What Caused the Gunshots on the MIT Campus?

[Evo]

Wonder what this is about?

(Reuters) - Gunshots were heard near a building on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, the school said on its website on Thursday.
The shots "were reported near Building 32 ... which is currently surrounded by responding agencies," according to a statement on the MIT website for emergency information.

http://news.yahoo.com/gunshots-heard-massachusetts-institute-technology-campus-school-website-032912007.html

 

[Evo]

Update, campus officer shot. They are searching for gunman.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/201...angerous-gunshots-reported-on-mit-campus?lite

 

[StevieTNZ]

Been in contact with my professor of Physics up at Auckland University:

"I’m on the email list for emergency alerts from the University of Maryland, College Park. Not uncommon to get messages about people with guns. After all, this is the US!

Best
Howard"

 

[WannabeNewton]

Oh God O.O...where's a body guard when you need one

 

[StevieTNZ]

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/16803137/shots-fired-at-mit-campus/

Confirmed police officer dead.

 

[StevieTNZ]

I asked Howard what was with the US and people wanting guns. His response:

You have to live there and get a sense of the culture and history. It’s all tied up with the war of independence and the compromises made between the colonial states of the time when putting together a federal government and constitution. In the minds of many, the right to bear arms (i.e., own guns) is a fundamental symbol of the freedoms of the states, and the individuals living within the states, relative to the authority of the federal government. The idea of keeping the federal government in line is central to the US system. Indeed, the principal role of the supreme court is to stop the federal government passing illegal (i.e., unconstitutional) legislation.

A large no of people in the US have only a very minimal belief in the role (and benefit of) a central government. Just today, at lunch time, I visited a whisky store here in Auckland and got into a conversation with the guy who runs it. He is an American, originally from the State of Montana. He’s been out of the US for more than a decade. His first comment relative to his homeland was that “within his lifetime” Montana and Texas will both succeed from the union…the federal government is simply becoming more and more like a dictatorship, and free-minded states like Montana and Texas have had about enough….well! we’ll see!

Best
Howard

 

[G01]

This is insane. Every cop in Boston is out tonight. One MIT officer dead. Reports of another down. Police and SWAT with assault rifles all over the subways. Explosions heard in Watertown...

 

[G01]

FBI is involved as well. Bomb squads...

 

[StevieTNZ]

I don't think I want to visit the US now. It seems even university campuses are unsafe. I would happily advise anyone wishing to go study in the US to -not- do so.

 

[StevieTNZ]

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/16803137/shots-fired-at-mit-campus/

 

[WannabeNewton]

Ok this is seriously scary now...

 

[aquitaine]

I don't think I want to visit the US now. It seems even university campuses are unsafe. I would happily advise anyone wishing to go study in the US to -not- do so.

These things would have to happen a lot more often for it to be considered an unacceptable risk. This still pales in comparison to the Virginia Tech shooting spree.

 

[StevieTNZ]

After the movie theatre shooting, and the primary school shooting, I wouldn't advise anyone to go to -any- US school, whether it is primary, high school, or tertiary (uni or college).

I mean - to place armed guards outside every school? That is not a good look. I can seriously see why the US is getting behind in education. Who'd want to go to school to possibly be shot? Taking out a loan for that... no thanks. It certainly, also, doesn't attract international students.

 

[Evo]

I was wondering last night, and turns out that yes, the shooting was by the Boston Marathon bombers.

 

[leroyjenkens]

After the movie theatre shooting, and the primary school shooting, I wouldn't advise anyone to go to -any- US school, whether it is primary, high school, or tertiary (uni or college).

I mean - to place armed guards outside every school? That is not a good look. I can seriously see why the US is getting behind in education. Who'd want to go to school to possibly be shot? Taking out a loan for that... no thanks. It certainly, also, doesn't attract international students.

There's a few things wrong with what you're saying. What does a movie theater shooting have to do with a school shooting? Why stay away from schools because a guy shoots up a movie theater?
Also, you would advise that I drop out of school here in the US? And then do what? Move to another country where there are no school shootings? 1) School shootings can happen anywhere. 2) Lots of other countries have school shootings, you just don't hear about them like you do US school shootings.
Also, I don't think school shootings have anything to do with the US getting behind in education.

 

[lisab]

There's a few things wrong with what you're saying. What does a movie theater shooting have to do with a school shooting? Why stay away from schools because a guy shoots up a movie theater?
Also, you would advise that I drop out of school here in the US? And then do what? Move to another country where there are no school shootings? 1) School shootings can happen anywhere. 2) Lots of other countries have school shootings, you just don't hear about them like you do US school shootings.
Also, I don't think school shootings have anything to do with the US getting behind in education.

I don't think StevieTNZ did a true risk analysis. Trying to judge risk based on news stories will give a very skewed view on reality.

 

[Evo]

Closed since this situation was part of the Boston Marathon bombing.