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Learning From Tragedy
Panel discusses lessons 14 months after Virginia Tech massacre.
By Mirza Kurspahic, Centre View
Thursday, June 19, 2008
The April 16, 2007, tragedy at Virginia Tech struck a chord in Fairfax County for many reasons, not least of which is that five of the 32 victims and the shooter hailed from the area. Discussing the aftermath of the tragedy almost 14 months after it, fathers of the two victims met with legislators and experts to discuss some lessons learned from the massacre.
"Our angel Reema, Mary Read and other children, and their professors were such creative, positive and inclusive people," said Joe Samaha, father of Reema Samaha, one of the victims of the tragedy. "We know they would want to fix the wrongs that led to the tragedy," said Joe Samaha, who along with other members of the family and friends founded Angel Fund, established to honor the victims and learn the lessons from the tragedy to help ensure it does not happen again.
Angel Fund produced an educational forum on Tuesday night, June 10, at the St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Reston. The panel included Joe Samaha, Peter Read — father of Mary Read, a Virginia Tech victim — state Sen. Janet Howell (D-32), state Del. Chuck Caputo (D-67) and Carroll Ann Ellis, director of the Fairfax County Police Department’s Victim Services Division. Samaha said the Virginia Tech tragedy involved a failure of institutions. "Our tragedy at Virginia Tech involved much more than guns," said Samaha.
Caputo said there was an understanding in both the House of Delegates and the Senate that the mental health system needed to be reformed. "The need is fully recognized and the desire is there to right some wrongs," he said. However, he said, firearm legislation he introduced during the last General Assembly session did not receive such support. One bill he hoped to pass through was to have private gun vendors follow federal guidelines in performing an instant background check on their customers. Caputo said that the police testified in favor of the bill, but that it was struck down in a committee. He said the gun show loophole bill would have reduced the probability of guns winding up in hands of wrong people. "Here to me was a no-brainer," he said. Another two firearm bills he introduced, banning firearms in libraries and day care centers, did not pass through a subcommittee.
John Callaghan, the development director at Opportunities, Alternatives and Resources (OAR) of Fairfax County, asked what the major arguments were from people who are against closing of the gun show loophole. Caputo said the grand argument is their defense of the Second Amendment and that the next step would mean further restrictions on firearms.
"FROM THEIR perspective, the government is always and forever trying to get their guns," said Read, adding that a member of the Virginia Citizens Defense League said he wanted his gun delivered over night as a matter of convenience. "No amount of logic or obviousness can persuade them," said Read. "They will literally stand next to someone whose daughter has been shot dead and tell them about inconvenience."
Samaha said regional influences are also brought up in the arguments against firearm restrictions. "We also get the argument that this is an urban issue, a Northern Virginia problem," he said, adding that the pro-gun lobby speaks of the south of the state as a place where guns are traded between neighbors. Howell said "gun rights zealots" make up a small proportion of the political body, but she is frustrated that they exert so much influence.
Learning From Tragedy
Panel discusses lessons 14 months after Virginia Tech massacre.
By Mirza Kurspahic, Centre View
Thursday, June 19, 2008
The April 16, 2007, tragedy at Virginia Tech struck a chord in Fairfax County for many reasons, not least of which is that five of the 32 victims and the shooter hailed from the area. Discussing the aftermath of the tragedy almost 14 months after it, fathers of the two victims met with legislators and experts to discuss some lessons learned from the massacre.
"Our angel Reema, Mary Read and other children, and their professors were such creative, positive and inclusive people," said Joe Samaha, father of Reema Samaha, one of the victims of the tragedy. "We know they would want to fix the wrongs that led to the tragedy," said Joe Samaha, who along with other members of the family and friends founded Angel Fund, established to honor the victims and learn the lessons from the tragedy to help ensure it does not happen again.
Angel Fund produced an educational forum on Tuesday night, June 10, at the St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Reston. The panel included Joe Samaha, Peter Read — father of Mary Read, a Virginia Tech victim — state Sen. Janet Howell (D-32), state Del. Chuck Caputo (D-67) and Carroll Ann Ellis, director of the Fairfax County Police Department’s Victim Services Division. Samaha said the Virginia Tech tragedy involved a failure of institutions. "Our tragedy at Virginia Tech involved much more than guns," said Samaha.
Caputo said there was an understanding in both the House of Delegates and the Senate that the mental health system needed to be reformed. "The need is fully recognized and the desire is there to right some wrongs," he said. However, he said, firearm legislation he introduced during the last General Assembly session did not receive such support. One bill he hoped to pass through was to have private gun vendors follow federal guidelines in performing an instant background check on their customers. Caputo said that the police testified in favor of the bill, but that it was struck down in a committee. He said the gun show loophole bill would have reduced the probability of guns winding up in hands of wrong people. "Here to me was a no-brainer," he said. Another two firearm bills he introduced, banning firearms in libraries and day care centers, did not pass through a subcommittee.
John Callaghan, the development director at Opportunities, Alternatives and Resources (OAR) of Fairfax County, asked what the major arguments were from people who are against closing of the gun show loophole. Caputo said the grand argument is their defense of the Second Amendment and that the next step would mean further restrictions on firearms.
"FROM THEIR perspective, the government is always and forever trying to get their guns," said Read, adding that a member of the Virginia Citizens Defense League said he wanted his gun delivered over night as a matter of convenience. "No amount of logic or obviousness can persuade them," said Read. "They will literally stand next to someone whose daughter has been shot dead and tell them about inconvenience."
Samaha said regional influences are also brought up in the arguments against firearm restrictions. "We also get the argument that this is an urban issue, a Northern Virginia problem," he said, adding that the pro-gun lobby speaks of the south of the state as a place where guns are traded between neighbors. Howell said "gun rights zealots" make up a small proportion of the political body, but she is frustrated that they exert so much influence.
