On April 16th, 2007, one of the worst mass shootings America had ever encountered had occurred

on Virginia Institute campuses. The perpetrator, Seung-Hui Cho, had attacked the students of the school,
a few minutes after broadcasting a video internationally, voicing his raw intentions. He talked about how
he was the savior set out to rescue those by sending them to a world without pain. Some might say it was
an unfortunate event due to the way he was raised, but with the thirty-two individuals that suffered his
rage that day, others have strong opinions.

Not only had it been one of the deadliest shootings America had experienced, is also sparked
important conversation about gun violence and gun laws; citizens becoming more aware of the flaws in
U.S gun culture. Debates were held were parties argued over the restriction of gun laws and if permits
should be stricter and less attainable. Considering this isn't the first mass shooting and certainly wouldn't
be the last, I can understand why citizens infer removing guns from the equation would automatically lead
to a safer environment. However, with the already large amount of gun distribution happening in America
making laws stricter, would only increase illegal sale price. In my opinion, the issue waters down to the
morals of the citizens of America, and whether they choose to protect their students, who may always be
at risk, or their rights and entitlements. As of today, controversy has been circulating, with young
audiences starting movements and supporting one another to help put an end to the gun violence that
America has become so common with. I personally believe that in comparison to other areas in the world,
the amount of shootings that have already taken place is alarming, and while apologies are
complimentary, there needs to be actions taken in order to protect future generations.

After, murdering thirty-two people and wounding seventeen, Cho had then lodged a bullet into
his skull, and therefore taking his own life. As a child, Cho was diagnosed with severe anxiety and
selective muteness, spending most of his time through junior high and high school, known as the isolated
kid in the back row of all his classes. Knowing what he grew up dealing with, some would say it was no
surprise he grew up to be as mentally and emotionally stable as he became. At a young age, he was
bullied into therapy throughout his high school, and though he had educational support, he underwent a
lot of torment from his classmates. Bullying is inexcusable, and though I do believe that people should be
punished for their actions, millions of children experience the effects of bullying every day. Cho was a
distraught child who would've had a more fruitful experience if he weren't forced into a box where he
wasn't taught to find openings. Even at a young age, he should've been taught to cope with negative
thoughts, not only by a therapist but someone he must've held dear. Words are much more meaningful
when they are spoken to you by a person you admire, and there should've been those people comforting
him in his loneliness. He was given no attention as a child and felt that the only way he could have been
taken seriously is if he threatened the lives of those around him to get his struggle across. His destructive
demeanor stemmed from his exposure to violence without good moral to combat it.

No one should be held accountable for what they experienced in their youth; it's what you make
of your future that matters. Regardless of the resentment Cho must've held as a child, a person's struggle
should never compensate for taking one's life. He made that decision, not as a naïve child, but as an adult
in control and that's what he should be recognized as. It would be insensible to pardon his crimes because
of his exposure to negativity at a young age. There will always be bullies, and people that will ridicule
you to elevate themselves, and instead of trying to rid of them, there should be methods taught to cope
with them instead. Just like how a bully cannot be excused for bullying, a murderer cannot be excused for
murdering, and his emotional instability will never compensate for the tens of families that lost a loved
one that day. In my honest and raw opinion, I believe we need to stop sympathizing with murderers
overall, because that is what they chose to become.