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Charles_Jaco's Blog

by Charles_Jaco from St. Louis

Last Post 100 days, 13 hours Ago


Massacre
Apr 16, 2007 | 3:08 PM
Category: News
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A moment of full disclosure--I own three guns. When I lived in Florida, I had a license to carry a concealed weapon, but then, even house plants and stem cells in Florida are armed. I've fired everything from M-16's and AK-47s to MAC-10's, Uzis, and a .50 caliber sniper rifle capable of punching a hole in an engine block at half-a-mile.

 

Having said that, I've always believed there are too many handguns in this country and it's much too easy to get them. Assault rifles--semi-automatic weapons with a large ammunition capacity--are also too easy to get. I wish the NRA convention were still in St. Louis, so I could go down to the America's Center and listen to one of their perky blonde spokeswomen say--once again--that guns don't kill people, that people kill people.

 

The part about the people killing other people is true. But it's awfully hard to kill as many with a knife or a tire iron. I'm currently working on a series of pieces about urban violence, and am looking at where all the illegal guns on the streets come from. One things for sure--at some point, each and every one of those weapons started life as a legally manufactured handgun.

 

Where did the shooter at Virginia Tech get his guns? And what was he doing with them at school? Without this shooting, we would never have had a chance to know, since the NRA helped pushed through federal legislation, called the Tiahrt Amendment, making it practically impossible to trace illegal guns before there's a shooting.

 

I hope NRA officials sleep easy tonight. I won't.

 

Update:

Well, it  seems part of the NRA was still in town after all. Tne NRA Board, including luminaries like Motor City Madman Ted Nugent and Former Congressman Bob Barr, hung around an extra day to meet in St. Louis. Not only did they not have any comment, their meeting was apparently swathed in extra security, including a protective force composed of former Secret Service agents.

 

FBI sources are tellng ABC News and National Public Radio that the gunman, a student from Fairfax County, Virginia, may have been able to fire off so many rounds because he was possibly carrying high capacity ammunition clips. Those ammo clips became widely available when Congress refused to renew a federal ban on assault weapons.

 

Australian Prime Minister John Howard, a hawk, a conservative, and a staunch supporter of President Bush and the Iraq War, apparently draws the line when it come to America's love of guns. Howard has attacked the U.S. "gun culture", and congratulated himself for the Australian government's policy of buying guns from private owners.

 

And a Virginia Tech student and gun enthusiast tells ABC News that he wishes someone in the vicinity of the shooter had been carrying a concealed weapon so the gunman could have been killed early on. He also says he's been mistaken for the killer because he's of Asian heritage and because his personal website is loaded with references to guns and pictures of him with weapons.

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Member Comments Total Comments: 95
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devas_yb_ecarg read my blog view my photos
Apr 16, 2007 | 3:11 PM

I think he would have gotten the weapon one way or another. I support the NRA and with that I do sleep good at night knowing my family has someway of protecting our self.
AMOM read my blog
Apr 16, 2007 | 3:15 PM

Well if some students were packing this morning at Virginia Tech., there would not be 32 dead. Maby only one, the killer.
AMOM read my blog
Apr 16, 2007 | 3:17 PM

Oh!! Did you say, "Perky Blonde"
CALL A LAWYER!!!!!!
jeanette read my blog view my photos
Apr 16, 2007 | 3:29 PM

I agree it isn't then NRA that killed theses people.People will find guns illegally or not.But why can't these people try and find help to control their anger not guns.Use the gun to kill themselve if they have that much hatred.Why take innocent people.Gotta blame someone.I guess why not NRA.Poop this makes me sick.God people ask for help.
krispkrtr read my blog
Apr 16, 2007 | 3:35 PM

Problem is, people who NEED the help are often least likely to recognize it. It's easy for rationally thinking human beings to analyze and say "why not just kill themselves instead of taking innocent victims with them", but you have to remember that these people don't think rationally. Basic "common sense" just doesn't apply to them.
weatherman222 read my blog view my photos
Apr 16, 2007 | 3:52 PM

I agree with everyone here. The NRA just wrapped up their convention in STL bring tons of money here and that organization causes no problems. I wish people would leave the NRA alone, they haven't done anything to help or promote violent actions.
sarcasticdragon
Apr 16, 2007 | 4:20 PM

All the NRA would have said was,
"If the students could carry guns this never would have happened" It's like they all are trying to live some sort of wild west fantasy.

