Another shooting?

At Virgina Tech?

Trust me when I say this: Parents will be thinking twice before sending their children to Virgina Tech.

After the 2007 incident that saw Tech student Seung-Hui Cho go on a shooting rampage, having another shooting at the university was like lightning striking twice. But Thursday’s shooting had nothing to do with a student going on a rampage. It was a routine traffic stop near the university that went terribly wrong. A gunman shot an officer after a traffic stop that took place in a parking lot near the athletic and exercise facilities. The shooter didn’t appear to be a student of the school, but because it happened near the campus, the epsiode instantaneously echoed those 2007 shootings all over again.

Everyone was shocked when they read about another shooting at Virginia Tech. But this really could have happened anywhere. One of the many bad results of the shooting will be the negative effect on VT’s reputation. High school students who have to choose from several schools may likely scratch Virgina Tech’s name off the list. The likelihood of a shooting happening again is pretty low, but who really wants to take that chance? Columbine High School in Colorado has risen from their tragedy, but the scars and fears must still linger.

Unfortunately, many people would rather stay as far away from the scene of the crime as possible –  even if that crime happened several years ago. There’s always a thought that someone will “celebrate” those tragic events by recreating them on campus. Again, the likelihood is small, but who really wants to take that chance?

Not me, and more than likely not most people.

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