. It is not your place to talk about Columbine, nor 9/11 and American policy regarding how our citizens arm themselves.

I may sound rude, or even insensitive, but this is my country and it is my place to critique it, not yours.

Joe,
The problem is not the average guy. The problem is that insane people, like Mr. Cho, have easy access to guns. The only way to keep everybody safe is to eliminate the right to bear arms. Just because it's in the Constitution does not make it biblical. We've amended that document before, and we can do it again.

Is your right to go to the shooting range for kicks more important than the right those 32 kids had to live out their natural lives?

If guns makes (any) place safer then answer me this:
Why is it that every single western country has a lower homicide rate than the US.?

@ Jazz,

Since nobody can't buy a gun here in 15 minutes the chances that some brokenhearted person who has had a bad day kills my mom are very small. Call it zero.

Of course he commited a crime. But would he have done it when he couldn't buy a gun that easy? You have pro-criminal laws there as long as you allow people to buy guns. Its that simple.

But whatever, go ahead and continue playing with your guns. I'm happy that I'm not an US citizen.