Gunman Kills 21 on Virginia Tech campus

[DickHardman]

I'd rather get killed protecting other people than get killed hiding underneath a desk.

oh im sure you would. that still doesnt mean you will be able to when the time arises.

[treelizard]

it would have increased the chances of stopping the rampaging gunman, thats for sure.

So if you have a gun, you suddenly have the time and clarity of mind to stop an attacker? I'm all for guns, but if you need a gun to be able to fight back you should get additional training.

[treelizard]

oh im sure you would. that still doesnt mean you will be able to when the time arises.

I'm about a zillion times more likely to than someone who has decided ahead of time that nobody is capable of fighting back.

[DickHardman]

So if you have a gun, you suddenly have the time and clarity of mind to stop an attacker? I'm all for guns, but if you need a gun to be able to fight back you should get additional training.

um, a gun is faster to operate than walking over to an object, picking that object up, then walking over to your target, and then trying to hit him with it.

in fact, that is the whole idea behind the gun. to hit people with objects from were you stand.

[DickHardman]

I'm about a zillion times more likely to than someone who has decided ahead of time that nobody is capable of fighting back.

i dont know about that. thats highly debatable.

[treelizard]

um, a gun is faster to operate than walking over to an object, picking that object up, then walking over to your target, and then trying to hit him with it.

in fact, that is the whole idea behind the gun. to hit people with objects from were you stand.

So what's faster, getting out a gun or dropping under a desk?

[Sagacious Lu]

A gun would help but even without a gun you just need a guy to pick up the fucking table and rush him and another guy to go around the side and slam him with a chair. Or SOMETHING. I'm sure once they started other people would be more likely to help.

Maybe, but the odds on that idea suck. The thing is even if you have the right to carry a concealed weapon normally you can't in a school. That means that if you bring a weapon into a school you have the only weapon in the building. That puts a lot of power into the hands of a person who's willing to break the law.

[treelizard]

i dont know about that. thats highly debatable.

You have to act as decisively and as fast or faster as the attacker. Period. If you don't think you can do that or that it's possible when you're NOT in a situation you're not going to develop that ability DURING a situation. So while it's true that some people may say they would do something and not actually do it, I think it's pretty impossible for someone who doesn't even THINK he can take action to take action.

[treelizard]

The odds on hiding under a desk suck more. I'd rather go out fighting.

And guns aren't the only weapon. A pen is a weapon. A desk is a weapon.

[DickHardman]

So what's faster, getting out a gun or dropping under a desk?

hitting the enter key on your keyboard to post superhero fantasy replies of what you would or wouldnt do if you were in certain situations that you werent in is much faster than both of those.

[treelizard]

hitting the enter key on your keyboard to post superhero fantasy replies of what you would or wouldnt do if you were in certain situations that you werent in is much faster than both of those.

Whatever. Go hide under a desk.

[DickHardman]

The odds on hiding under a desk suck more. I'd rather go out fighting.

And guns aren't the only weapon. A pen is a weapon. A desk is a weapon.

those are good weapons against people that arent armed with multiple firearms and tons of spare ammo.

martial arts training isnt the same as surviving urban assaults. theres a reason heavily armed commandos were sent into the campus.

[treelizard]

If you try something, you at least have a chance. And people HAVE protected others from guys with multiple firearms.

[Sagacious Lu]

The odds on hiding under a desk suck more. I'd rather go out fighting.

And guns aren't the only weapon. A pen is a weapon. A desk is a weapon.

I'm not advocating hiding under a desk- I have no idea what might or might not have worked because I wasn't there but anything is better than hiding under a desk. I'm just saying that these things have been happening periodically ever since Columbine. A good place to start putting a stop to these incidents might be changing that law. Hell, maybe teachers should be encouraged to carry a concealed weapon.

[DickHardman]

I'm not advocating hiding under a desk- I have no idea what might or might not have worked because I wasn't there but anything is better than hiding under a desk. I'm just saying that these things have been happening periodically ever since Columbine. A good place to start putting a stop to these incidents might be changing that law. Hell, maybe teachers should be encouraged to carry a concealed weapon.

that wouldnt be a bad idea, give teachers a gov issue basic pistol and some training. at least they wont be completely helpless.

or just beef up security at schools.