Bradford B. Wiles, a graduate student at Virginia Tech wrote the following editorial in The Roanoke Times :

. . . We were interrupted in class and not informed of anything other than the following words: “You need to get out of the building.”

Upon exiting the classroom, we were met at the doors leading outside by two armor-clad policemen with fully automatic weapons, plus their side arms. Once outside, there were several more officers with either fully automatic rifles and pump shotguns, and policemen running down the street, pistols drawn.

It was at this time that I realized that I had no viable means of protecting myself.

Please realize that I am licensed to carry a concealed handgun in the commonwealth of Virginia, and do so on a regular basis. However, because I am a Virginia Tech student, I am prohibited from carrying at school because of Virginia Tech’s student policy, which makes possession of a handgun an expellable offense, but not a prosecutable crime.

I had entrusted my safety, and the safety of others to the police. In light of this, there are a few things I wish to point out.

First, I never want to have my safety fully in the hands of anyone else, including the police.

Second, I considered bringing my gun with me to campus, but did not due to the obvious risk of losing my graduate career, which is ridiculous because had I been shot and killed, there would have been no graduate career for me anyway.

Third, and most important, I am trained and able to carry a concealed handgun almost anywhere in Virginia and other states that have reciprocity with Virginia, but cannot carry where I spend more time than anywhere else because, somehow, I become a threat to others when I cross from the town of Blacksburg onto Virginia Tech’s campus.

Of all of the emotions and thoughts that were running through my head that morning, the most overwhelming one was of helplessness.

That feeling of helplessness has been difficult to reconcile because I knew I would have been safer with a proper means to defend myself.

I would also like to point out that when I mentioned to a professor that I would feel safer with my gun, this is what she said to me, “I would feel safer if you had your gun.”

The policy that forbids students who are legally licensed to carry in Virginia needs to be changed.

I am qualified and capable of carrying a concealed handgun and urge you to work with me to allow my most basic right of self-defense, and eliminate my entrusting my safety and the safety of my classmates to the government.

This incident makes it clear that it is time that Virginia Tech and the commonwealth of Virginia let me take responsibility for my safety.

The event described by Mr. Wiles did not occur last WEEK. It occurred last AUGUST. His editorial was published on AUGUST 31, 2006!

Yes, Mr. Wiles, it is time that your university and your state allow you to take responsibility for your safety. Past time.

For all of those so hot to impose legislation in response to the VT tragedy, I suggest you start lobbying your representatives now to legalize prostitution in the commonwealth.  Now please follow me on this:

Chastity Frye, who works for an “escort” service, claims that last month she spent about an hour with the murderous scumbag who shall not be named on this blog.  She also claims they did not have sex - although he tried to climb on top of her . . .

Hmmm.  Couple of thoughts running through my mind about this revelation (besides the obvious: mothers who name their daughters “chastity” are begging for trouble.)  Suppose she had been legally able to have sex with the murderous scumbag who shall not be named on this blog?  Think he would’ve gone through with his diabolical  scheme if she had??   I say no -  for the same reason your dog makes a much better pet after he’s neutered.  Testosterone thingy I don’t understand . . . but it’s true.

Anyway - legalize prostitution, tax the hell out of it and use the revenue to build tunnels and bridges to every brothel in northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.  Just keep your hands off the 2nd amendment.

From the young . . .

to the old . . .

and everyone in between . . .

MARTINSVILLE

IS

PART

OF

THE

HOKIE NATION!!

PREVAIL

Sadly, I can’t name any of the victims of the Columbine High School tragedy . . . but I remember the names of the cowards who committed that heinous atrocity. . .

I can’t name any of the victims of the Oklahoma City Bombing . . . but I remember the name of the cowardly monster convicted and put to death for that almost unspeakable act . . .

Other than David Koresch, I can’t remember the names of the victims of the Waco, Texas massacre . . . but I remember the name of the attorney general who approved that attack . . .

