Unfortunately, as a psychologist, I know that prediction of future violence is one of the most difficult things to accomplish with any accuracy. Even today, with all of the research at our disposal, the best predictor of future violence remains past violence. You could make a case that the VA Tech shooter DID present evidence of violence in his creative writings, but very few people who write about violence actually go out and commit it.

For those who believe that the answer would have been to involuntarily commit the shooter to a psychiatric hospital, I ask that you consider how you would feel if you were the one being involuntarily committed for things that you had written for a college class. Most of us believe strongly in maintaining our personal freedom unless we have actually committed a crime.

For those of you who believe that notifying the parents of the shooter would have been the answer–picture yourself as a young adult in your twenties. Would you have wanted your college authorities to notify your parents about the state of your mental health? (well, perhaps, depending on your relationship with your parents). But, even if they had been notified, then what? The shooter was an adult. His parents have no legal authority over his actions any more. Even if they had wanted to commit him to a psych hospital, they would have had to have gotten a court order to do so, which is not very easy to do.

My heart goes out to all the victims of this tragedy. Are there things that we might have done differently? Perhaps. We should definitely talk about it. But unfortunately, I don’t think we will ever be able to prevent all situations like this.

This is a sad event and I am sick of idiots using it for their own purposes…

Self absorbed assholes. Not to mention idiots.

Sorry, I’m kinda sliming up your comments here, but I am really angry at this. When I heard about it, and finally heard that W was going to be making a statement, all I thought was “please do not let him say that this is no argument for gun control” but of course he did say it. He couldn’t just deal with the tragedy, say it was terrible, and not try to get in a fucking political dig. What an asshole.

I feel so sad for everyone who was there, and their families. So terribly sad. Isn’t that enough, without trying to lay blame every which way?

I think Monday Morning quarterbacks would be the ones peeing in their pants if/when the same type of situation were to come upon them.