Keep Us Safe

I don't want to cast stones at VT's leadership. I know they did not intentionally do anything that would put the student body in jeopardy.

However, one glaring fact should be obvious to all: You, not someone in a position of any kind of leadership, are responsible for your own safety.

Last year, Virginia Tech spokesman Larry Hincker uttered these words after a pro self-defense measure was killed in the state legislature: "I'm sure the university community is appreciative of the General Assembly's actions because this will help parents, students, faculty and visitors feel safe on our campus."

"Feeling safe" is not the same as actual safety - in fact, I'd call it faux safety. I'd venture a guess that most people across the nation generally feel this kind of faux safety. This is just one of the many, many reasons that everyone is so shocked at this tragedy. Aren't schools supposed to be safe places? Yes - but the reality is they are not. There is no safe place. No church, no school, no business...

The police were across campus investigating a double homicide. Again - I am not casting stones. How were they to know that the madman was still on the loose and ready to kill again? But that is the point, isn't it? How could they know?

The fact is, we aren't secure. There is very little to prevent another dummy from going on a murderous rampage anywhere - be it with guns, knives, bombs...

There are evil people in the world. Good-intentioned people often forget this. What sounds reasonable at the time (CCW holders couldn't carry on campus) to the good-intentioned person now looks villainous.

No one cares more about your well-being than you. You are ultimately responsible for your own safety, and I am responsible for my safety.

No matter how many good-intentioned people in positions of leadership try to make us feel safe - they aren't able to do eliminate our risk. They can't. But what they can do is effectively play ostrich with sweet-sounding measures.

I am not advocating breaking any laws (i.e. illegally carrying). I am simply reminding all who read that evil people do exist - and good-intentioned people often don't acknowledge or fully fathom this. As we have seen at Virginia Tech, the road to hell is still paved with good intentions.