30 Dead Thanks to Gun Control

April 16th, 2007 by Edmund Snyder · 5 Comments

The Commonwealth of Virginia is one of a small number of states that allows open carry. They also have concealed carry laws that allow permit holders to carry a hidden weapon. It’s funny to use the word allow when talking about an inalienable right, but that’s the insane world we live in. As pointed out here in a great article by Steve Olson, we have become a nation of frightened wimps. Because of this fear, there are still more than a few public places where firearms are banned–even in Virginia. Universities and other schools are among those places.

Because of the ban, there’s really nothing to stop a madman from walking into a dormitory or classroom and blowing 30 people away. If even a few people in the crowd were armed, there would be far fewer dead. First, the madman would be less likely to attempt his rampage in the first place, knowing that some of his intended victims would be more than happy to put a stop to his plans. Second, the armed public would put a stop to the carnage–greatly reducing the number of deaths if the psychopath were to attempt his plan anyway.

But, as Mr. Olson points out, we have become a nation of wimps. To wimps, guns are scary things. We can’t allow scary things around our children. Our children go to schools. Therefore, guns can’t be anywhere near schools.

Well, guess what, psycho mass murderers don’t care about such laws. They don’t care about our children. They usually just want the most bang for the buck, so defenseless college campuses make great killing fields. If we really wanted to protect our children and could bother to take the time to think instead of just reacting to emotions, we would demand that there were firearms in the hands of trained shooters in our most vulnerable places.

An interesting thing to note is that all concealed carry permit holders are trained shooters. They have to prove they have been through training or served in a military component before they can obtain the permit.

Just imagine the scenario if such things were allowed. Instead of the headline reading At least 31 dead in Va. Tech shooting rampage, it would read Classroom shooting at Va. Tech thwarted by armed Samaritan.

Wimpiness is deadly.

Tags: Ed's Articles · Political

5 responses so far ↓

1 Jodi // Apr 16, 2007 at 11:13 pm

I was looking for some blogs and so far read two.. first one claimed this was pre-mediated and not just a psycho but a set up.. then i read this.. my first thoughts were yesss if our rights to bear arms was considered more socially acceptable (less pda or other electronic gizmos on our persona and a weapon for protection instead) then less victims or less likely for such a terrible thing to occur as today’s massacre. Back to the first article I read, everytime an incident like this happens.. the anti-gun advocates get a gain of sorts, would they go as far as setting this up to happen for that gain? It’s all a very sad thing and a very sad day.
2 Ed Snyder // Apr 17, 2007 at 5:29 am

Jodi,

I’m not quite enough of a conspiracy nut to think this was planned by anti-gun nuts. But I definitely believe that the old saying about an armed society being a polite society is a true one.

The fact that so many young lives were extinguished for no reason, and that it could have easily been prevented, makes me angry. My anger is part of the reason I wrote this.

Another reason is that I go to a university (part time) in another city in Virginia. If this had happened at my college instead, there’s a chance that I would have been one of the victims while my sidearm (that could have ended it) sat at home because I’m not allowed to carry it at the college. People like myself who are well-trained to use our guns become sitting ducks in such settings.
3 doyle alawine // Apr 17, 2007 at 12:59 pm

thanks for telling it like it is
4 Ed Snyder // Apr 17, 2007 at 7:42 pm

Doyle,

Thanks for reading.
5 Michelle // Aug 28, 2007 at 12:54 pm

“At least 31 dead in Va. Tech shooting rampage, it would read Classroom shooting at Va. Tech thwarted by armed Samaritan”

Unfortunately, you would never see that headline even if it were true.