Letters to the Editor

News Virginian
Published: April 21, 2007

Editorials were ill-advised

In light of the tragedy at Virginia Tech, the Media General/Richmond Times Dispatch editorial on who should be blamed and Michelle Malkin's opinion piece on gun control (TNV, 4/19/07) was highly insensitive. This is a time, as Governor Kaine pointed out, for grieving, solemnity, and contemplation - not political rhetoric. There is time enough for that debate.

Ms. Malkin also used her column to lambaste universities as hotbeds of liberalism, equating the politically charged use of the term with the mission of these institutions to provide a broad educational experience that encourages critical thought. As exemplified by the victims, Virginia Tech, as well as other state universities and colleges, provides an environment where students and faculty of different backgrounds, cultures and nationalities can converge and learn from one another. Ms. Malkin's rhetoric demeans the mission of colleges and universities in general, and the student body and faculty of Virginia Tech in particular. Shame on her.

David Colton

Waynesboro

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Malkin's column was on target

Hooray for the voice of reason!

Michelle Malkin hit the nail on the head with her piece about who is to blame for the slaughter we saw Monday in Blacksburg. Had even one person in those classrooms been carrying a sidearm, Cho Seung-Hui may not have taken as many lives as he did. No one there was able to fight back because ONLY THE CRIMINAL HAD A GUN!

Disarming the law-abiding citizens tips the advantage to the bad guys - neither the police, the university administration nor Sara Brady can be everywhere to protect people. The first responders to any crime are the victims of it, being able to defend themselves is a right enshrined in the Constitution.

What does Associate Vice President Larry Hincker find "mind boggling" now- Many of the students would indeed feel safer being able to carry legal firearms, the right to which includes safety classes on how to handle them.

As it turns out, the school administration did no one any favors by banning legal concealed carry on campus or in class. The preponderance of evidence shows no shootouts between enraged citizens with guns as the academic community predicted when laws were loosened to allow weapons to be carried in 36 states. These otherwise intelligent liberals just cannot understand the common sense facts of self-defense.

Young Mr. Cho was certifiably insane, and there are many more like him out there. They are what we need to fear, not rational people exercising their constitutional right to defend their lives and property. Monday in Blacksburg was a tough lesson; let us hope the university administration learned it well, because their misguided policy should be challenged in court for the benefit of the many against the few.

Bob Quinn

Crimora