Remembering Virginia Tech

Two years ago today a pathetic coward killed 32 people on the campus of Virginia Tech.  The shooter, whose name isn’t even worth repeating, killed himself after a two hour rampage that became the deadliest shooting incident by a single gunman in U.S. history.

The killing spree gripped the nation, sparked a multitude of policy debates, and was mourned by millions.  Five faculty members and 27 students were killed.  Many others were wounded by gunshots or trying to escape.

Acts of heroism were reported after the attack.  Professors and students fought for their lives in rooms all over Norris Hall.  Doors were barricaded, hidden offices were located, and second-floor windows were opened for victims to jump from.  Some of the people holding doors shut were shot and killed.  Some of the leaders hiding students were shot.  Some of the jumpers were badly injured.  Multiple survivors reported brave, final actions by wounded students that allowed others time to escape.

As someone who works at a college, I find it impossible to really believe this could happen anywhere, but that’s how everybody thinks.  In the Virginia Tech massacre, the shooter simply entered classrooms, shot the teacher, and then opened fire on seemingly random students.  Like most campuses around the country, Va Tech is a weapons free zone, so no one was able to defend themselves.  By the time police arrived, the murderous monster was ready to shoot himself in the head, something he should have done weeks earlier.