apparently these people have never heard the term......

[birdymaker]

random act of violence.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23800034

[stroh]

I'll probably get blasted for this, but I'm not so sure I'd give in that way versus losing a loved one over a reasonable expectation safety.

I understand random acts of violence happen, and it's tragic, but somehow compensations should be made.

We are dealing with that here in the MN legislature over the 35W bridge collapse.  I believe the state "pay out" on state liable mishaps is 100k.  It's being contested. *

*Don't quote me, because I really don't pay much attention to these types of things.

[birdymaker]

HUGE difference between the state neglecting a bridge and a student going off on his peers. one is preventable the other not.

[Teed]

HUGE difference between the state neglecting a bridge and a student going off on his peers. one is preventable the other not.

Birdy,

Playing devil's advocate, some can/will/did argue that the VT shooting was preventable.  I'm not on that side of the fence, I'm just saying.

[birdymaker]

where's tom cruise when you need him? 

[hobbit]

HUGE difference between the state neglecting a bridge and a student going off on his peers. one is preventable the other not.

Birdy,

Playing devil's advocate, some can/will/did argue that the VT shooting was preventable.  I'm not on that side of the fence, I'm just saying.

Yes, many will argue that - but I think it too dangerous a precedent to set if the penalties are punitive to the state.  Compensation is fine, but if they are looking to punish the state, or get rich, for a random act of violence, thats different.  We'd basically be asking for mandatory psychiatric analysis, follow-up, and a removal of rights for anyone behaving outside of social 'norms'.  The reaction to getting punished for lack of action may result in action taken too often based upon a damage control mentality.  Thought crimes and thought police have been discussed by many before - George Orwell made sure of it.

Besides, the 'state' may lock up aske 

[Walfredo]

I just don't see how school administators need to be held accountable for this tragedy. 

However, I understand the families of the victims having a difficult time saying okay my loved one is worth $100,000 to me. 

No good way to settle something like this. 

[hobbit]

However, I understand the families of the victims having a difficult time saying okay my loved one is worth $100,000 to me. 

I know thats brought up a lot, but its a horrible, horrible way of thinking about it.  Its not about what a life is worth - it simply cannot be.  Anyone trying to make it so is only causing pain to themselves and others.

[spacey]

I think a "reasonable expectation of safety" on a college campus includes things like fire safety, adequate lighting, etc. I have a hard time seeing how the school or the state can reasonably and effectively protect against a situation like this without turning the campus into a secure military installation. Is that really what anyone wants?

The typical knee-jerk reaction to things like this is: we need more campus security, we need metal detectors, we need rabid toddler-eating pit bulls with AIDS at every entrance, etc. But I think the fact remains that while some of that may or may not have prevented a shooting on campus, the guy was going to shoot up some place. If not the campus, perhaps the mall, if not the mall, perhaps the zoo. How does the state keep every potential public spot completely safe, and can or should they be expected to?

The shooting might have been preventable, but only (IMHO) before the fact, ie- keeping a gun out of his hand in the first place. I have a hard time envisioning what a (and I stress) reasonable  defense system might have been to prevent him once he was committed to the act.

[Clive]

If you're looking to prevent such harm at essentially every similar public venue, then the question becomes whether to implement a locked-down police state everywhere or to prevent the person from being able to carry out the deed.

Essentially, target either the theaters or the actors.  At some point, one becomes more economical and more efficient than the other.  (Not that it must be either/or, but it's more an issue of resource allocation.)