My thoughts and prayers go out to all the students and families of the victims of this horrible tragedy.

Senseless .. simply senseless. Campuses and kitchen tables around the country are surely feeling the shock waves. We grieve for those lost and their loved ones and the whole campus community. It won't be the same anytime soon.

An awful tragedy for so many and so very sad! :(

A tragedy for Virginia and Va. Beach. So many friends have children and grandchildren that attend. We've been in shock and tearful since the news. My grandaughter leaves every morning for classes at a local college and now to worry for her safety. :mecry:

Such a tragic, horrifying, sad, and senseless massacre of innocent lives.

Our heartfelt prayers are with the families and friends of the victims.

I lived up the road (Roanoke) from VA Tech for about 15 years. Many of my children's friends attended there. This is beyond my comprehension. I'm thinking and praying for all of them.

What a tragedy. It's so hard to understand what provokes these things - I can't imagine what makes someone take the lives of others and then their own - incredible anger or hurt, I guess. If only we could prevent this.

Really really sad and horrible. Many of our kids friends went to Tech, and of course from No. Virginia, there are many every year.

I just finished reading Jodi Picoult's latest book "Nineteen minutes" which is about a school shooting - she writes some pretty thought provoking books - and Margo, as you said, the person in this book had incredible anger, hurt, sadness that had built up from childhood.

Thoughts and prayers to all those affected, and the families that are now grieving.

JoAnn...I think I'll get the Picoult book - sounds like appropriate reading at a time like this.

Well its heavy, I at least had to read it in segments. I have actually read three or four of her books and they are all like that. My daughter convinced me to read "My Sister's Keeper" and then I read "Vanishing Acts", "Plain Truth" and "Tenth Circle" (which I actually didn't like, or maybe didn't really understand), but all of her books are very thought provoking and usually have totally unexpected endings.

Very graphic and chilling photos and story on MSNBC

MSNBC

How very, very senseless and sad. You are right Denise. Very chilling. What on earth could cause a person to have so much hatred... I can't even fathom it.

All the warning signs were there for some time according to those who "knew" him.

Such a deeply troubled and angry young man who crossed the sanity line in such a horrifying way. It makes you wonder what, if any, abuses he suffered growing up. Does not excuse the actions, but would explain some of the reasons his personality was the way it was.

As you say Denise, all the signs were there. Sorry, but based on the details that are surfacing the only thing he was missing was a neon sign that said he was about to explode! Teachers and students had reported him to the higher ups but nothing was done.

Exactly! Everyone knew, everyone reported yet no one did anything to get this young man the help he so desperately needed. I wonder about his parents. Were their heads buried in the sand?

From what I read, nothing could be done leagally. One instructor started tutoring him seperately as she didn't want him around the other students and the administration had told her that is all they could do. Sad. But how do you legislate for something that might happen?

From personal experience I can tell you, once your child turns 18 and goes off to college, a parent is entitled to no information unless the child gives permission. They are considered legal adults and the privacy laws kick in. Back in the dark ages when I was in school, it was age 21. Returning to that law is the only one that I could see helping in this type of situation and many others.

A real problem, Arlene, from what I have been reading/watching - the poetry prof knew he was BIG trouble - but her hands were tied too - privacy rights vs imminent danger??

So true Betty!!!! I remember when we were waiting to hear which colleges had accepted/rejected one of the kids - they told me they could only tell him that info as he was 18 - and I was paying!!!! <img border="0" alt="[bang]" title="" src="graemlins/banghead.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[bang]" title="" src="graemlins/banghead.gif" />

I would be willing to wager that his anti-social behavior and anger issues went way back to childhood and it continued to grow until he exploded.

David's was a medical problem - mono. I couldn't find out if he needed to drop out of school. Should we come get him, etc. It was 5 weeks into the semester, and I also wanted to know if we would be able to recoup any of the out-of-state tuition. And talk to the doctor - no way! I've wanted that age limit changed ever since that happened.

I'm with you Betty. My son is 18 now and in a local college. I called trying to find out what was going on with him and his classes (he had dropped two classes his first semester) and I got a stonewall. Like Joanna said, even though I'm paying. Heck we can't even get a copy of his report card anymore!!! I remember when I was in school, it went home to my parents.

The majority of the 18 yr olds going off to college for the first time, are still not fully prepared for the emotional changes of being away and being 100% responsible for themselves, yet we expect them to be.

