Thursday, April 19, 2007

Virginia Murders

My 16 year old granddaughter wrote a blog about her feelings on the Virginia Tech murders and she said something that touched me deeply. She said that, in the end, no matter the murderer's mental state, he was the one responsible for his actions. He was the one ultimately responsible for making the choice to take the lives of so many innocent people.

There were also many people on the periphery who share in the responsibility in some form. His parents should have been aware that he should be under care, either their's or some psychiatric facility.

The school authorities knew he was a danger to himself and others but did precious little to protect the other students...they didn't even notify them that a dangerous gunman was on the loose at the school until 2 hours after the first killing.

Whoever sold him the gun and ammunition, even legally, participated in the slaughter. The United States government which refuses to practice a strict form of gun control is also mightily responsible.

His tormentors prodded a sick human being, making him even more unstable. They also carry the burden of responsiblity. "Bullying" occurs at all ages and causes untold misery, sometimes death.

But when all the dust settles, Cho made the choice to murder. For whatever reason, he decided that by killing innocent people, he would relieve the hell he was in. He acted in a cruel, cowardly way and that's how he'll be remembered.

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