The Investigation of the Virginia Tech Shootings

By Dennis Lormel

Why is it that a number of media representatives reporting on the Virginia Tech shootings continue to work the blame angle? It amazes me that whenever there is a tragic incident like Monday or 9/11, we have to rush to judgment to blame an agency, institution or law enforcement for the horrific events. We live in a great country, with tremendous liberties and freedoms. In a free and open society, we are at extreme risk and vulnerable to acts of terrorism, hate and misguided violence such as we witnessed on Monday in Blacksburg.

The underlying problem in this instance isn’t the administration at Virginia Tech, law enforcement, or mental health officials. Cho Seung Hui was a seriously troubled individual long before he came to Virginia Tech. The problem emanates not from Virgina Tech but from systemic weaknesses and faults attributed to our society.

Virginia Governor Timothy Kaine is to be commended. He understands the scope of the problem. In creating an independent panel to review the situation and in announcing that the inquiry was designed not to affix blame for Monday’s catastrophe but to understand its causes and put in place safeguards to reduce the chances of a recurrence, Governor Kaine has ensured that meaningful steps have been taken to move forward. It’s critically important to identify all relevant issues, potential solutions and to make meaningful recommendations to minimize systemic vulnerabilities.

It would be nice if those media members still playing the blame game could comprehend the meaning of Governor Kaine’s mandate for the independent inquiry. Instead of looking for the right person or entity to blame, let’s look to identify the multitude of systemic flaws that enabled a disturbed young man to commit such a heinous act.

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