Early Tuesday morning a UT student by the name of Jason Liao was arrested at Plucker's in West Campus for having a gun on campus.
This is some crazy shit. Today is the one year anniversary of the Virginia Tech shootings and it's crazy to think what could have happened if an anonymous tip had not called the hotline that was set up after last year's tragedy.
Liao's friend, Luis Gomez, had this brilliant statement to make:
"Yeah, it's really bad when a student has a gun on campus, I wouldn't like it even if he's my friend but, I didn't like the fact they're making it seem like it's Virgina Tech or Columbine all over again and they don't have the facts. They don't know him."
Well Gomez-- the facts are this: he had a gun, on UT's campus, almost a year to date from the Virginia Tech massacre, and the anniversary of Columbine. Enough said. Should we wait till he actually acts to make the assumption that he was planning another school shooting? Glad to know you were not calling the shots on this one buddy.
Liao is charged with a third degree felony for unlawfully bringing a weapon into a prohibited place and if convicted will face 2-10 years in prison and will have to pay a fine of up to $10,000.
Please, everyone, let this be a warning to all that blowing up your school is not the answer! Hate is not the answer. Violence is not the answer. Carrying a gun for the hell of it--not the answer. not the smartest.
If you have thoughts of harming others or think someone else may have the potential to... Please call the Behavioral Concern Advice Line at 512. 232. 5050 (Hell, put this number in your cell. I wasn't even aware that this line existed.)
For more information on the story click here.
7 comments:
This is a great example of how unbelievably biased the news is. It is unfortunate that you, being a student of the great University of Texas, can still believe every word the media dishes out. The media portrays people in a way that benefits their ratings, and showing Jason in a positive way would not be a good story. I know Jason, and I know he is the most harmless guy in the world. You DON"T know Jason and all you have are the media and the assumptions that you make about him. I know people are not allowed to bring guns onto campus, but the law states that people are allowed to carry firearms elsewhere. Does that mean I'm a murderer if I carry a conceiled weapon with me on the street? Does that mean I'm going to kill everyone in sight? No, most certainly not. I could simply be protecting myself, which is obviously important even ON campus, as you can see with the aggravated robbery that occurred at the RLM. THAT is the person you should be persecuting, because he did harm to another. This guy, Jason, DID NOTHING and you have no right to be judgemental. If anyone in the world is carrying a gun around me, I would trust Jason to be that person, 100%. He has been a great friend to me and everyone else. He might act like some gangster, but that is not who he truly is. GOOD LUCK Jason!!
Though I applaud your loyalty to your friend and understand your concerns and reasoning to defend him--lets be frank. Carrying a loaded weapon that has the potential to kill a human being should never, and will never, be tolerated at any campus. The fact that others were aware of his "concealed" gun, during this particular week, makes it hard for me to not be biased. Who ever the anonymous tipper was deserves a standing ovation because they had the balls to turn your careless friend in. What if the gun were to actually go off? Kill an innocent human being? Would you then react the same way? As students of this university we should be proactive in protecting our fellow peers and ensuring that our campus is a place where we can come every day and be safe. If that includes imprisoning your friend for 2 years and slapping him with a fat fine to prevent any casualty because of his stupidness--you have my vote.
If you act like a gangster, carry guns like a gangster, be prepared to suffer the consequences like a gangster.
Sincerely,
TXOJ
word TXOJ
i know jason and i'd agree that he's harmless...i also agree that it was a very poor decision for him to bring a gun onto campus
i think if anyone reads enough media posts on this issues they'd quickly see that the facts are certainly not consistent...and it would be good to note that most agree that the gun was not loaded and that the incident did not occur a few days ago (as many make it sound), but in February...the witnesses just came forward recently(one could wonder if they intended for him to get in extra trouble since its so close the the VT incident)
i think its clear to anyone that Jason had no harmful "mission" planned (as the media seems to suggest every chance they get)...instead he was probably just trying to show off what he thought was a cool toy (again, a very poor decision)...its also quite clear that this is NOT another VT situation by the lack of further investigation by UTPD
i'm not saying that Jason shouldn't have been arrested or that people shouldn't call in for suspicious activity...i just think the media has proven itself in this situation unreliable and cheap
"Carrying a loaded weapon that has the potential to kill a human being should never, and will never, be tolerated at any campus."
TXOJ, does this mean that all UTPD should be prosecuted as well? They have brought firearms on campus, they could accidentally kill someone as well! And I'm sure they are bringing them to campus this week, during an anniversary of something tragic. How insensitive of them!
Julian you make some interesting points. Great comment.
Ah, the beauty of blogs. Thanks for visiting!
-TXOJ
Julian makes some great points.
I know Jason, and I know he's harmless. The media has definitely blown it WAY out of proportion, but Jason also made it fairly easy for them to do so:
-Bringing a gun onto campus (illegal)
-Taking (way too many) pictures that are obviously him trying to look "cool" or like a "gangster" (dumb....and egotistical)
-Not being clear to people about why he had the gun and trying to sound cool and mysterious by saying he "was on a mission" (beyond moronic and immature).
The real "mission" was that he goes to the shooting range regularly, and was planning on doing so later that day.
The media doesn't make it clear that this happened a while ago because they want to emphasize a connection to VA Tech. They also make a point of saying that he's a "Colorado native", which would be a link to Columbine. He's not FROM Colorado, he's from Houston, TX and lived in Colorado for just a couple years.
Besides, THIS IS TEXAS! The majority of people in this state own firearms! Heck, it's legal to shoot anyone who comes onto your property after 6 o'clock! (though, in all fairness, that is probably an out-of-date law)
The only reason this is being made as big of a deal as it is, is politics. The law enforcers and politicians want to prove that the plans they've put into action to prevent another VA Tech are working (notice the emphasis by the media on the point that Jason was "caught" through a hotline set up as a result of VA Tech).
His bail was set at $15,000!!! For what happened, that is an insane amount! It seems to me like they've already decided to use Jason as an example for their cause, like they've already decided he's guilty. They're going to slaughter him for their own gain, when there was no real proven threat posed.
Yes, having the gun on campus is illegal, but that in and of itself should not merit a $15,000 bail! There are a number of campuses across that nation that have student groups advocating the RIGHT to bear arms and attempting to have that privilege on campus, such as TX State, which is only a 30 minute drive from UT.
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