Massacre at Virginia Tech - breaking news - pray

[Jacob4707]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3045574

[Khaleas]

As I posted in the Taverna, please keep Caleb, Hannah and their little one month old in your prayers. She has still not heard from him (busy circuits) but we're hoping for the best (he's a Marine getting his Masters there and teaching in the ROTC unit).

[Khaleas]

Update - she just heard from him and he's safe! Phew!

[Shubunkin]

Prayers for all of those involved in this. :crosseo:

I am glad he is safe!! :)

[Protoevangel]

Lord, have mercy.

[SeraphimSarov]

Lord have mercy... :crosseo::(

[Tsarina]

I read the article on yahoo news. It's just awful.

Lord, have mercy! :crosseo:

[TrueHope]

Lord Have Mercy is Right......Praying for the victims and their families!!!!!

[nikostheater]

My prayers to the victims and their families!
Lord have mercy....
(I think it's time at last to reconsider the gun laws in USA..)

[kamikat]

Lord have mercy!

[Akathist]

The lastest news is that there were two deaths in the early morning, then 31 deaths around 9:30 or so, then the gunman killed himself.... a total of 34 dead.

And 29 injured two of which were in surgury last I heard.

Many of the dead and wounded did not have ID on them so they still need to be identified.

The campus has closed and sent students and staff and faculty home.

[Dust and Ashes]

Lord have mercy.

[Khaleas]

A friend of mine's brother in law was injured so please pray for him... sorry don't have a name, but I think a 'blanket prayer' is what's needed right now.
Everyone I've seen today knows someone there and are just hoping they are fine.
Personally I don't think changing gun laws are going to change much. If you want to get a gun, you can get it, no matter how strict the laws are. It's like that everywhere. Switzerland has some of the laxest gunlaws in Europe and they have the lowest rate of deathly gun crimes in Europe.

[Dewi Sant]

I was so shocked and horrified at hearing this on the news (BBC radio 4).

Lord Have Mercy!!

I pray for those killed, those affected and for the killer(s).

[Dewi Sant]

Do forgive me.

In the early reports, the BBC was uncertain whether there was only one, or more killers.

[DonVA]

:crosseo:

[Orthocat]

There was only one and he was upset over a busted "love affair".

Underneath that story I read of one where the Mexican mafia is now filming police officers being tortured and beheaded just like the terrorists do.

Pray unceasingly for the world, for your family's safety, for the church, and the overthrow of satan who is devouring the world.

My prayers for all of you here as well. :crosseo:

[Orthocat]

and oh, hey DonVA. Long time no reading!

(I took a break during Lent on the advice of my father...prayers and fasting ya know?)

[ufonium2]

(I think it's time at last to reconsider the gun laws in USA..)

It is already illegal to have guns on campus at Virginia Tech. In fact, just last year some Virginia lawmakers tried to make a provision for trained students and faculty (those with concealed carry permits) to have guns on campus, and it was squashed in committee. The killer broke the law by having the gun, so I don't see how this is an indictment of US gun laws.

[EricTheRed]

(I think it's time at last to reconsider the gun laws in USA..)


Nice try...

[nikostheater]

Nice try...
Yes,nice try...
I know that some people in your country love more their "right" to have guns than the lives of others...

[27B6]

Lord have mercy on all affected by this atrocity.
:crosseo:

My prayers to the victims and their families!
Lord have mercy....
(I think it's time at last to reconsider the gun laws in USA..)

With all due respect, this has little to do with guns and everything to do with evil in our midst.

[27B6]

Yes,nice try...
I know that some people in your country love more their "right" to have guns than the lives of others...

This sort of snarky and uncharitable comment is uncalled for in my opinion. Might I humbly suggest that you pay more attention to your own planks?

[PaladinGirl]

What happened at Virginia Tech is truly horrible. May God have mercy on the shooter and may He rest the souls of those dead. :crossrc:

[Khaleas]

Yes,nice try...
I know that some people in your country love more their "right" to have guns than the lives of others...
Sorry but the ones who keep the right to bear arms are in general the ones who are regular, safety conscious citizens. The ones who go on massacres don't give a dime about gun safety and would get those guns anyways if they wanted to. Just like in any other country. Probably don't know but after countries in war, the country with the highest chance of dying a violent death is actually a European country. A 'western' European country on top of that...