Am I the only one that is totally disgusted with the media going overboard, showing this killer's face and rants non stop since last night? Just now I turned on the TV and some cable "news" outlet is conducting a "tour" of the killer's dorm ! They are calling the segment " the killer's lair"!

I think this is a new low. Next thing we'll probably see the killer's family being interviewed in Larry King.

Maria, it is a new low. Who else will be further inspired to attempt a copycat massacre after seeing all the publicity this killer is getting? The argument that it will just turn up on YouTube so NBC may as well air it doesn't fly. We don't need to feed society every salacious detail IMHO.

There was an interesting interview with Sen. Kerry on ??? program last night. He went back to the core problem .. those in our world who simply do not have a large enough stake in society to value their own life, let alone others.

From personal experience, the school took what limited steps they can take in this situation. Without the student's cooperation, though, they cannot force him into treatment. Even if the school had grounds that would stick and expelled the student, there's no practical way to keep the offender off campus.

As a sidebar, the implementation of the HIPAA legislation is not only problematic when it comes to college kids' health issues, but also where elderly parents are concerned. It is so sad to see missed care opportunities. How many folks sign the forms without reading them, let alone think about whether they want a back-up in case they are not able to adequately address their own medical situation?

The media's blitz is not only disgusting, it's downright obscene. As long as people are hungry for each and every sordid detail, the media will continue to feed that hunger.

I'd like to know how someone who has been declared mentally ill and suicidal can legally buy a gun? Apparently if you haven't already committed a felony it's OK.

I completely agree that the media coverage is obscene. While this was a horrible tragedy, there are other important news stories in the world. Sad to say but this will be forgotten by the media as soon as the next sensational story (Anna Nicole overload anyone?) surfaces.

The only real recourse we have with the media is to turn it off!

If we all refuse to watch this stuff they won't keep boradcasting it - We haven't had the TV on at all this morning - can't stand the constant coverage!

The US Constitution guarantees a free press, not a responsible one. Our forefathers knew what they were doing. If you're unhappy with coverage the best way of showing that disapproval is to turn it off. The networks will notice.

Having said that, I don't believe coverage of this story has been disgusting and obscene, although elements of what Cho did were disgusting and obscene. One of the responsibilities of television in a time of tragedy is to hold the hand of a grieving nation and I think we did that pretty well.

You won't see much more of the Cho pictures. I think they were important at first to show people just how mentally ill he was. Everyone who chose the air them was well aware of the need not to glamorize his actions.

It is much better to err on the side of making information available to the public than trying to withhold it because we think you shouldn't see it.

As to Lauri's question about why he was able to buy, not one but, two guns, Virginia law only denies gun purchases to those who have been involuntarily committed to an in-patient mental institution. This was not the case with Cho. So as far as Virginia was concerned he could by guns.

There is also federal law which trumps state law. Under federal law, Cho might not have been able to purchase guns. But Virginia would have had to report Cho's mental condition to the federal data base. It did not because Virginia does not participate in the federal data base.

The Supreme Court ruled, when it struck down parts of the Brady Bill, that requiring states to submit this type of information to the federal government amounts to an unfunded mandate. Since no money is provided for the states to comply, they don't have to comply. Virginia doesn't.

Perhaps some gun laws will change but I'd bet they won't. As we have seen, it is very difficult to restrict gun sales in a country that has the right to bear arms written into its Constitution. Thanks. Tom.

Margo, that is exactly what we do. Keep the TV off! In fact, we watch very little TV news. Since the advent of 24-hour news channels, it seems they are desperate for something to put on the air and milk every tragedy or even semi-newsworthy event for every drop of information.

I used to be addicted to TV and news. One of the things I discovered on our 42-day cruise last year when I didn't have as much access or time to watch, the news basically stays the same, just the name and locations change. I could go for a week or two without much news, turn it back on and it was the same car chases, bombings, child molestations - just places and names changed.

It's pollution of the worst kind. Alan believes we should write the advertisers saying we won't buy their products as long as they support such shows. Of course that means we have to watch them to find out who the advertisers are. Too much trouble for me. I'll just keep the TV turned to our cable music stations and enjoy my un-polluted life.

Tom,
That's very interesting and more than a little disturbing about Virginia gun laws.

