Hike to End Gun Violence

imported
#1

It’s been several days now since the Virginia Tech massacre (it’s the largest such event of its kind in US history, according to the press). I’m still appalled by the carnage and I’m wondering if there is anything I can do about it. With two of my own children recently graduated from Virginia Tech (as well as a son-in-law and a daughter’s former fiancée also being recent grads), I’m particularly attuned to the senseless nature of this horrific event.

With that in mind, I’m planning on bringing this data to the public attention from time to time here and I’m hoping to raise money throughout this hike to see if these wanton killings can somehow be reduced.

If you’d like to participate in the effort to reduce gun violence during your AT hike please let me know

My trail name is Sky Rider. Like many of you, I’m a long-distance secton hiker on the Appalachian Trail, with about 1300 miles completed so far. I’d be willing to do the next 500 miles (NJ, NY CT MA and possibly VT) to support this effort (or more if my health remains good - I’m 64).

I’m also hiking the Mountain to Sea Trail this year as Outlaw. It’s almost 1000 miles long (and is all in NC).

Let me know if you’re interested in being a sponsor, or to make pledges for miles completed on either trail or if you are a hiker (or know of any other hikers) who would like to do this too. This possibly could be done as a relay with multiple hikers.

Let me know your thoughts here or by email.

Scott Wales

#2

The VaTech killings couldn’t have been prevented from gun control, but from his classmates. Too many times in my engineering classes, there are students I have seen for the last 3 years and I don’t know their name. That changed after last Monday. Noone in my class is the loner, outsider anymore. I know everyone’s name in my classes and I will keep it that way. That is how to prevent this sort of tragedy again…

-Mudbug

mudbug

#3

Look Scott, I’m sure you mean well, but once again the “aim” is wrong. All the laws in the world wouldnt have stopped that guy, he’d have used a machette if he had to, or stole a weapon. The school knew about this guy for quite some time and it still happened ! More gun laws is definitely NOT the answer. Happy Trails & good hiking…D

The Desperado

#4

only outlaws will have guns.

Cal

#5

Do we really need to raise awareness to school shootings? We are saturated by it via every form of media available.

What good are you going to do?

Why should I give you my money?

Convince me that youre not just another ineffecutual ******* out to gain glory for yourself.

A man of your advanced years shouldn’t be so deluded.

Paul

#6

Bear Bag Hanger

#7

If it makes you feel better, go ahead and do it.

I’m not sure what you would want to do to ‘reduce’ these horrible incidents. Personally, I doubt if anything ever will (Although preventing the coverage that glorifys these individuals might help prevent copy-cats.) We don’t show streakers at ball games or fights in the stands specifically to prevent copy-cats, why should these acts be different.

All that being said, in a country of hundreds of millions of people, there will be sad stories every day.

The average number of university students killed every year by firearms - 20, the averge number of university students killed by alcohol - 1,700. At least these are the stats according to MSNBC.

Too-Dang

#8

These events are nothing to get in an uproar about. There was Columbine about 10 years ago. Before then, some guy at the University of Texas did something similar in the 1970s. It a part of the “freak gene” in human nature that expresses every now and then. No law is going to stop these random, though tragic, events from happening.

Really, the general public outside of Virginia has no reason to be informed of the details of this freak event. The media is a shameless whore.

Global warming is much more of a threat to our society.

Cal

#9

I’m for hard headed and practical approaching this problem, but a lot of things could qualify. Mudbug’s personal responsibility idea for example. It’s something that he can take responsibility for in arm’s reach. That’s what I take from Scott’s post. Scott, it seems like there are too many hiking for bucks things going on, and I think their credibility has taken a hit because of it. But if you think this is in your ambit of responsibility and you have something to say about it, you might consider dropping the bucks and just letting local media outlets know you are coming and what you have to say about it. You might get your message out. Chances are we’d all find something to disagree in what you say, but I appreciate you are trying to do something along the way. – Aes.

Aeschylus