Virginia Tech as a Political Platform

[eXo]

No doubt it's going to start, if it hasn't already. People are going to start using the Virginia Tech massacre as a political jumping point for all kinds of issues. There's going to be a racial issue, small or not. There's going to be gun-control thrust at us. There's going to be all kinds of stuff flying around, and this is going to be less about the tragedy than it's going to be about how politicians can spin it for a better campaign approach.

So do you think it's about gun-control, racial violence, or anything like that, or is this just a clear-cut example of a twisted person doing an awful thing? More than that, do you think it's okay to use it as a spurring point for such issues ( gun control, mostly ) or should it be left the terrible occurrence that it is?

[Obsidian Tides]

in this case, most of the problem seems related to how disturbed the individual was, but as with any event like this, people will want to see some changes. still, it'd be best if it was left alone, but i'm sure it will at least be mentioned and related back to politics in some way. i believe it is now the new worst school shooting, and that's hard to ignore.

[The Dude]

Maybe racial violence, but probably not so much on Gun Control seeing as how both sides are in favor of tougher gun laws. They'll make speeches about it no doubt but they'll in essence be the same speech said by two different people.

As for racial violence, maybe. South Koreans are worried but the only people really spouting hatred are just some ignorant idiots calling out that "they're just mad because their women are being taken by white boys with asian fetishes." As for the more rational minded individuals. The only real issues are college safety, mental health and selling guns. Plus one of the 33 that was killed was asian and the only real racial problem so far was a case of mistaken identity where one guy was a gun collector and happened to be asian and that was about it really.

[Ragnarok]

Well the Asian community is pretty emabrassed about this regardless if they are South Korean or not. I'd think this will be a politically platform for polticians to address the predicament of America's mental institutions. The shooter obviously had some mental problems but his case was never followed. You can simply admit someone to a mental hospital but they can walk out whenever they want. If they just followed his case this tradgedy might have been averted.

[Ex Deo]

It should take never incidences like this to spur politicians to take action, but at the same time, often it takes extreme cases to get the public interested in making changes. Hopefully this tragedy isn't abused for political gain, though I doubt that it'll be left alone.

As for gun control, I can't say whether I'm for ultra-strict policies or not. In any case, the problem isn't the existence or availability of guns but something much deeper and more difficult to eradicate- our innately violent and malicious tendencies as human beings.

[Samic]

I don't think this should spurt better gun control policies. He used a 9mm glock and a .22 pistol. It may be easy enough for people to get these guns but regardless of how hard we make it some people are going to find ways to get them if they are determined enough. And, if we make it really hard to get a gun like that they will go black market, and who knows what kind of gun he may have found if he ahd to get guns illegally.

As far as racial issues, I haven't heard anything about that. I just know he was mentally disturbed. I think this was an isolated incident of a crazy kid.