Virginia Tech

The fatal shootings at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University tapped into a deep sickness in American society, and I don't necessarily mean guns. It's about the alienation and depression among our population. In a country where people are increasingly alone, frustrated, and unable to cope with reality, it shows how our nation's soul is becoming empty and devoid of direction. The fact that the student was a legal resident from South Korea has no bearing on this, as he had lived here since he was eight years old and barely remembered his homeland. We will never know what led him to direct so much rage at others and commit such inexcusable acts, but hopefully we will be able to discern some clues to what made him and tick and ultimately set him off, so we can prevent the next university campus shooting.

Don't expect this tragedy to change the dynamic of the gun control debate. As long as the well-funded and politically powerful (and politically connected) NRA holds the upper hand, nothing is going to change. :-(