First Look: Armed at VT

By: Greg Kandra
Topics: First Look

Video:
First Look: Shooter's Guns

With Katie in Blacksburg, at Virginia Tech, Chief Investigative Correspondent Armen Keteyian offers today's First Look, with a preview of what he has uncovered about a gun used in yesterday's tragedy. Just click the monitor for more.

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by petersemkiw April 19, 2007 2:18 AM EDT: Dear Katie and Armen, After this period of mourning and grieving has passed, I think that gun control laws, mental health laws, and the security systems and student behavioral codes and regulations of all educational institutions, should be carefully examined and evaluated.
Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers continue to be with all those affected by this horrific event.; Reply to this comment


by foxdaddy123 April 18, 2007 3:26 PM EDT: I really enjoyed the VT segment on 48 Hours Mystery program last night. I really felt that most of the interviews came across heart felt. What has prompted me to comment today was Katie%u2019s question to the President. I was enraged that at a time when this college, community and nation are mourning, you had to bring politics into it. I was grateful for how our President handled the question of gun control. This is such a old argument. The real story if you want to go that direction is what if students had been allowed to carry concealed weapons for personal protection? How many lives might have been saved if a student who had a weapon could have returned fire to defend his/herself and fellow students? Why not ask that question? But, really it%u2019s a matter of timing. Maybe a week from now challenge the President. I would have liked to hear more about his meeting with the families. More questions on how he felt. I really felt when Harry Smith was talking to the student who help block the door to the classroom was a heart felt interview. He was talking to the person. Katie you seemed like you were on just a regular assignment with no feeling. It felt like you had an agenda when you brought up gun control? I'm not usually a person to comment on a blog, but I just couldn't let this go. Next time when there is tragedy that you cover (I hope there isn't any in our future), remember to let us mourn and just understand the facts before you work on whatever agenda you have.; Reply to this comment


by ericmichael1 April 18, 2007 1:18 PM EDT: Katie & Co.:

I believe that this young man killed these people, and is solely to blame.

That said, law enforcement is hopelessly outgunned in this country, both by criminals and terrorists. Assault weapons and automatic pistols have no place in the hands of civilians.

If you are a hunter, hunt. If you are a sport shooter, shoot with sports-type firearms.

But these weapons are weapons of war, and our streets are full of them. All, gang members, lunatics and grandmothers can purchase them. Openly and on the black market.

And it will take more than background checks to get rid of them now. If you ban them, are you willing to support law enforcement's fight, a real War against the McVeigh-like Americans who have them stockpiled already?

The only people who should legally be able to possess and carry these assault-type weapons should be law enforcement and military personnel.

Have a great day commenting on this one, guys & gals who think it is every American's right to contribute to anarchy in this country by obtaining high-tech weapons of war (remember, this nation's forefathers and their contemporaries had muzzle-loaders and shotguns!).

Eric; Reply to this comment


by noelhrs April 17, 2007 10:17 PM EDT: I would like to show my deepest sympathy to all the families, students, faculty and anyone close to this tragic event. In no way am I trying to demean the severity of this situation but when are we as Americans specifically going to stop trying to find someone or something to blame when something happens. Guns are not the problem it is the people who possess them. Everything was done properly in the purchase process of the arms in question. Why should our rights be taken away because of a few wackos? Why is the president of the college being harassed when anyone who puts themselves in his situation would not know what to do? Honestly think to yourself and tell me, if you got a call that stated a tragic event had occurred what would you do? In reality we are trained to assess the situation before making any decisions. If he would have evacuated too early and it had all been a hoax then he would have been scrutinized for that also. No one is to blame for what happened except the shooter himself. We do not know what was on his mind or what his life was like. We can only speculate which again causes more problems. Why can%u2019t the media quit turning tragedy into a three ring circus? In all probability this causes more harm physiologically than the event itself. Can we just reflect on what happened and help the ones in need instead of trying to blast whomever we can? When will the media understand that they are the problem not the solution to most of the issues in today%u2019s society?; Reply to this comment