Yesterday's tragedy at Virginia Tech shocked a university and a nation. Thirty-three are dead because of the anger and hatred of one individual. I believe that their deaths were needless and if the American public had been prepared and protected, fewer lives would have been lost.

Virginia Tech restricts state-licensed, mature gun holders with clean records from carrying their firearms onto campus. Penn State has the same regulations.

But I wonder if more responsible citizens would have been permitted and willing to fulfill their right to defend themselves, would so many innocent people be dead today?

Some argue that the answer to all this is to impose even stronger gun laws nationwide, yet this idealism doesn't work in the real world.

Those who want to cause pain will always find a way to carry out their plan, even if it means getting weapons illegally. Those who wish to protect themselves and their peers should not be hindered by unconstitutional regulations.

Why are Virginia Tech and Penn State discouraging the qualities of bravery and maturity and instead promoting fear and defenselessness?