Keep Politics Away From VT’s April 16 Events
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The News & Advance
Published: April 9, 2008
In just a few days on April 16, the Virginia Tech community will mark the somber one-year anniversary of Seung-Hui Cho’s massacre of 32 people on the Blacksburg campus.
For the Hokie family, it probably simultaneously feels like a lifetime has passed since the horrors of that day and like it was just yesterday. Though much may seem as if it’s returned to normal in Blacksburg and on the Tech campus, just below the surface are the still-festering sores from that day.
University officials plan a remembrance service next week, and dignitaries from across the commonwealth and nation, including Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, will be on hand.
Unfortunately, so too will protesters.
Chief among them will be members of the Brady Campaign to Stop Gun Violence. Initially, the group planned a 32-person “lie-in” for the Tech drillfield April 16, symbolizing each of Cho’s 32 victims. A problem arose when Brady Campaign staffers sent out news releases about the lie-in before speaking with university officials.
That’s a problem, because the university requires any group to get an assembly permit from the school’s police department; also the university doesn’t allow groups not affiliated with the school from assembling on grounds.
Here’s the quick lowdown: Tech officials should stand firm and deny any assembly permit request. From any group. Period.
There’s a place for such demonstrations and protests. The state Capitol in Richmond was the scene of just such an event earlier this year when the General Assembly was debating gun control laws in the wake of the massacre.
Brady Campaign activists, along with people affiliated with the gun-control group ProtestEasyGuns.com and other organizations, were all over the Capitol grounds, protesting. So too were folks on the opposite side of the issue, including Gun Owners of America, a group as rabidly opposed to any gun-control laws as the Brady folks are rabidly in favor of any and every gun law.
The halls of the state Capitol are where you’d expect politics over the issue to erupt, there and on the Opinion pages of newspapers across the state and in town hall discussions of all types. It might be unseemly, it might be in questionable taste, but … .
But not at the university’s memorial service on the one-year anniversary.
That is a solemn occasion, a painful occasion for the families and friends of the victims and the university family at large. For a group of activists, such as the Brady Campaign or anyone else, to want to use an event like this to score crass, political points is beyond comprehending.
The Brady folks and their supporters and the university may yet reach a compromise, a deal on the protest request, the politics of political correctness being what they are today.
But they shouldn’t.
To anyone thinking of showing up on the Tech campus next Wednesday for a protest on either side of the issue, we have just one, time-honored question: “Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?”
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Posted by ( Michael Crouch ) on April 12, 2008 at 8:30 am
Editor:
I am writing this letter in response to the editorial entitled “Keep Politics Away From VT’s April 16 Events” that was published online April 9th, 2008. While I agree with you that this day will be a very somber day for the Virginia Tech family and the rest of the nation as well; I do not agree with your ideologies of keeping politics away. The group in question, the Brady Group, is trying to convey the message to stop gun violence. The 32 person “lie-in” that was planned to represent the 32 victims may seem a little intense for some, yet it helps remind us all of how detrimental it is to help stop gun violence. One of our greatest gifts in this country is our freedom of speech. This wonderful freedom we have is not just limited to verbal expressions but any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of which mediums are used. We can’t take that away simply because some believe the timing and location aren’t the best. In my opinion, there really couldn’t be a better place for such a planned protest. The site of the actual barbarity that took place has caused much grief over the past year. Allowing the group to use the tragic site could actually do some good in the way of preventing such an occurrence again. While the lives of many have finally moved on, the atrocity that happened at Virginia Tech last April will never be forgotten. The pain that our neighbors have endured should never have to be passed on. There were many events that led up to that day allowing it to unfold as it did, and with the way things are currently, it could still lead to another tragedy. The assailant never should have been allowed to purchase a gun, per federal law, after being declared mentally ill. In Virginia there is a loophole which allows felons and the mentally ill to bypass background checks when buying from gun shows since the law only mandates that licensed dealers perform background checks. While I am all in favor of people’s right to bear arms, I think a little more caution should be taken in the way Virginia mandates the distribution of guns. There is an important message that needs to get through. If the Brady Group feels that the planned protest would be most effective at Virginia tech rather than the Capital, then they should be welcomed with open arms. They are not trying to hurt anyone but just the opposite by attempting to make this world a little safer. Cracking down on gun violence should be applauded no matter the location. As philosopher George Santayana once stated, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Virginia rejected the gun show loop-hole this past January. Let our voices be heard, our actions be seen, and our emotions felt. God bless Virginia Tech. Sincerely Yours, Michael Crouch
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Posted by ( Cosmo Wafflefoot ) on April 11, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Sorry “grounded” but I could not disagree with you more. If I put myself in the place of the parents of the murdered students I wouldn’t be praying, I wouldn’t give a fig about the VT community “coming together” and I couldn’t care less about what YOU think will be comforting to me. My child is dead! In their memory there is only ONE thing that I can do to attempt to give their death meaning. Move heaven and earth to change the laws so it doesn’t happen to another persons child. These services are NOT for the dead. This is public relations. I am left scratching my head here over your statement…“But I also believe that the ceremony coming up should be solely for the victims, they shouldn’t have to share the ceremony with protesters.“ THE VICTIMS ARE DEAD! If they could cry out from the grave, what do you think they would be saying? “Make guns easy to get.“... or… “Everybody did everything right, that’s why we are dead.“... or… “Hey, don’t let WHY we are dead interfere with your fun coming together today.“ I meant what I said before. If my child died that day and I saw some redneck gun lover holding a sign that said ANYTHING pro gun…. The VT security guards wouldn’t stop me either. If I saw 10,000 people protesting easy-access gun laws, I would kiss them all!
