Michael Daly: It's Virginia's fault

[gcerbone]

I can't believe this crap. This deserves a zumboing.

Column is here.

Yes, Virginia, guns kill innocents

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By MICHAEL DALY
DAILY NEWS COLUMNIST

Tuesday, April 17th 2007, 9:22 AM
Still love those guns, Virginia?

Ready to admit that it's madness for any psycho to be able to saunter into a gun shop and acquire firepower capable of killing 32 innocents?

Feel different now that the blood is the blood of so many of your most promising young people?

You've been shrugging for decades as illegal guns from your state plague our city, killing and maiming and terrorizing New Yorkers by the thousands, at one point comprising 47% of the guns our cops recovered.

You even yukked it up with a "Bloomberg Gun GiveAway" raffle at a gun shop that sold at least 22 guns used in crimes in New York.

You went into a tizzy when Mayor Bloomberg sued some of your gun shops after undercover agents made fraudulent "straw purchases."

Your idea of gun control has been to pass a law making it illegal for undercover agents like those Bloomberg sent South to make such buys.

You seemed to think it was no big deal when an aide to your junior U.S. senator got caught carrying an automatic pistol into the Capitol, you having voted Sen. James Webb into office as an avowed opponent of gun control.

You had a big debate this year about whether Virginia Tech was wrong to discipline a student who was caught carrying a licensed pistol to class.

Never mind that a Virginia gun license is not half as hard to get as a driving license.

Never mind that there are so many guns lying around that an escaped jailbird managed to get hold of one and kill a cop and a security guard at the edge of the Virginia Tech campus at the start of the school year.

Yesterday, the shooting was in the heart of the campus, which suddenly felt like the bleeding heart of the whole nation.

We certainly have enough parents in New York who know all too well what the families of Virginia Tech will be suffering.

We also have cause anew to give thanks for the bravery of Auxiliary Police Officers Eugene Marshalik and Nicholas Pekearo, who died stopping a crazed gunman in Greenwich Village in March.

We have reason to remember Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly saying that the two brave auxiliaries and the equally brave cops who then killed the gunman may well have prevented a massacre. Our psycho certainly had enough bullets.

When we listened to yesterday's gunshots as recorded by a cell phone video, we assumed the police we saw holding back had been ordered to watch the perimeter while other cops charged through the chained doors toward the gunfire. We hoped they had not hesitated as the cops did during the massacre at the Columbine High School in 1999.

We replayed yesterday's video and listened to those gunshots again, each the hyper-real sound of a gun doing exactly what it is engineered to do no matter who is holding it, no matter who it is pointed at, be they on a New York street or in Norris Hall at Virginia Tech.

Today, Virginia Tech will hold a public convocation in the wake of the carnage. President Bush has said he will attend, but his spokeswoman assures us he remains a firm believer in the right to bear arms.

Also expected to be there is Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, who is returning early from an overseas trip. He recently signed Bill 2106, the anti-Bloomberg legislation that forbids undercover agents from making straw purchases.

Not even the worst campus massacre in American history is about to stop Bob Moates Sports Shop of Midlothian, Va., from going ahead with its big Bloomberg Gun GiveAway. The winner will receive a Para-Ordinance Model 1911 .45 automatic, silver and no less deadly than the black pistol a witness says the Virginia Tech psycho used. The 1911 is part of the company's new line of "Gun Rights" pistols, which carry the guarantee the company will donate $25 to the National Rifle Association for every one sold.

"The drawing is April 19," a man at Moates said yesterday.

No wonder some of our cops up here in New York say the bumper stickers down there should really read, "Virginia Is for Gun Lovers."

What do you say now, Virginia?

[email protected]

 

[Tim James]

They think anger and aggression gives their words more power. Always struck me as latent lashing-out toward their parents though.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I read in a closed thread in the revolver forum that the guns were legally purchased. WELL, THAT'S NOT SO. It's been reported both guns had their serial numbers files off. Sorry but I have never heard of a legal sale where the serial numbers were files off.

Like I said in all the threads I have posted in about this, this tragedy will be used to push more gun control instead of admitting gun control made it worse because nobody was armed and able to stop this nut-job.

 

[Daniel T]

For someone talking about blood, he's dancing in enough to fill a kiddy pool. What a colossal turd.

 

[tydephan]

I read in a closed thread in the revolver forum that the guns were legally purchased. WELL, THAT'S NOT SO. It's been reported both guns had their serial numbers files off. Sorry but I have never heard of a legal sale where the serial numbers were files off.

The State Police chief just confirmed the guns were purchased legally. He said that in a press conference about 10 minutes ago.

