Recent Rash Of Mass Shootings

Just heard today that there is yet another mass shooting in the United States. This time at a shopping mall near Kansas City, Missouri. Earlier it was on the campus of Virginia Tech. Both cases, these attacks occurred in what are known as 'Gun Free-zone's', or in other words places like schools, shopping center's, amusement parks, etc. which attempt to prohibit the transporting of firearms and other weapons into public areas.
Unfortunately this often results in 'prime targets' for the criminal's who would carry out such acts of violence as mass shootings. The chances are that law-abiding, properly licensed gun carriers will be following the 'no gun's' request and the bad guys are not going to. Thus, the criminal is free to do as he pleases until law enforcement finally arrives. In the case of a shopping mall, as in the Kansas City incident, the mall security most likely is not prepared to respond as they typically are only allowed a set of handcuffs and perhaps some pepper spray. The good news is that unlike the tragedy that fell upon Virginia Tech, police were fast to react and the coward was not taken down by his own gun.
Anti-gun media will undoubtedly call this evidence for more gun laws, stronger restrictions, etc. On the other hand, had a few law-abiding Missouri citizen's been armed, this may have been stopped more quickly. For sure when Seung-Hui Cho was walking room to room at Virginia Tech firing more than 100 rounds at defenseless students, had a few students or teachers been armed (directly violating the Universities Policies) someone may have saved many more lives by ending the unchecked shooting spree before it left more than thirty innocent victims dead.

Shooting at Virginia Tech Was Predicted

As early as February of last year, students at Virginia Tech were concerned with the 'Gun Free Zone' policies of the University. As was reported by the Roanoke Times in January of 2006, a Bill in Virginia that would have allowed licensed, concealed carry on campus was rejected by the General Assembly without any objections.
House Bill 1572 which was proposed by Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah County, would have allowed for the lawful carry by licensed citizens of firearms for personal protection. University spokesman Larry Hincker was reported as being happy with the decision by the General Assembly saying "I'm sure the university community is appreciative of the General Assembly's actions because this will help parents, students, faculty and visitors feel safe on our campus." according to the Roanoke Times report. I wonder if he still feels the same way?
A few days following the Roanoke Times report, a personal blog known as The Liberty Zone reported on the 'lack of common sense' and ended its report in February of 2006 with this ominous prediction:

"And I'm sure the armed criminals are appreciative of the General Assembly's actions as well. This will help them victimize their prey and give them a full college campus of disarmed targets."

Eerily disturbing only a year later.

More information on Students seeking the right to carry on Campuses can be found at the Students for Concealed Carry on Campus website.