University Of Texas Tower Sniper Recalled

(AP)  Last August, with little fanfare, the University of Texas marked the 40th anniversary of what then was the nation's worst mass shooting.

Until Monday's carnage at Virginia Tech, the Aug. 1, 1966, sniping rampage by Charles Whitman from the Austin school's landmark 307-foot tower had remained the deadliest campus shooting in U.S. history.

Whitman, 25, a Lake Worth, Fla., native and former university student, opened fire from the 28th-floor observation deck, shooting people on the streets 231 feet below.

Sixteen people were killed and another 31 were wounded before police killed him about 90 minutes later.

In 2001, a Fort Worth man died of what physicians said were complications from a gunshot wound inflicted that day by Whitman, bringing the death toll to 17.

The school marked the tragic anniversary last year with a low-key observance, flying flags on campus at half-staff.

Then this past January, university officials added a bronze plaque to a garden near the tower as a memorial "to those who died, to those who were wounded, and to the countless other victims who were immeasurably affected by the tragedy," according to an inscription on the plaque.

Among Whitman's victims was a receptionist near the top of the tower who was fatally beaten and two tourists from Texarkana were shot to death.

Besides his murderous attack from the top of the tower, Whitman earlier had stabbed to death his mother at her Austin apartment and his wife at their Austin home.

Notes that Whitman left behind indicated he killed his wife and mother to spare them the embarrassment of what he planned to do.

[erasmus6]

Thank you, rheola!

[rheola-2009]

Erasmus6

How remiss of me. of course

The three best countries in the world.

[erasmus6]

rheola and noaanhc

Wait a minute now, what makes you two think that you live in the two best countries in the world?
I happen to think that my country is the best in the world! :)

[rheola-2009]

noaanhc

That should read 1852

[erasmus6]

There sure are some nutcases on here.

[rheola-2009]

Noaanhc

I understand fully what you say.
I also know full well that the vast majority of people in your country, as in mine are wonderful folks.

Of course you think your country is the best, I would be very disappointed if that were not so.
And of course I think mine is the best, maybe we are both very fortunate, in that we live in the two best countries in the World.

Incidentally, I have Quite a few distant Rellies in the Lansing Mich. area, our common ancestor lived in Ontario Canada, one of his sons migrated here in 18952, for the gold strikes, otherwise I would not be posting this to you today.

[noaanhc]

rheola

Maybe I should move to your country,but then again I love America too much to leave her so will stay and do all I can to make my country
an even better place to live.Despite all the horrible things you may see from where you are,
the vast majority of Americans are just like the vast majority of Australian,kind amd decent people who only want the best for their country.
Please don't give up on us,we are certainly not a perfect nation but most of us still try to do what is right for our country.

[rheola-2009]

Noaanhc

Yes we are indeed fortunate, that we have rational thinkers here, maybe one day in your country, that will happen also,and as you so very correctly named them, that murderous NRA, will not be listened to so readily by your Leaders.

Our equivalant here is the very inappropriately name "Sporting Shooters Association" what an oxymoron, they tried their damnest to stop the present gun laws, and are forever trying to overcome them, I think generally our people would go up in arms [ no pun intended ] if they were in any way successfull.

Iam amazed at the ignorance of some of the recent postings.

[noaanhc]

rheola

Your government did the right thing by inacting tougher gun laws and Australia is safer today because of those tough laws.Unfortunately here our government cowers in the face of our own terrorist group called the NRA and refuses to confront these murderous thugs.If the founding fathers of our country visited 21st century USA and seen the bloody carnage created by the
2nd amendment,they would be so appalled that they would retutn to 1787 and promply remove that terrible amendment from our Constitution.
I am embarrassed as an American that my nation has the highest murder rate then any other democratic nation on Earth.

[durtyduzzin]

Shut up!!!!!!