I would assume, then, that the murderer filed the #'s off himself, for whatever reason.

 

[Sage of Seattle]

Ready to admit that it's madness for any psycho to be able to saunter into a gun shop and acquire firepower capable of killing 32 innocents?

As opposed to sauntering down to the local crack-house where there is a less than zero chance of doing any kind of background check whatsoever?

You've been shrugging for decades as illegal guns from your state plague our city, killing and maiming and terrorizing New Yorkers by the thousands, at one point comprising 47% of the guns our cops recovered.

How is it that illegal firearms used in one state are the fault of law-abiding citizens of a different state?

You went into a tizzy when Mayor Bloomberg sued some of your gun shops after undercover agents made fraudulent "straw purchases."

"..after undercover agents made ILLEGAL GUN PURCHASES." you meant to say, I'm sure.

Your idea of gun control has been to pass a law making it illegal for undercover agents like those Bloomberg sent South to make such buys.

I would imagine that the law was to prevent law enforcement from overstepping its bounds.

You had a big debate this year about whether Virginia Tech was wrong to discipline a student who was caught carrying a licensed pistol to class.

Having a debate over someone doing something legal yet being punished for it is a wrong thing to do?

Never mind that a Virginia gun license is not half as hard to get as a driving license.

So Virginians have to do more than pass a criminal background check, have their fingerprints be put in a permanent FBI database, and be certified non-mentally ill nor an ex-felon to obtain a driver's license? I fear I'm missing something here...

We also have cause anew to give thanks for the bravery of Auxiliary Police Officers Eugene Marshalik and Nicholas Pekearo, who died stopping a crazed gunman in Greenwich Village in March.

I thought they were unarmed and were killed and their murderer was killed shortly thereafter by armed police? Were not the police who shot and killed their collegue's murderer glad they had weapons to stop him?

We have reason to remember Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly saying that the two brave auxiliaries and the equally brave cops who then killed the gunman may well have prevented a massacre. Our psycho certainly had enough bullets.

All illegally obtained, yes? I guess I don't know the whole background story of this case...

When we listened to yesterday's gunshots as recorded by a cell phone video, we assumed the police we saw holding back had been ordered to watch the perimeter while other cops charged through the chained doors toward the gunfire. We hoped they had not hesitated as the cops did during the massacre at the Columbine High School in 1999.

As opposed to "we were grateful" that an armed student stopped the rampaging murderer.

We replayed yesterday's video and listened to those gunshots again, each the hyper-real sound of a gun doing exactly what it is engineered to do no matter who is holding it, no matter who it is pointed at, be they on a New York street or in Norris Hall at Virginia Tech.

Yes. Guns kill people. And your point being what, exactly?

The winner will receive a Para-Ordinance Model 1911 .45 automatic, silver and no less deadly than the black pistol a witness says the Virginia Tech psycho used.

I can't wait until I can afford one of those evil silver pistols which are at least as deadly as those evil black ones.

What do you say now, Virginia?

"Let us protect ourselves, you sniveling cowards" hopefully.

 

[exar]

What do you say now, Virginia?

Hopefully "Sic Semper Tyrranus".

 

[sully0812]

I sent him the following email:

Michael,
I read your column today with mixed emotions. I wasn't sure whether to feel sorry for you, or to find humor in your petulant anger.

Your accusations that Virginia "plagues" New York City with it's firearms are emotionally driven fallacies at the very best. If the guns were really a problem, wouldn't Virginia face the same levels of violence that "plague" New York?

No, the problem is not the guns, and you know that. But you would rather focus your anger on them, than on the multitude of social ills that beget violence.

I find it sickening, that you are willing to use the deaths of 32 Virginia students as an opportunity for you to grandstand on their very corpses and push your agenda for gun control. Every one of those students killed represents a family that is torn apart, and you feel that it is your right to use their deaths as a political trump card.

Evil exists. It is part of the human condition. And nothing we can do will ever keep it from walking among us. Cho Seung-Hui was an evil, sick person. Cho Seung-Hui killed those 32 students. Without him, his guns would have been nothing more than inanimate objects, likely sold to an accountant, an engineer, a mechanic, or a teacher who enjoyed punching holes in paper on the weekend.

You, Michael Daly, are a coward, because you chose to fight the tool, and and not the cause.

Sincerely,
Sully0812

 

[RNB65]

Here's my response:

> What do you say now, Virginia?

Dear Mike,

I'm so glad you asked. I'll be glad to tell you what I have to say.

I believe that a 23 year old lawful resident of the U.S. with no criminal history should have the right to purchase a handgun, including semi-automatic handguns with high capacity magazines.