I applaud FoxNews and other mainstream media outlets who have decided to stop airing the rantings of the cowardly murderer who shall not be named on this blog. It’s time to differentiate between the ramblings of a madman and a manifesto. I only hope that the airing of his vile “poop” hasn’t inspired other troubled, mentally ill, loner, sun-glass wearing, picked-on in high school, losers to follow suit. His meaningless opinions mean nothing to me. I would much rather be hearing the opinions, hopes, dreams and plans of the people he took from us . . . they matter . . . he does not.

Now is the time for healing: A grieving family, friends and community knows no politics. They only know that suddenly there is a giant hole in the place where their hearts used to be . . life as they knew it, as recently as this past Sunday, will never be the same. To them, it doesn’t matter if the cowardly murderer who will not be named on this blog was influenced by the far left, the far right or far away space aliens. It simply does not matter.

Yesterday, at the convocation at Virginia Tech, Governor Kaine reminded us of what sets Virginia apart from other states - we are not just lines on a map, we are a commonwealth, a community. That is so very evident here in Martinsville. If I wasn’t still reeling from the shock of this tragedy, I’d swear there was a VT football game being held here. Everywhere you go you see old men in VT baseball hats, kids in VT t-shirts and hoodies - even some car flags!  I guess scenes like this are being played out all over our commonwealth.  If any good can be drawn from this horrific event, I hope that it can be a continued spirit of unity.

Certainly bickering over blogrolls at a time like this is not only petty, it’s absurd.

My Yoda sent me this message after she paid her respects on the drill field at Tech today:

Today was sad and yet hopeful. I was not the only alumnus there. I saw people that graduated 30 years ago and just as recently as last May. One girl standing next to me by the big VT erected by on the edge of the Drill Field. She graduated last year and we both exchanged smiles and tears and shock. Many alumnus brought their children. I am grateful to the person that erected this VT. It gives all of us Hokies a place to focus the pain.

Maybe I am sounding selfish when I say this (or naive) but I still can’t understand…Blacksburg? On a campus where ROTC, hippies and frat kids can exist peacefully for all these years (one friend of mine a few years ago mentioned “one nation, under the Hokie Bird.”)? And the guy was an English major! Those were the most laid back people I knew (except for their OCD belief in correct spelling…BAH!). Of course, after seeing the video tape, for an English major he did not seem to speak or write very well.

This is sad…and it sounds like to me after all this latest news that the system at VT for tracking issues like this needs to be updated. And hopefully other schools will learn a lesson from this. Of course, weren’t schools supposed to learn something after Columbine?

I, like so many others, keep wavering between anger, sorrow, and hope…

I write that the day was hopeful not only because of the sun that was shining but I saw so many people reaching out to help. As I said earlier other alumni were there…to heal wounds and to just listen. Ivan asked me “Is it normal for all of these people to wear the school colors like this every day?” By the looks of it, until you got to the Drill Field you would have believed it was football Saturday. There is a pride there that I can’t fully explain. So many students stayed as if defiant against this aggression…this is our school and we are not leaving!

I have never felt more proud to be a Hokie.

This unity may be tested in the days to come as Scott has heard “distant rumblings” that a nasty hate group might try to spread their venom at the funerals of our fallen:

I have heard some rumblings throughout some law enforcement circles and others that Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church hate group (www.godhatesfags.org) are planning to disrupt as many Virgina Tech funerals as possible with protests.

This is the group, that has in the past, disrupted funerals of fallen service members from Afghanistan and Iraq as well as other conflicts.

I have contacted the Patriot Guard Riders, and although this is outside of their charter, I am hoping they can shed some light on the rumor and if true, position some Riders to shield the families.

Legally, there is very little law enforcement would be able to do as long as the protesters did not interfere with the funeral or create a disturbance.

If you hear of something like this please let me know.

To them I say, “Bring it on!” We’ve only just begun to unite and you ain’t seen nothin’ yet . . .

Today and in the coming days of healing,

WE ARE ALL HOKIES.

Godspeed.

Editor’s note: I am one of the 12,000 people without electricity in the Martinsville/Henry Co. area. When it’s restored, you best believe I have a lot to say about this tragedy.

On any given day, you might be sassy, surly, or sweet, but people always know your name. You’re there for your best pals through the good times and the bad times, and you’ve got a talent for turning everything into the best times. Now that’s something to toast!

Which ’80s TV Show Are You?