That guy who killed those kids was most likely a "god fearing law abiding american" when he bought the guns. It makes little difference to the NRA what he becomes after he bought them just that his right to buy them wasnt interupted.
asmerelda read my blog view my photos
Apr 16, 2007 | 5:29 PM

Horrible just so horrible. No words a person could say to help these families. Please pray as hard as you can. PRAY PRAY PRAY. Jesus answers.
AMOM read my blog
Apr 16, 2007 | 5:31 PM

Let's just all wait and find out where he did get the gun. He may have stolen it.

Actually, I think people can make a gun.
SERVANTOFCHRIST read my blog view my photos
Apr 16, 2007 | 6:00 PM

Another "GUN" has gone and malfunctioned at a school !
A special investigation was done to determine why the "GUN"
would do such a horrible thing . They did indeed find a problem
with the "GUN" and the findings were a true revelation..
It was found that the "GUN" was a victim of circumstance because
It was never taught about LOVE, FAITH, RESPECT and never
knew about GOD. If that was not enough, it was friends with a
human that had the same sad misfortune . The "GUN" did not want
to hurt anyone but there was nothing in it's heart to tell him to stop.
It figured that if the AMERICAN government did not allow GOD
into it's heart anymore ,IE..SCHOOLS,government buildings , etc.
then it had no use for GOD either. The parents of the "GUN" were not
available for comment due to the fact they were to busy chasing the
AMERICAN DOLLAR. so they could have a good "LIFE".
It was also determined that it must be someone else's fault because
the "GUN" never had anyone to talk to other than his one human
friend because everyone he knew was busy and the other "GUNS"
abused it when it was little.The "GUN" will have the best lawyer money
can buy and the lawyer is sure that the judge will understand the
"GUN" is a victim TOO ! and his punishment will be very lenient
FREEDOMFREE read my blog view my photos
Apr 16, 2007 | 6:22 PM

AMERICAN TERROIST????

WERE IS THE FREEDOM?????

BEFORE ANOTHER PERSON DIES , LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE , THE VICTUMS OF THE MURDERS , THE FAMILIES THAT HURT .

POWER IN THE PEOPLE , BEFORE ANOTHER TRAGEDY .

VOTE FREEDOMFREE ,

END THE DEGREE , OF TRAGEDY .
perkypolock read my blog view my photos
Apr 16, 2007 | 7:54 PM

How many more times we going to have this happen. Its time to start looking into the picture not outside the picture. Game Over! Sorry, this has me upset, for I more and likely will be keeping my kids home again from school. Its to the point no place is safe.
perkypolock read my blog view my photos
Apr 16, 2007 | 8:03 PM

well, I am going to vent any ways, if I get banned for how I am feeling then so be it. Our government needs to start waking up. They sure put up a front about their people. They are so worried about other countries when they are letting it happen pretty often in the states. How many schools now in the past year has had a shooting of some sort? I can only count 3 this year, however, that is 3 to many. How many schools are going to be in business in the future. Do you really want to send your kids to school when they are the prior targets. All though apparently the government nor the so called law makers seems to really do anything about it. Its will be fine, lets say our prays and worry about what area we plan to stomp thru in Iraq. Well, these are reason the United States gets a reprutation of scroundles. Sorry people its our leaders that I did NOT vote for. Ask yourself this, if our country becoming communist? For the more I look into the picture it appears so. How soon till they make us all have a chip placed into our arms so they know every move. I am not like every one in this world, for if I was just like you it would be a pretty dull world. People of American, I ask you to take a stand. Even if you have to put a sign out in your own front yard. That is a right we all have. Get your voice heard before we are all on shock collars!
SikUvTheRite read my blog
Apr 16, 2007 | 8:07 PM