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Posted by ( Grounded ideas ) on April 11, 2008 at 10:18 am
Thank you clint for putting the VT community first. I have tremendous respect for someone who thinks of others before themselves, especially on a hotbutton issue like gun-control.
To wafflefoot,
In your first posting you presented yourself as someone who was standing up for the families of the VT community. You asked the author of the original article to “[c]ontact the families of the murdered students. Ask them if THEY are in favor of stricter gun access laws (wafflefoot).“ You also insinuated that the 10,000 people coming to honor the fallen were there to protest the easy gun laws. I find that comment to be oversimplified. The 10,000 attending next weeks ceremony will likely be there to show support for the VT community, NOT a political rally.
In your most recent posting you quoted me when you used the terms “debate and argue” but later on you used the same quotation marks when YOU said, ‘Well, we can deal with this some time when it’s more convenient (wafflefoot).“ I never said this and you missquoted me by putting quotation marks around the statement. However, it was probably by mistake and that is forgivable.
The point trying to be made is not that you can’t say what you want, the cheerful bantering that you and I are enjoying right now is that freedom. If someone was trying to remove that right I would happily join you in protest, but that is not the case here.
In reference to VT not allowing protesters to assemble and protest gun laws on campus you said “[w]e don’t need permission (wafflefoot).“ The VT community has repeatedly asked protestors not to protest! In earlier arguments, written by yourself, you have pegged yourself as supporting the VT community affected by this tradegy, yet when the VT community askes protestors to come supporting the families without their picket lines you immediately use the communist analogy of China. No one is trying to take away your right to free speech! They are just asking your to temporarily put yourself on hold and comfort those in pain.
The protest that you support is a POLITICAL rally because they are asking the GOVERNMENT to pass LAWS that restrict firearms further. You have been quoted as saying that “Virgiina and VT want this to just go away(wafflefoot).“ and that “If Virginia and VT can’t face it, outsiders will have to show them that damage control of the Hokie image Without first moving heaven and earth to ensure this never happens again, is reprehensible(wafflefoot).“ What exactly is VT not facing? Is it that 32 of their brothers and sisters were killed? They have faced it and the commemoration of the fallen set to take place this coming week is honoring THEM. They have asked to protestors to allow them to grieve and honor their loved ones. I agree with you that the discussion of gun control should continue. But I also believe that the ceremony coming up should be solely for the victims, they shouldn’t have to share the ceremony with protestors. It’s not a matter of political correctness or convenience, it’s a matter of morality. Protesting at this event is the same to me as protesting at a dead soldiers funeral. It’s just wrong.
I ask you to take a deep breath and think about your position. Ask yourself if you are acting in the best interest of the VT community. I personally believe that you care a great deal about what happened and you were among the millions that prayed for God’s intervention and protection during last years tragedy.
Sincerely,
Grounded ideas
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Posted by ( Cosmo Wafflefoot ) on April 11, 2008 at 8:40 am
Clint? Is this a joke? “However, the VCDL has already announced that they will NOT be in attendance at the Virginia Tech memorial service”...? How big of you. You are using the same kind of reasoning that Muslims in New York used right after 9/11 when they decided not to “express” their Muslim views around the World Trade Center ruins. LOOK, NOBODY wants to take away your guns! Have all you want. BUT, if you do not do what must be done to keep mentally ill people from getting their hands on them so easily you MUST accept responsibility! THAT is what any protesters that may show up are talking about. NOT taking away grandpa’s shotgun or your hunting rifle or target pistol. If my child were murdered at VT as a result of the absurdly lax laws in Virginia and you showed up with a sign saying how in favor of guns you were….. I sware to all things holy I would be tempted to kill you myself. Very wise of you to stay away.
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Posted by ( Clint ) on April 10, 2008 at 7:07 pm
The highest representation of any pro-rights group at the State Capitol this past January was the Virginia Citizens Defense League, a grassroots, state-level pro-gun group. We have always met the cited anti-rights groups head on at their protests.
