I Don't Understand

April 16, 2007 was a day I'd like to forget. I'm just now able to write about it.

I don’t understand what makes a person change from being a nut to becoming a madman. I don’t understand how anyone can calmly and methodically gun down 32 people and feel good about it. I don’t understand how our laws can permit an obviously deranged person to move about freely in our society. I don’t understand the mass killing at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007.

Virginia Tech helped make my three children the fine, caring individuals they are today. Son Bill graduated from Tech; so did son Ronny and daughter Christine. Our daughter-in-law Katie received her master’s degree from Tech. Son-in-law Daniel earned his master’s and his Ph.D. at Tech. Hubby Ron and I traversed Interstate 81 to and from Blacksburg for 11 straight years. Tech is part of us. Tech is in our hearts and blood. So are the students who died and those who were injured.

Besides tearing families and friends apart, the sicko who caused this carnage also affected the lives of all of us. Think about it. Many of the students and professors who were murdered were brilliant individuals, some possibly capable of finding cures for diseases that have plagued society for generations. Or maybe these talented men and women would have discovered new ways to enrich our lives.

I just don’t understand.