While we have the constitutional right to bear arms, I have a hard time believing our founding fathers meant for mentally ill individuals to have the right to buy assault weapons.

In this case, unfortunately some judge did not take seriously the diagnosis that Cho was an "imminent danger to self and others" and let him have treatment as outpatient( I think that didn't last long, he was not followed-up). That did not appear in any official record when they checked his background for the gun permit.

Seems to me a lot of people were not doing their jobs.

Tom in this case I must respectfully disagree. And it's not to muzzle the press.

As long as we continue to sensationalize the killers over and over in the news, we glorify them in their minds eye. For someone who's life has little meaning, it gives them the recognition in death that they lacked in life.

When we stop giving them the airtime they seek (whether in life or in death) they will then stop trying to be like the one before them in looking for recognition. (He considered the Columbine shooters martyrs.)

Wouldn't it have been better to ignore the killer as much as possible and instead glorify those lives that were snuffed out? Why haven't we heard more about the professor who lived through the holocaust, or the young woman who wanted to become a vet?

I believe in freedom of the press but I feel sometimes it's more judicious in the long run to not give sick minds their unjust due.

I agree, This has nothing to do with freedom of the press but with sensationalizing a sicopath and deranged person. The pain of victim's families that might make the mistake of turning on the TV to find that fiendish face.

And I wouldn't be surprised that Cho's diabolical face might also greet them this week on the front cover of Time and Newsweek magazines. Lets see if they show any restraint. I doubt it.

Tom,

I appreciate your views on this subject!

Who knows what provokes a killer????????

In my opinion, those who report the news, tread a fine line between enough, and too much!!! For the most part, you guys do a very good job!!

I agree with all of you! Except we are not in the position of being part of the press that has to decide whether something should or should not be aired. So on that, I come down on Tom's side that it is better to err on the side of providing more information rather than the press deciding what we will see.

When I was just out of college, I worked on a presidential campaign, and there were two great newsmen from the NYTimes aboard our plane, Max Frankel and Johnny (R.W.) Apple. I was curious at the time, and they amazed me with what thought they gave before writing their stories (even when I did not agree), giving much thought as to what the public needed to know, and what their role was, as they witnessed the events. Sure, it was just a campaign, but not so different from any news source that has to make choices about what to report. That's why I'm with Tom on this.

Agreed. :)

The other important part of Tom's observation is how would you feel if the press decided you didn't have the right to know what this deranged individual said or published?

Sometimes we don't like the harsh facts but we can choose to view or not.

I've heard more complaints about the press that feature the argument that they don't tell the full story. It's not easy being the messenger. It's not always easy to balance the coverage of the full story. Ironically in many cases both sides of an issue will complain about "coverage" being slanted towards the "wrong" side.

A free press isn't perfect but what would we do without it?

So sorry that I was posting the same time as Tom, yesterday. With my message coming after his, it looks like I'm lambasting him, not so.

Of course we need freedom of the press and I admire those who are out there gathering the facts and presenting them to us.

I think the problem comes with too much news...too many outlets reporting on the same thing for too many hours in the day. I have a problem with the "experts" who parade from one show to another telling us what we should be thinking about the event. I prefer the straight facts and let me make up my own mind.

It is not good for anyone's health to be watching this stuff all the time and so many people do. Best to watch a little bit and then turn the TV OFF.

Tom, I do appreciate your views and the job you do.

It is interesting, when in Europe, to turn on several news channels and notice how the same events are reported with different slants. But, that is freedom of the press.

What our forefathers did not consider, is that the press would be in a form other than the newspaper and that there would be a World Wide Web and television and radio as means of communications.

When we hear of atrocities which seem to be omnipresent today, I question whether they always were in this vast an amount and we just didn't know about them as communication wasn't broad enough? On the other hand, has communication fostered the atrocities? I wonder if there are any white papers on this?

First if given a choice I'll always err on the side of too much news. The complaint isn't so much with having it available, it's more to do with it the killer being plastered all over the evening news, nightline, 20/20, etc.

I feel what would have been a better way to present it, would have been to mention that he had a manifesto written, tell us what some of what he said, and if we the public wished to view his rantings, they could click on the news organization's web site. Don't news organizations nowadays tell us over and over to "see more of this story, click on 7Online.com" or any of the other news organizations? Then they could have talked more about the victims.