[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 61 (Thursday, April 17, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E642]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         VIRGINIA TECH MASSACRE

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                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 17, 2008

  Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, today marks the 1 year anniversary of the 
Virginia Tech massacre. One year ago, students on the campus woke up 
and went to class. It was another seemingly ordinary day. But a 
mentally-ill coward, hungry for control and infamy, followed through on 
his premeditated rampage.
  On April 16, 2007, there were two separate attacks, 2 hours apart on 
the campus of Virginia Tech. The murderer, Seung-Hui Cho, killed 32 
people and wounded many.
  The first attack occurred at West Ambler Johnston Hall. Cho entered 
the co-ed dormitory, home to 894 students, at 7 a.m. Fifteen minutes 
later, he murdered two victims before returning to his dorm room. 
Nearly 2 hours later, Cho went to a post office to mail writings and 
video footage to NBC News. He was sure to inform the press because he 
wanted the infamy and power. This coward carried chains, locks, a 
hammer, a knife, two guns, nineteen 10- and 15-round magazines, and 
almost 400 rounds of ammunition. He was on a murderous mission.
  Two hours after his first killings, Cho continued his murder spree at 
Norris Hall. He chained the three main entrance doors shut, placed a 
note on the doors that said if the door was opened a bomb would 
explode, and then went up to the second floor to begin the massacre. 
Cho peeked into the classroom twice, to view his prey. He entered 
Professor G.V. Loganathan's classroom, killing the professor and then 
killing 9 of the 13 students. Two other students were injured and only 
2 students survived unharmed. Cho then walked across the hall to 
Christopher James Bishop's classroom where he killed Bishop and 4 other 
students. Cho wounded 6 others. Cho continued down Norris Hall, 
shooting students and professors. He returned to the classrooms several 
times. Cho's spree continued for 10 to 12 minutes. He fired at least 
174 rounds.
  The 2 hour murderous massacre taught us that universities must have a 
coordinated, quick system to notify students, staff, and the entire 
university community of a pending danger. I'm an original cosponsor on 
the Virginia Tech Victims Campus Emergency Response Policy and 
Notification Act, which would require universities to notify students 
and employees within 30 minutes after campus security or law 
enforcement determines that an emergency exists on campus. It is 
unfortunate that it took a tragedy to teach us this lesson.
  This country continues to mourn the lives of the 32 victims from 
Virginia Tech. We will never forget them. And that's just the way it 
is.

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