I'm not exactly sure how we are going to solve this problem of increasingly senseless violence in our schools and on our streets, but I do know one thing: The solution doesn't involve having all students packing heat. The solution doesn't involve arming everybody to the teeth. The solution doesn't involve the threat of even more violence to stop violence.

In fact, these typical NRA-style arguments already appearing "...if some of these students were just armed with a concealed AK-47, we could have stopped him, yada yada..." is some of the most nonsensical logical garbage I think I've heard yet from the extreme-right.

Thanks, Jaco, for pointing out one of the many laws the NRA-financed extreme-right has passed making it more difficult to trace ownership or track firearms in name of "freedom". Funny, I don't have the "freedom" to drive my car without registering it, but the NRA Klan (oops, I meant clan) can buy a dangerous weapon without so much as registering they have it! That is simply absurd!

But, I'm not going to blame the NRA for violent incidents like this. No, I'm just going to blame the NRA for hindering a solution to incidents like this.
mjustice
Apr 16, 2007 | 8:38 PM

I am a graduate of Virginia Tech, and this tragedy saddens me to the core. People are always going to have guns, so I don't think we can blame the NRA for their legislation, or anyone else but the person who made the conscious decision to use their gun in this horrific way. As many have said, "guns don't kill people, people kill people". There will always be cases like this, but if we are vigilant about reporting unusual activity or when we overhear someone saying they are going to shoot someone, then maybe fewer of these tragedies will come to pass. My final comment about this shooting would be to ask Fox 2 to remove the Virginia Tech logo with the bullet holes in it, and replace it with the regular "VT". I am greatly offended to see my alma mater's logo "shot up"...it's like adding insult to injury.
weatherman222 read my blog view my photos
Apr 16, 2007 | 8:46 PM

Very good points mjustice completely agree.
ShowMeState1977
Apr 16, 2007 | 9:08 PM

Well the liberal panty-wetting didn't take long. Those horrid guns. How about those horrible people that used the guns in an unlawful manner? Let's see, how do we stop this? Oooo! More legislation! Um...no. I think that "perky blond" on your show, Jayco, said it best when she said to enforce the 20,000 gun laws on the books already.

SikUvtheRite? What is nonsensical about an armed student/professor eliminating the threat after it showed itself? You can't tell me that that would not have been beneficial.

Oh, by the way, Jayco, the "perky blond" ran circles around you an BT Rice on your report!

God bless America and the NRA!
stlweatherfanatic read my blog view my photos
Apr 16, 2007 | 9:14 PM

Once again Charles you use this horrible incident for you political agenda. PATHETIC!
stlweatherfanatic read my blog view my photos
Apr 16, 2007 | 9:16 PM

charles should we ban all foreign exchange students now, since this kid was asian?

You're probably a global warming freak typical liberal spin. Should we stop the oil companies from giving us oil!

Should we stop unions since some people disagree in their tactics.

You should carry a gun charles there are probably alot of people that HATE you.
HemiHunter
Apr 16, 2007 | 9:29 PM

Please try not to be sheep with this story. Listen and gather the facts and then evaluate. Listen to at least three news sources and pick one you do not like as well. The key to alot of these things is finding what laws (already on the books) was not enforced or broken. React to that before even talking about more laws to protect us from ourselves.

My feelings are it is never the gun or the company who made it! It is the person holding it. More laws to ban fire arms will not save you.
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Charles_Jaco

I'm a reporter for Fox 2 and host of The Jaco Report, seen Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. and Sundays at 8:30 a.m.

Member Since: 9/13/2006


 

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