Me, European and life member of the NRA so don't lump me in with the Americans.

But I agree, let's not turn this into some smart anti-gun thread. In this area it's pretty much a case of someone who knows someone who knows someone... Very, very sad!

[kamikat]

Many of the victims came from my area (and probably Khaleas and DonVa). We have finally heard from the one VaTech student in our parish. There was another, but he dicided to take a semester off. What the local news is now saying is that the shooter was a Korean national on a student visa. I would think that a foreign national can't legally buy a gun, no matter what the gun control law is.

[cobweb]

One of the victims (the RA at the dorm) was from my town.

I've been to VT several times. I would have never imagined that something like this would have happened there.

[Khaleas]

Many of the victims came from my area (and probably Khaleas and DonVa). We have finally heard from the one VaTech student in our parish. There was another, but he dicided to take a semester off. What the local news is now saying is that the shooter was a Korean national on a student visa. I would think that a foreign national can't legally buy a gun, no matter what the gun control law is.
VA has more lenient gun laws than MD but I know for sure that you cannot buy one if you are on a student visa. As a legal permanent resident you can after you take all the classes MD requires and clears background checks (I had to provide a police certificate and background check from Finland as well).
VA unfortunately has a fair share of shady gun dealers along with relatively lax gun laws (still within the laws). Still, the ones who want guns anyways, will get their hands on them. All it takes is a bit of moolah and that goes for anywhere.

[Khaleas]

CNN has him as a resident alien, which means he is a permanent resident and could thus get a gun legally.

[DonVA]

and oh, hey DonVA. Long time no reading!

(I took a break during Lent on the advice of my father...prayers and fasting ya know?)

I spent less time online during lent, too. As always, it's good to see you!

We did get some news from one of our parishoners that their daughter was able to contact them from Va. Tech via cell phone by texting instead of calling. She was OK, thank God.

Not sure how calling vs. texting would make a difference, but it might be good to know in the future that if you can't get a call out, try texting the person you are attempting to contact if you need to let loved ones know you are OK.

And yes, Khaleas and Kamikat are right: There's just a feeling of sadness for these families here. There is a candlelight prayer vigil in Norfolk tonight at Old Dominion University to pray for the victims and families of this massacre. President Bush plans to be at Virginia Tech for a service today at 2pm.

[kamikat]

Yeah, the local NBC recently updated their site and it now says resident alien, too.

[Khaleas]

I spent less time online during lent, too. As always, it's good to see you!

We did get some news from one of our parishoners that their daughter was able to contact them from Va. Tech via cell phone by texting instead of calling. She was OK, thank God.

Not sure how calling vs. texting would make a difference, but it might be good to know in the future that if you can't get a call out, try texting the person you are attempting to contact if you need to let loved ones know you are OK.

And yes, Khaleas and Kamikat are right: There's just a feeling of sadness for these families here. There is a candlelight prayer vigil in Norfolk tonight at Old Dominion University to pray for the victims and families of this massacre. President Bush plans to be at Virginia Tech for a service today at 2pm.
Texts are saved in the system and delivered when there is bandwidth/space in the system. Not all providers have text capability either.

Doesn't seem like this guy got his weapons legally...but at least they know where he got one of them at least.
(from Virginian Pilot)

Two law enforcement officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because the information had not been announced, said Cho's fingerprints were found on the guns used in both shootings. The serial numbers on the two weapons had been filed off, the officials said.
One law enforcement official said Cho's backpack contained a receipt for a March purchase of a Glock 9 mm pistol.

[Mary of Bethany]

So the first deaths were not random, but were targeted because of a "love triangle", then he waited a couple of hours and went on a rampage? Is that correct?

So unbelievable! Lord have mercy on us all. :crosseo:

Mary

[Matrona]

This has been following me all day. A girl in one of my classes knows one of the injured who's in the ICU, and broke down crying in class today.

And that professor who saved his class and sacrificed himself. Good Lord. :cry:

[Grand_Duchess-Elizaveta]

I have a cousin that lives in the Blacksburg area. I guess several of the victims were from her church.

Lord, have mercy on the victims who survived unharmed, on those who are fighting to survive right now, and on those who lost their life.:crosseo:

[NyssaTheHobbit]

And that professor who saved his class and sacrificed himself. Good Lord. :cry:

A Holocaust survivor, too....