However, the VCDL has already announced that they will NOT be in attendance at the Virginia Tech memorial service as a group or as counter-protesters, whether the administration caves in to the anti-rights crowd or not. We agree with the author of the article that it is in extremely poor taste to do so, especially in light of the strong objection voiced by the majority of the student body.
The VT chapter of the Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC) have also released a statement that there will be no activity from their group on the 16th on or off campus. Many members of that group were affected in a very personal way by the terrible tragedy of that day.
The VCDL continues to express its sincerest condolences to the friends and families of those who suffered loss. It would be below despicable to politicize upon the memorial service.
Godspeed Virginia Tech.
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Posted by ( Cosmo Wafflefoot ) on April 10, 2008 at 4:48 pm
( Grounded ideas ) ? Where do you get the idea this is politics? What’s political? In Virginia, OBVIOUSLY, the gun laws are such that profoundly mentally ill people can EASILLY get access to guns and commit mass murder! Please tell us all what there is about those facts that we should “debate and argue” about. I don’t see it. That is why people will protest. Virginia and VT want this to just go away. It ain’t happening! Dozens of children are dead as a result of a system that doesn’t work. I don’t want to pretend that it does or that a reasonable person would think, “Well, we can deal with this some time when it’s more convenient.“ That would be the biggest insult to the memories of the dead I can think of. By not confronting this problem already Virginia and VT have taken the position that it is more important to posture and put on a nice face for the public. Children are dead. If Virginia and VT can’t face it, outsiders will have to show them that damage control of the Hokie image WITHOUT first moving heaven and earth to ensure this never happens again, is reprehensible.
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Posted by ( SpencerO ) on April 10, 2008 at 2:09 pm
I agree with you Cosmo. This tragedy would have never happened had it not been so easy to obtain a gun. The Brady organization has a right to assmbly in a peaceful manner.
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Posted by ( Grounded ideas ) on April 10, 2008 at 1:23 pm
I read what Mr. or Mrs. Wafflefoot had to say and I think I understand what he or she is trying to say. But I think the point of the article, as well as what I had to say, is that there are proper channels to go through for things of this nature. Protestors could picket the NRA headquarters or send letters to their congressman and it would be just as effective, maybe even more so. I agree that this is America and debate is welcome, but a person is responsible for how they go about doing it. Although what happened at Virginia Tech has provided a national stage for this topic, a ceremony commemorating the fallen is not the place to pick up our torches and march the streets. There will always be time to debate and argue in the future, but in six days time we will have the opportunity to come together and show those involved that we care. They should be the focus of the ceremony; not a political protest.
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Posted by ( Cosmo Wafflefoot ) on April 10, 2008 at 2:55 am
Correct me if I am wrong, but, Virginia is still part of America isn’t it? Or, are we already part of China? In America we have the right to express our opinions. We don’t need permission. In all honesty, if I were the parent of a murdered student at VT nothing would make me happier or give me more hope than seeing 10,000 people protesting the “Easy gun laws” that enabled a mentally ill person to so easilly murder my child. If, on the other hand, I saw one person supporting easy access to guns I would be tempted to get one myself, and use it, then and there! What’s “crass” about the Brady Campaign wanting to save lives? Since when did my RIGHT to peacefully assemble become a matter of “political correctness”? You speak of a sense of decency? I will go you one better because actions speak louder than words. Contact the families of the murdered students. Ask them if THEY are in favor of stricter gun access laws. If they do not respond overwhelmingly in the affirmative, I will eat one of your newspapers on the Capital steps. Sunday edition! The only thing that “lacks a sense of decency” here is an editorial that pretends that the murders of one year ago had nothing to do with gun control laws. Yet another in a long line of pathetic excuses for not blaming anybody but a profoundly mentally ill boy who found it so much easier to get guns in Virginia and at VT than he did to get the help he so obviously needed desperately. Shame on you.
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Posted by ( Grounded ideas ) on April 09, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Dear editor,
I am horrified that people would use what VT went through to score some political idea. What they are doing is preying upon the emotions of the family of those killed and surviving victims of one of the most terrible events our nation has ever seen. I, as I am sure many other people, have very stong opinions of what gun control should or shouldn’t be, but what this group is doing is heartless. The people who were hurt that day I never knew, and probably would never know but they were still my brothers and sisters as Americans. I remember watching the news last april and praying for God’s protection for those trapped. That was a day when millions of Americans lifted up Virginia Tech in prayer, and those prayers continue to flow today. April 16th is a day to remember the hero’s who stood up to protect the fallen. It is a day to remember those lost, and remember that although evil remains in the world around us, hope and love will still find a way.
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