\"I told them that my administration would do everything possible to assist with the investigation, and that I pledged that we would stand ready to help local law enforcement and the local community in any way we can during this time of sorrow.
\"Schools should be places of safety, and sanctuary, and learning. When that sanctuary is violated, the impact is felt in every American classroom and every American community.
\"Today our nation grieves with those who've lost loved ones at Virginia Tech. We hold the victims in our hearts, we lift them up in our prayers, and we ask a loving God to comfort those who are suffering today.\""; VaTechReax[i++] = new Array("","Attorney General Alberto Gonzales","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); VaTechReax[i-1].body = "\"I am deeply saddened and angered by these senseless acts of violence. My deepest condolences and prayers go out to those affected by this horrific crime, especially those who lost loved ones. Americans can rest assured that law enforcement resources from the U.S. Department of Justice, including personnel from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, are actively assisting state and local authorities in investigating this tragedy. We are committed to providing support and assistance to those authorities as well as to the victims of this crime for as long as necessary.\""; VaTechReax[i++] = new Array("","Va. Gov. Timothy Kaine","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); VaTechReax[i-1].body = "\"It is difficult to comprehend senseless violence on this scale. Our prayers are with the families and friends of these victims, and members of the extended Virginia Tech community.\"
\"My staff has made arrangements for me to leave Tokyo today, where I was set to begin a two-week Asian trade mission, so that I can return to the Commonwealth on Tuesday.
\"I urge Virginians to keep these victims and their families in their thoughts and prayers.\" ";
VaTechReax[i++] = new Array("","Va. Sen. Jim Webb","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
VaTechReax[i-1].body = "\"I am truly saddened to hear of the tragic shooting at Virginia Tech. My heart goes out to the parents and families of the victims of this senseless act. My office has been in communication with the governor's office and officials at Virginia Tech to offer any assistance.\"
";
VaTechReax[i++] = new Array("","Va. Rep. Rick Boucher","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
VaTechReax[i-1].body = "\"I am deeply saddened by the tragic events which occurred today at
Virginia Tech University. My thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the
families and friends of those who were harmed in this horrific and senseless
act. I have offered my full assistance to Virginia Tech to assure that all
resources the University may need will be provided.\"";
VaTechReax[i++] = new Array("","John and Elizabeth Edwards","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
VaTechReax[i-1].body = "\"We are simply heartbroken by the deaths and injuries suffered at Virginia Tech. We know what an unspeakable, life-changing moment this is for these families and how, in this moment, it is hard to feel anything but overwhelming grief, much less the love and support around you. But the love and support is there. We pray that these families, these students, and the entire Virginia Tech community know that they are being embraced by a nation. There is a Methodist hymn that gave us solace in such a moment as this, and we repeat its final verse here, in hopes it will help these families, as it helped us:
\"'In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity; In our doubt there is believing, in our life, eternity, In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory, Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.'\"";
VaTechReax[i++] = new Array("","N.Y. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
VaTechReax[i-1].body = "\"I am shocked and saddened by the horrific tragedy at Virginia Tech. My prayers are with the victims and their families, as well as the students, faculty, and community devastated by these gruesome killings. As a parent, I am filled with sorrow for the mothers and fathers and loved ones struggling with the sudden, unbearable news of a lost son or daughter, friend or family member. This tragedy is still unfolding and I hope as a nation we can come together and keep in our thoughts all those affected as we learn more about the events which took place this morning.\"";
VaTechReax[i++] = new Array("","Ill. Sen. Barack Obama","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
VaTechReax[i-1].body = "\"These were future leaders, our most precious resource. To see them struck down at the prime of life like this is a tragedy and I think we have to do some soul searching to find out are there ways we can prevent these things from happening again.\"";
VaTechReax[i++] = new Array("","Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
VaTechReax[i-1].body = "\"Mere words cannot express the profound shock and outrage Californians are feeling today over the senseless tragedy occurring at Virginia Tech. The horror this unprecedented carnage inflicts on our entire nation is unfathomable, even as we deeply mourn for the dead and grieve at the loss of so much young and innocent life. Our hearts and prayers go out to all the victims and their families and friends, as well as to the entire Virginia Tech community.\"";
VaTechReax[i++] = new Array("","Sen. John McCain","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
VaTechReax[i-1].body = "\"I am shocked and saddened to hear the news of today's events. This inconceivable tragedy was a horrific act of cruelty that took the lives of so many innocent young people, cutting their lives short and inflicting tremendous pain on all of those who loved them.
\"Cindy and I extend our deepest sympathies and prayers to the students, faculty, friends and family of the Virginia Tech community.\" ";
VaTechReax[i++] = new Array("","Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
VaTechReax[i-1].body = "\"The entire nation grieves for the victims of this terrible tragedy that took place today on the campus of Virginia Tech. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and the entire Virginia Tech community. Our full support is behind the law enforcement officials who are involved with stabilizing the situation and conducting an investigation.\"";
VaTechReax[i++] = new Array("","Violence Policy Center Director Josh Sugarmann","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
VaTechReax[i-1].body = "\"Mass shootings have come to define our nation. Today's shooting at Virginia Tech -- the largest mass shooting in U.S. history -- is only the latest in a continuing series over the past two decades. These tragedies are the inevitable result of the ease with which the firepower necessary to slaughter dozens of innocents can be obtained. We allow virtually anyone the means to turn almost any venue into a battlefield. In the wake of these shootings, too many routinely search for any reason for the tragedy except for the most obvious -- the easy access to increasingly lethal firearms that make mass killings possible.\"
";
VaTechReax[i++] = new Array("","Virginia Citizens Defense League President Philip Van Cleave","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
VaTechReax[i-1].body = "Excerpts from Van Cleave's e-mail with the subject title: \"VA-ALERT: Gun-control claims lives at Virginia Tech\"
\"As most of you know VCDL has been pushing hard to change Virginia law to allow college and university students with concealed handgun permits to be able to carry a gun on campus for self-defense. ... We could not get the bills out of subcommittee.\"
\"The General Assembly turned a deaf ear to allowing college and university students to be able to protect themselves and here we are today :-( \"
\"ENOUGH OF ELITIST BALONEY FROM COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES!
If just ONE of those victims had been armed, this most probably would have turned out very differently\".";
VaTechReax[i++] = new Array("","","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
// END editorial data