I believe that a law abiding citizen with no criminal history should be able to carry a concealed handgun with few if any limitations.

I believe that someone with a history of mental illness, stalking, violence towards women, and arson should not be able to purchase a handgun of any type. But, unfortunately, the people who knew Cho Seung-Hui and saw these traits were either unwilling or unable to follow-through on them and create the legal record that would have blocked a handgun purchase.

I believe that extreme mental illness is a part of life and no laws or legislation can protect society against a sociopath on a suicidal rampage. Gun, fire bombs, homemade bombs, poison gas, etc. If he was that determined to commit mass murder, he was going to find a way.

I believe that I fear unchallenged government control more than I fear a sociopath with a 9mm.

I believe what occurred on the VA Tech campus on April 16 was a terrible tragedy that will severely affect all of Virginia for decades to come. I also believe that it could have happened on the campus of any college or university in America. This particular sociopath just happened to choose VA Tech.

I believe that if the VA Tech police has responded properly to the initial shooting in West Ambler-Johnston Hall, the rampage in Norris Hall would have been prevented.

I believe that if faculty, staff, and students over 21 who possess valid concealed handgun permits were allowed to carry concealed handguns on the VA Tech campus, this shooting rampage would have ended much quicker.

I believe that your April 17 column is nothing but sensationalist trash (though I did enjoy reading it).

Finally, I believe I'll go down to Bob Moates' gunshop tomorrow and see if he has any Glocks on sale as I've been meaning to buy a Glock 17 for some time.

Sincerely,

 

[El Tejon]

Somebody's mommy didn't hug him enough.

My rights are not responsible for New York City's problems. Virginny may say "I say, I say, I surrender at the courthouse, suhr."

I say "MOLON LABE".

 

[illspirit]

Never mind that there are so many guns lying around that an escaped jailbird managed to get hold of one and kill a cop and a security guard at the edge of the Virginia Tech campus at the start of the school year.

So many guns lying around? Err, the guy stole the gun off a deputy after bashing him with a blunt object! If that is what the author considers "easy" access to guns, then he should be terrified of the 40,000 man walking gun show that is the NYPD.

If anyone else writes the guy, be sure to ask him about this. But then I suspect he knows this and is just lying to make VA look bad.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

E-mail sent

Sir:

Saw your column. I was struck by this statement:

"You had a big debate this year about whether Virginia Tech was wrong to discipline a student who was caught carrying a licensed pistol to class."

Does the irony escape you COMPLETELY? If just one of the students in any of those classrooms had been carrying a legal self-defense firearm, the killer could have been stopped in his tracks. Compare VT to the recent shooting in a Seattle shopping mall. In the west coast incident, ONE man, with ONE pistol having only ONE magazine of ammunition single-handedly stopped the killer, pinned him down, turned him from the hunter to the hunted, and allowed the police to respond and neutralize the threat.

You, sir, are advocating nothing short of victim disarmament. Your rhetoric sounds as hollow as it is. "...firepower capable of killing 32 innocents ..."? Get real. The killer had one, or perhaps two, handguns. You make it sound as if he had a squad of machine gunners. He only used one gun at a time. What he had, was bullets and magazines. No license is required to buy either, you can buy them from catalogs or through the Internet. Hell, you can buy all the 9mm ammunition you want at Wal-Mart.

So why don't you dispatch Bloomburg's thugs to run a sting on illegal sales of handgun ammunition by Wal-Mart to college shooters? Oh, wait -- the shooter was 23 years old. That's old enough to buy ammunition for a handgun.

The answer, Sir, is not more gun control but LESS. There will never be a foolproof way to eliminate nuts from the world. Perhaps it came out after you wrote your column, but it has been reported that the shooter's English teacher had reported his writings as suggesting a threat, and no action was taken because "he hadn't broken any laws."

And because of this, you think the appropriate response is to further remove the People's right to defend themselves?

You, Sir, are a disgrace to this country.

Very truly yours,

Aguila Blanca

 

[Obiwan]

"cops charged through the chained doors toward the gunfire"

And got there too late

Which is not a dig at the brave officers that were willing to risk their lives

But at a society that pretends that it can be everywhere...and protect us all

 

[Aguila Blanca]

I didn't see the video. Can someone explain to me exactly how it is that police officers (or anyone) can charge through doors that have been chained shut from the inside? "Charge" doesn't sound like exactly the right word. I'm thinking "bash," "hew," and "hack" might be more appropriate.

 

[Max Beep]

I liked Daniel T's comment best. What a bunch of hippocrites.