opinion concerning the number of people who seem to want to place the blame for the Virginia Tech shootings on the victims.

::::::::

Why the need for blaming the victims?

I have been disheartened by some of the people who write here who seem to think that in the aftermath of the shootings at Virginia Tech, it's ok to blame the victims for the fate which befell them. From the armchair Rambo's that sit there putting forth their theories as to what they would have done, to the NRA gun fools who say that if there had been others packing heat in the rooms of that college, there would have been less deaths, I have been reading the gamut of theories about how this event could have been mediated.

I find it an unbelievable thing that anyone anywhere would even suggest such bullshit! To me, this is a walk back to the time when rape victims were blamed for their assaults. Whether their attire was "provocative", or their actions supposedly lead the attacker to think they were "asking for it", this kind of thinking left women the blame for the actions of their attackers. Surely, we haven't returned to this draconian mindset. Perhaps I should say, until yesterday night, I thought we hadn't returned to those wondrous bygone days.

Then, as I watched Countdown on MSNBC, all of Keith Olbermann's "Worst People In The World" were people who, in some form or fashion, blamed the victims of the shooting for their deaths. While I thought this was a shocking and reprehensible thing, I figured I wouldn't see such ludicrous ideas put forth here.

Was I wrong! Not only did it happen once, others also made comments that were in support of this idea. While I am one to allow everyone their opinion, there comes a time when someone has to call bullshit on an idea that is just plain wrong! This is the time!

Anyone here who would dare to accuse the victims of bearing responsibility for the fate that befell them is a heartless asshole! You are the kind of person who probably tortures puppies and thinks that DUBYA is the greatest president that has ever been in office.

If there is any blame to be affixed to anyone in this event, that blame should be offered up in the following order:
1) the shooter, Cho Seung-Hui.
2) the Kampus Keystone Kops who did nothing after the initial shooting.
3) these same morons that ignored numerous red flags in regard to Cho Seung-Hui months before the attack.
4) the incredibly lax gun laws in Virginia, and the rest of the US.

Note, nowhere on this list are the names of the victims. Their names shouldn't even be suggested as additions to the list. For anyone to even suggest such lunacy only proves their lack of connection with the real world is as dangerous as that of Cho Seung-Hui.

Let's now look at the list.

Cho Seung-Hui obviously bears the most responsibility for the actions he personally took. His giving into his insanity set the stage for the biggest rampage killing in American history. His two weapons and multiple clips were the tools of destruction he used in his killing spree. The ultimate responsibility, and therefore the ultimate blame for these killings is his, and his alone.

The next group of people on the list of responsibility are the Kampus Keystone Kops. Instead of locking down the campus after the initial attack, they drug their heels and did nothing. I suppose if you look at it the right way, they were the first ones to blame the victims for their attack.

They labeled the initial shooting a "domestic dispute". In doing this, the put off some of the culpability for the attack on the victims. Also, although it's only a theory on my part, the fact that this "domestic dispute" made victims of a white woman and a black man, racism probably played a part as well. After all, who could blame a white woman's "lover" for killing her if she had been fucking a black man?

Remember, this is Macaca land. This is the state that gave us the mental midget that is ex Senator George Allen. Is it too far out of the realm of possibility for me to suggest that part of the reason that no action was taken before the real bloodbath commenced was because it was assumed that the initial victims were assumed to have been an interracial couple? I sure don't think so. Given where this happened, I think that the possibility there was a bit of racism that played a part in this incident is well within the realm of possibility.

Even if racism wasn't a part of their mindset, the fact that it was initially thought of as a "domestic dispute" probably put its importance on a lower level than it deserved. This initial miscategorization of the crime set the stage for what would become THE record breaking mass murder of all time (so far).

If it were just the miscategorization of the crime that caused the problems, that would be more than enough to place a cloud of responsibility over the ineffectual morons that are the Kampus Keystone Kops. But, it's not where their responsibility ends. Far from it!

The Kampus Keystone Kops were warned. They were warned by his writing professor. After he turned in rather violent and twisted plays, she gave his name to the Kampus Keystone Kops. They had knowledge that he had a violent history. In November and December, 2005, two different women had complained that he called them and sent them unwanted computer messages.

After the second complaint, he was taken away for psychiatric evaluation. This was not only because he had allegedly stalked these women, he had also expressed suicidal thoughts to an acquaintance. At about this time, the concerns about his writings were also added to the mix.

He was not only showing violent tendencies in his actions, he was showing them in his writings. Not only that, he was also showing suicidal ideation. Talk about red flags fluttering in the breeze. Talk about those red flags being ignored!

Once again, a budding rampage killer gives all kinds of warnings and evidence that he's possessed of an unstable and dangerous mental state. Once again, those that should be listening to these warnings were out to lunch; not doing anything akin to their jobs. If there is any group of people who deserve to bear a large amount of the blame, it is the Kampus Keystone Kops.

The final bit of blame goes to the NRA, and other gun advocates. In their rabid support of guns, they go out of their way to make sure that no one anywhere abridges the ability to get guns. Like it or not, guns are simply far too easy to purchase. Someone like Cho Seung-Hui, whose name is known to law enforcement, whose writings and actions have shown him to be possessed of a violent streak, should never be allowed access to any kind of weapon. His second amendment rights are trumped by his mental instability!

His name should have been part of a database of people who weren't allowed to own a weapon. But no, he was allowed to go into a pawnshop with a credit card and purchase not just one gun, but two. Not only that, he was able to get a hold of more than enough ammunition to get the job done.

Notice that nowhere in any of this were the victims given any sort of blame. As a matter of fact, many of the students and professors acted in very heroic ways. Some gave their lives in saving the lives of others. These people don't deserve derision, they deserve respect, honor, and dignity.

Those people who are pouring derision on these victims need to answer only one question: have you no sense of decency? These victims have yet to even be interred, and already the armchair Rambo's think it's their duty to tell us all what pussies these victims were. The families and friends of these victims have enough grief in their lives. The last thing they need is for the ball scratching, budding military experts damning them for being victims.

To hell with the lot of you! How can you be so heartless? Let's put all you he-men into the same situation and see how many of you wind up with piss stains all down the front of your favorite jeans.

Blessed be!
Pappy

Authors Website: http://www.bear-upstairs-studio.com

Authors Bio:
Harpist, unemployed blue collar worker, and Bush basher living deep in the heart of Texas.