This is just one little problem I have with those that use "selective" reasoning. I simply used their "reasoning" on another (and OVER TWICE AS DEADLY!) mass murder.
Enjoy the read.
— Bill —
Julio Gonzalez was convicted in August 1991 of setting the Happyland Fire at the Happy Land Social Club in the Bronx, New York City, on March 25, 1990. The fire killed 87 people, making this one of the largest mass murders in U.S. history. Gonzalez was an unemployed Cuban refugee who had argued with his girlfriend at the club earlier on the night of March 25th. He was heard to scream drunken threats, and later returned to the club with a plastic container of gasoline, which he poured on the only staircase into the club. His criminal action killed twice the number of people as the Virginia Tech AND Columbine shooting combined. But you will not see the same coverage or the same "reasoning" or the same "placing of blame" given the 87 victims of Gonzalez as you will the Virginia Tech killings. Gonzalez used gas to murder 87 people. Cho Seung Hui used the gun. And the media, anti-gun forces and politicians are already focusing their attention on "the object" the killer used more so than "the killer" himself. That was not done all when "the object" the killer used was something other than a gun. Please read the following story carried in the Washington Post on Wednesday, April 18, 2007; Page A13. Then please read as I apply the exact same "shock and concern" that The Post shows for the weapon of choice Hui used to the weapon of choice used by Gonzalez.
THE WASHINGTON POST ON THE 32 MURDERS AT VIRGINA TECH
Weapons Purchases Aroused No Suspicion
Pawnshop, Dealer Supplied Handguns
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, April 18, 2007; Page A13
On Feb. 9, Cho Seung Hui walked into a pawnshop on Main Street in Blacksburg, directly across the street from the Virginia Tech campus, and picked up one of the guns he would use in his deadly rampage Monday: a Walther .22-caliber pistol, a relatively inexpensive firearm most commonly used for target shooting or plinking cans.
One month later, on March 16, Cho stepped into Roanoke Firearms, a 3,000-square-foot, full-service gun dealer where more than 350 guns are on display. Cho offered his driver's license, a checkbook that showed a matching address and an immigration card.
Once an instant background check confirmed his clean criminal record, Cho had little else to do, other than pay $571, to become the legal owner of a Glock 19 and a box of 50 cartridges.
With those two handguns — both easy to use, reliable and semiautomatic — Cho, 23, carried out a shooting rampage that left 33 people dead, including himself, and injured nearly as many.
Cho's choice of weapons and ammunition explained how he could kill and injure so many people so quickly.
The Glock, often carried by police and members of the military, is also a popular choice for civilians interested in self-defense, gun experts say. Once the trigger is depressed and the bullet fired, the gun ejects the empty shell casing, chambers a new round and is ready to shoot again immediately. The .22-caliber pistol operates in a similar fashion.
Cho's Roanoke purchase, captured on the store's video surveillance, was unremarkable. The owner described Cho as low-key and clean-cut.
"He filled out the paperwork. I sent it to the state police. They gave him a clean bill of health," said owner John Markell. "We're very careful about screening people. We size people up all the time. If we think they're fidgety, we won't sell them a gun."
Joe Dowdy, owner of JND Pawnbrokers in Blacksburg, said Cho did not purchase the gun from him but came into his shop to pick it up, probably after buying it on the Internet. Dowdy said he received the gun from another vendor. Cho came into the shop, showed his ID, filled out some paperwork, waited for a background check and paid a $30 fee.
"People are saying I sold him the firearm," Dowdy said. "I did not."
Dowdy said he cannot be sure that Cho purchased the gun online but that is the most likely explanation for why another vendor would have sent it to the pawnshop for Cho.
Both transactions were legal. Unlike some other states, Virginia has no waiting period before purchasing a handgun; nor does it require registration. State law does limit purchasers to one gun per month.
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Now allow me to apply the exact – THE EXACT – same concern and anti-gun innuendo to the mass murder of 87 people that The Post has for the 33 victims at Virgina Tech.
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87 MURDERS AT BRONX BUILDING
Gas purchases Aroused No Suspicion
Self Service; 7-11 Store Supplied Items
By W.A. Green
In No Way a Washington Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 18, 2007; Page A13
On February 25th, Julio Gonzalez walked into a 7-11 Store in the Bronx, not far from The Happy Land Social Club, and picked up one of the lighters he would use in his deadly rampage: a yellow Bic butane, a relatively inexpensive lighter most commonly used for lighting cigarettes or cigars.
One month later, on March 25, Gonzales stepped into a Conoco station, a 1,400-square-foot, self-service gas station where more than 25,000 gallons of gasoline were available to be purchased. Gonzales did not even have to offer his driver's license to show a "need" to own gasoline. A checkbook was all that was needed to put him possession of that highly flammable product. He was not even required by law to show an address or an immigration card.
There was no background check to ascertain if he may have had a criminal record. Gonzales had little else to do, other than pay $4.75, to become the legal owner 2.5 gallons of gasoline. It has been alleged he carried off his legal purchase in a plastic jug which may in itself be a violation of federal law concerning what gasoline may be lawfully carried in.
With that 2.5 gallons of gas and with butane lighter — both easy to use and reliable for his intended illegal purpose — Gonzales, 23, carried out a killing rampage that left 87 people dead and injured many more.
Gonzales' choice of weapon and accessories explained how he could kill and injure so many people so quickly.
The Bic butane lighter, often carried by police and members of the military, is also a popular choice for civilians interested in lighting cigarettes or briquettes for a barbecue grill, experts say. Once the Bic is flicked and the flint creates a spark, the lighter releases butane gas creating a new flame immediately. The ease in which the Bic butane can be ignited so rapidly and without the need to "light one match at a time" makes it capable of extreme performance. That capability has always been a concern for some that see it's potential for abuse.
Gonzales' 7-11 purchase, captured on the store's video surveillance, was unremarkable. The owner described Gonzales as low-key and clean-cut.
"He is not required to fill out any paperwork. I do not need to clear the sales of Bic butane lighters with the state police" said owner John Weemster. "We're very careful about screening people. We size people up all the time. If we think they're fidgety, we won't sell them a lighter."
Joe Dowdy, owner of J.D.'s Conoco in the Bronx, said Gonzales did not purchase the gas from him personally but went to the pumps and pumped his own gas. Gonzales then came into the station to pay for his purchase, was not required to show any ID, was not required to fill out any paperwork, was not subject to a background check. He simply paid $4.75 and left with his unregistered purchase. "People are saying I sold him the gas," Dowdy said. "I did not."
Dowdy said that Gonzales purchased the gas at a self-service pump. One clerk at the 7-11 who spoke on the condition of anonymity said "I sell a lot of lighters and the Bic butane is by far the lighter of choice. It's cheap, it's reliable and most of the people that buy the Bic are decent, law abiding citizens".
Both transactions were legal. Like other states, New York has no waiting period before purchasing a lighter; nor does it require registration or to "show need" to purchase gasoline. State law does not limit purchasers to one lighter per month and it is not uncommon to find those with mental problems and even children having them in their possession.
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