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Stupid.

By Chris | October 13, 2007

There was notice of potential lawsuits today, regarding the VA Tech shooting six months ago.  The lawyers seem to think that the the police didn’t do their job.

More than two hours elapsed between the dormitory slayings and Cho’s rampage at Norris Hall, and police initially thought the first shootings were an act of domestic violence. Grenier’s notices to the town alleged that Blacksburg police, who were among officers who responded, “failed to conduct a reasonably thorough and professionally appropriate investigation.”

Welllll, if they thought the initial shootings were because of domestic violence, then it’s not necessarily something that everyone and their brother would be notified for (I think, anyway).  I mean, let’s think about this…  the lawyer…. who wasn’t there….. is criticizing the police department…..who was there.

Grenier also contended that town officials failed to take steps to protect Virginia Tech students.

I might have to say that it’s not directly the town officials fault - how about the University PD or Security personnel?  I mean, the town provides protection for the rest of the citizens of their town.  I guess because it’s a school (with its own security force) they need special treatment.  Next time someone gets killed in Charleston or North Charleston, sue the municipality for not doing enough to protect the citizens. (rolls eyes)

University students and employees were not notified of the first shootings for more than two hours, and Grenier said the e-mail notice sent by school officials “was inaccurate and incomplete” and “unlikely to sufficiently advise students of the serious risks posed to their safety.”

Once again - if they thought it was not a crime of the magnitude that it turned out being, why would they notify everyone? Suppose it was just an act of CDV - they notify the world, panic sets in, kids don’t go to class - a day of education is lost because of overreaction.  Also, if it was an investigation in progress, emailing out additional details may not be the best thing.  Everyone knows that LE does not notify people of many things from an investigation.   We may also be able to assume that maybe LE didn’t know enough to send out an email, which may explain the ‘inaccurate and incomplete’ messages.

Society today is too litigious.  Anyone can bring suit against anyone.  The shooting at VA Tech was indeed tragic, and no, it shouldn’t have happened.  But like I stated in my only other post on the matter was that apparently the suspect was just sane enough to be able to get a weapon and on this planet there are bound to be some errant human beings.   All this lawsuit is going to do is force educational institutions to purchase expensive notification systems that are reactionary in nature:  they’re generally only going to be useful after an event like this.  You can’t page out “warning, there may be a shooting today.”  They’ll have to do this in order to avoid potential lawsuits, since this one would set precedent.  Look forward to higher tuition everywhere (as if it isn’t high enough already).

Topics: News, Public Safety |

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