[psmith2.0]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/20/nas...ire/index.html

Breaking news on all the sites and TV.

$5 says it's that diaper/stalker chick from a month or two ago.

[Fahrenheit]

Meh. I reckon its just a security scare, someone pissed off, but everyone is (understandably, of course) jumpy.

[psmith2.0]

Story says a shot was fired/heard, so that's more than just a "scare" if someone's actually doing some shooting. But yeah, so early and facts/info tend to be shaky at this point. I'm sure we'll know in an hour or two what's what.

In any case, CNN and the rest are already unplugging their stuff and packing it up in Blacksburg to catch a plane to Houston.



From CNN's site:

...NASA security rules do not allow weapons on the property.

Good. I hope they really mean it too, otherwise someone might ignore such a hard and fast barrier and do it anyway, huh? These "gun free zones" are truly an idea ahead of their time, and work like a charm.



Harsh words, rules and guidelines mean so much to deranged nutballs and criminals looking to do bad.

"I was looking to shoot the place up, but the sign says 'no weapons allowed'...guess I'll just go home, shave my head, masturbate to 'Taxi Driver' and order a pizza instead..."

[ShadowOfGed]

I'm purposely not watching. I hope somebody empties a clip into this nutjob.



I've got to drive back to Blacksburg sometime this weekend. Some greasy contracted engineer at NASA just wants attention. Fucker.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by pscates2.0 These "gun free zones" are truly an idea ahead of their time, and work like a charm.

What's the penalty for bringing a gun into a "gun-free zone", anyway? Cause I wouldn't ever pull my gun* out unless someone was shooting up the place. Perhaps more to the point, if I shoot a crazy gunman, thus saving dozens of lives, do I still get in trouble for violating the GFZ rule?

*Assuming I had a gun. I've been thinking about it for a while, but don't actually own one.

[PKIDelirium]

I wonder if this person is wearing a diaper?

[psmith2.0]

The captain/spokesman from the Houston police said the following a little while ago:

- one person, a male in the 50-60 range
- single handgun (not sure of type: revolver, semi-auto, etc.)
- no communication established yet
- perp barricaded in room in building 44 at Johnson Space Center
- No info on injuries, hostages, deaths, etc.

Other info (from a NASA employee who saw gunman):
- blonde hair
- 5'9"
- Two shots fired
- Jeans, pullover shirt
- Employee of engineering contractor used by NASA

UPDATE: Gunman has killed one male hostage, and then himself. A female hostage survived, unharmed.

Originally Posted by Dave What's the penalty for bringing a gun into a "gun-free zone", anyway?

Tough to tell since so many of these asshats wind up offing themselves (or having the police do it for them), so there's no legal follow-up to their actions.

Originally Posted by Dave Cause I wouldn't ever pull my gun* out unless someone was shooting up the place. Perhaps more to the point, if I shoot a crazy gunman, thus saving dozens of lives, do I still get in trouble for violating the GFZ rule?

Surely you'd get a break/pass (and probably only serve 10-12 years in prison instead of the full 15-20 if you'd killed 8-15 people.



Seriously, I'm not sure. I'd like to think they'd give you a medal, the day off and the key to the city. But these days, it's really hard to tell. You might get sent to sensitivity training (and have to write a letter of apology to the gunman's surviving relatives..."sorry I shot your whackjob of an ex-husband, but he was asking for it") or something, I really don't know.

Originally Posted by PKIDelirium I wonder if this person is wearing a diaper?

He's not an astronaut, so probably not. Appears to be an engineer, so I'm going with clip-on tie and whitey-tighties (two sizes too small).

Extends sincere apologies to any engineers at 'Nova who may be offended by lame attempt at humor.

What is it with reporters asking the same questions over and over, even if the spokesperson has already answered the question or has said, repeatedly, they don't have an answer to that particular question? Does the reporter think in the 25 seconds that has passed since the last reporter asked the same question that the spokesperson suddenly received an answer in his invisible earpiece?



I'm watching these reporters talking to the Houston police captain and it's honestly as though none of them are actually paying a bit of attention to anything he's saying.

"We don't know the identity of the shooter. Yes?"

"Captain, do you know who the shooter is?"

"No. We don't. Yes, you in back..."

"Have you determined the gunman's name?"



Okay, I'm exaggerating a little for effect (but not much, trust me).

I couldn't do that job (spokesman/press agent) because after about the third or fourth time I was asked the same idiotic question, I'd snap and launch into a profanity-laced tirade where I questioned the assembled reporters' intelligence, ability to listen/comprehend plain English, breeding, etc.

[PKIDelirium]

They should have charged the building as soon as SWAT got there...

[psmith2.0]

They probably didn't have much to go on (who was involved, any hostages, etc.). Might've been scary to go blazing in like that, I don't know.

[turtle]

This is another real sad event. My daughter asked me about the VT shootings again today when I mentioned this thread to my wife. (Living here in VA there a VT stuff everywhere, really hard to miss.) My daughter was asking why people would go and kill others and then themselves. What makes them snap like that? We did have a good little conversation after that though.