The Virginia Tech Shooting: The Origin of Federal Gun Control Measure

The Virginia Tech Shooting took place on 16 of April, 2007 in Virginia, United States. The two separate events took place within the compounds of Virginia Institute as well as the State University located in Blacksburg. The attacker named Seung-Hui Choi, killed thirty-two civilians and injuring twenty-five others. Mr. Choi then killed himself after the attack.

The Virginia Tech Shooting is the worst attack to be carried out by one man in United States. This was the second worst attack on college students after the Pan Am Flight 103 which killed thirty-six students. It is believed that Mr. Choi had a mental problem throughout his childhood. The attack drew a lot of attention of both local and international media.

Following the attack, a lot of legal criticism was raised on how a mentally unfit person like Mr. Choi could be allowed to buy a gun without the state organs concerned conducting a thoroughly background check on his mental fitness. It was against this background that the Federal gun control measure was drafted and enacted. The law came into force a nine months after the Virginia Tech Shooting, on 5th of January, 2008 after being assented to by former United States President George W. Bush.