VA Tech Families Protest State Gun Law

[fultonCoShooter]

VA Tech Families Protest State Gun Law

By KRISTEN GELINEAU, AP Writer, January 21, 2008
http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Jan...rotest,00.html

RICHMOND, Va. — Survivors and families of the victims of the Virginia
Tech shootings faced off Monday against gun-rights advocates over a
bill that would prevent criminals and the mentally ill from buying firearms
at gun shows.

About 100 supporters of the measure lay on the Capitol lawn to honor
the victims of gun violence, as about 200 opponents stood nearby, holding
signs that read, "Here Lie Disarmed Victims."

At one point, Jeff Knox, director of operations of the Manassas-based
Firearms Coalition, approached survivor Colin Goddard and said students
could have stopped student Seung-Hui Cho's rampage if they had been
allowed to carry guns on campus.

"I would have stopped him," Knox said. "Because when I went to school,
I carried a gun. It was legal; I did it."

Goddard, a Virginia Tech senior who was shot four times in the April 16
massacre, was taken aback, then said: "I feel sorry for you _ the fact that
you feel you need to protect yourself in every situation.

"You're afraid of crazy situations happening. I've lived through this and I
know that I can't continue in my life afraid of things," he said, adding that
he put his "full trust" in the police to protect society.

Earlier Monday at a Senate committee hearing on the bill, supporters,
many wearing ribbons in Tech's colors of maroon and orange, outnumb-
ered opponents by about 3 to 1. The opponents sported buttons reading
"Guns Save Lives."

The legislation would require unlicensed sellers at gun shows to run
criminal background checks on buyers. Such checks now are required
only of federally licensed gun dealers. Cho, who killed 32 people at Tech
before committing suicide, passed a background check and bought one
gun from a store and a second online despite having been deemed
mentally defective by a Virginia court.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has since signed an executive order requiring
that anyone ordered by a court to get mental health treatment be added
to a state police database of people barred from buying guns. Gun-rights
advocates said the bill would burden law-abiding citizens and gun show
promoters. They also noted that Cho did not buy his weapon at a gun
show, but supporters said that doesn't matter.

The idea, they said, is to reduce the possibility of similar tragedies in the
future. "You can no longer say you have not been forewarned," said Joseph
Samaha, whose daughter Reema was among those killed. "By voting 'no'
you are doomed to relive history."

A committee vote on the measure will be Wednesday, the panel chairman
said.

[TheMan42]

Goddard, a Virginia Tech senior who was shot four times in the April 16
massacre, was taken aback, then said: "I feel sorry for you _ the fact that
you feel you need to protect yourself in every situation.

"You're afraid of crazy situations happening. I've lived through this and I
know that I can't continue in my life afraid of things," he said, adding that
he put his "full trust" in the police to protect society.

Victim or not, that quote pretty much sums up what a tool this guy is. Pretty pathetic its come to this now, again.

[sgt7546]

If only the Police were everywhere all the time.

[lildobe]

Cho, who killed 32 people at Tech before committing suicide, passed a background check and bought one gun from a store and a second online despite having been deemed mentally defective by a Virginia court.

Ok... so how would closing this so-called "loophole" have prevented the VT shootings?

Or am I missing something here?

[Gorgon]

Ok... so how would closing this so-called "loophole" have prevented the VT shootings?

Or am I missing something here?

This is common with the passage of ANY gun control measure. They always say "we know this new law wouldn't have prevented tragedy x but it's a good step towards common sense gun laws..."

BS as always to make everyone feel good.

[1blindref]

"You're afraid of crazy situations happening. I've lived through this and I
know that I can't continue in my life afraid of things," he said, adding that
he put his "full trust" in the police to protect society.

We saw how that worked out

You would think that someone who went through something like he did and lived, would want to be able to better protect himself in case he found himself in a similar situation.

Reminds me of a quote that I saw,
"I carry a gun because its easier than carrying a cop"

[KeithPA]

VA Tech Families Protest State Gun Law

By KRISTEN GELINEAU, AP Writer, January 21, 2008
http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Jan...rotest,00.html

RICHMOND, Va. — Survivors and families of the victims of the Virginia
Tech shootings faced off Monday against gun-rights advocates over a
bill that would prevent criminals and the mentally ill from buying firearms
at gun shows. So they can buy guns now? Nice biased/incorrect way to start an article

About 100 supporters of the measure lay on the Capitol lawn to honor
the victims of gun violence, as about 200 opponents stood nearby, holding
signs that read, "Here Lie Disarmed Victims."

At one point, Jeff Knox, director of operations of the Manassas-based
Firearms Coalition, approached survivor Colin Goddard and said students
could have stopped student Seung-Hui Cho's rampage if they had been
allowed to carry guns on campus.

"I would have stopped him," Knox said. "Because when I went to school,
I carried a gun. It was legal; I did it."

Goddard, a Virginia Tech senior who was shot four times in the April 16
massacre, was taken aback, then said: "I feel sorry for you _ the fact that
you feel you need to protect yourself in every situation.

"You're afraid of crazy situations happening. I've lived through this and I
know that I can't continue in my life afraid of things," he said, adding that
he put his "full trust" in the police to protect society. Must watch too much TV, as thats what the media portrays cops as "always the good guys and your only line of defense"

Earlier Monday at a Senate committee hearing on the bill, supporters,
many wearing ribbons in Tech's colors of maroon and orange, outnumb-
ered opponents by about 3 to 1. The opponents sported buttons reading
"Guns Save Lives."

The legislation would require unlicensed sellers at gun shows to run
criminal background checks on buyers. Such checks now are required
only of federally licensed gun dealers. Cho, who killed 32 people at Tech
before committing suicide, passed a background check and bought one
gun from a store and a second online despite having been deemed
mentally defective by a Virginia court. that makes no sense

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has since signed an executive order requiring
that anyone ordered by a court to get mental health treatment be added
to a state police database of people barred from buying guns. Gun-rights
advocates said the bill would burden law-abiding citizens and gun show
promoters. They also noted that Cho did not buy his weapon at a gun
show, but supporters said that doesn't matter.

The idea, they said, is to reduce the possibility of similar tragedies in the
future. "You can no longer say you have not been forewarned," said Joseph
Samaha, whose daughter Reema was among those killed. "By voting 'no'
you are doomed to relive history."

A committee vote on the measure will be Wednesday, the panel chairman
said.

I'm glad they at least concede this new bill wouldn't have stopped the VA Tech shooter.

[RocketFoot]

Someone explain to this toolbox that being afraid and prepared are two different things!

Goddard, a Virginia Tech senior who was shot four times in the April 16
massacre, was taken aback, then said: "I feel sorry for you _ the fact that
you feel you need to protect yourself in every situation.

"You're afraid of crazy situations happening. I've lived through this and I
know that I can't continue in my life afraid of things," he said, adding that
he put his "full trust" in the police to protect society.