[cassc]

I don't know any of the students that were affected in this tragedy but I can't help crying from time to time throughout the day. Such thoughtless violence literally makes me feel sick and I am extremely upset that the killers photos and videos are being splashed all over the media. I did not need to see such things and the families of the victims certainly did not either, if they thought this would bring them closure then they should have had the option to see these privately when they are ready. That stuff never should have gone on the air.

I pray for peace, in our hearts, homes and in the world :crosseo:
Lord have mercy:crosseo:

[Matrona]

We had a memorial service in the school chapel today. It was so sad, and I had no idea how many of my classmates and friends knew someone who was killed or injured.

[MichaelArchangelos]

The killer was a Korean immigrant who had lived in the US for 14 years. His name was Cho Seung-Hui. Other students reported him as being 'creepy', and he was admitted to a psychiatric hospital several years ago for being suicidal.

Since he died in his sins, and took his own life, would it be permissible to pray for Cho Seung-Hui and ask God to have mercy on his soul and forgive him his sins? Or has he sealed his fate?

[Protoevangel]

Since he died in his sins, and took his own life, would it be permissible to pray for Cho Seung-Hui and ask God to have mercy on his soul and forgive him his sins? Or has he sealed his fate?
I think that not only is it permissible, but it is urgent that we pray for him.

Of course, I am but a catechumen, I will defer to those wiser than I.

[Tsarina]

Lord, have mercy! :crosseo:

I watched some of the memorial services that were held. They were just so emotional, i was almost in tears. So sad!

[Matrona]

Since he died in his sins, and took his own life, would it be permissible to pray for Cho Seung-Hui and ask God to have mercy on his soul and forgive him his sins? Or has he sealed his fate?

Proclaiming that he "sealed his fate" usurps the right of judgment that rightfully belongs to God alone.

We may (and ought to) pray for his soul in our private prayers. At the memorial I attended today, they named each of the victims. The last name was his, as a "victim of his own madness."

[nikostheater]

Lord Have Mercy :crosseo: :crosseo: :crosseo:

[ByzantineDixie]

I don't know if this has already been posted...if so, please accept my apologies. Here is something from goarch and Archbishop DEMETRIOS. I found it to offer much comfort.

Condolences of Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America For Virginia Tech University Family


April 18, 2007

New York, NY - In response to the unfathomed tragedy and senseless loss of life at Virginia Tech University on Monday, April 16, 2007, Archbishop Demetrios of America has offered the fervent prayers and deepest sympathy of the Greek Orthodox faithful in America.

In a letter yesterday to Dr. Charles W. Steger, President of Virginia Tech University, Archbishop Demetrios wrote,

“This horrific incident has shattered our thoughts and hearts while we are still journeying in the period which celebrates our Lord’s victory over death and His granting to us eternal life and salvation. May the ‘Father of mercies and God of all comfort’ (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) give you, your faculty, the students and their parents the strength today and the days ahead to bear the heavy burden of this enormous loss. God promises to be with us always in times of grief and unbearable pain, even in the shadow of death.

We, at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, offer our fervent prayer for the comforting of everyone who has been affected by this act of violence. May the Lord, the Divine Comforter and Savior of humankind, grant life to all and eternal memory to those who perished.”

Archbishop Demetrios also affirms the ministry of Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF), its Virginia Tech Chapter, and International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), who are working to provide traumatic incident counseling to those who have been affected. OCF and IOCC are endorsed agencies of SCOBA, the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas. For more information please log onto www.ocf.net.

[cassc]

This is the prayer on the OCF website, I think it is worth putting here directly:

O Lord, have mercy and hear us. Send your guardian angels to surround us and protect your servants. Allay the fears and anxieties of all those who attend our nation's campuses. Calm them and give them peace. Give them hope that they may remember that You are in control and that evil, no matter how dire, cannot prevail where you are present. Help our collegians and our nation to see that the violence and stress of this world is a passing thing, and that Your Kingdom is our home. Help us, O Lord. Help us to bring healing upon all who have been slain, both in body and spirit. Help us, as well, to forgive those who behave in beastly ways, that we may not add evil for evil. Be with us and teach us to bring peace in the midst of our battlefield sorrow. Guide us to be ambassadors of your love and power. For we praise and give glory to Your most holy and peace-bearing Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.