Instructor shot to death after in-class argument

[MyrnaLoy]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Authorities say an instructor at a Los Angeles vocational school was shot to death by a student after they argued in class. Banks says the 22-year-old student, Law Thien Huynh, stormed out of class, returned with a gun and shot the instructor several times.







Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/02/23/state/n180229S51.DTL&tsp=1

[xchrom]

1. Recommend

[MyrnaLoy]

2. hope I did it right

the News thread is complicated.

[Hissyspit]

4. FYI: You can cut and paste four paragraphs from the article.

But you did fine!

[MyrnaLoy]

44. thank!

[upi402]

3. They wont have to walk to their cars in Texas and Utah

They can conveniently carry their guns to class and shoot their teachers without having to make that annoying extra trip.
:argh:

[a la izquierda]

5. Hey, hey, hey...

you forgot about us in Oklahoma. They're trying to pass something like that here, too (though fortunately, Gov. Fallin-Idiot, is not sure about it). http://newsok.com/oklahoma-politics-fallin-unsure-about-guns-on-campus/article/3538358

And someone told me, on DU, I shouldn't be worried because I didn't know now if my students were armed. Bad argument, gun folks.

[SkyDaddy7]

6. I am a gun owner and...

I agree this country has gone gun mad! If anyone is to be allowed to carry a concealed weapon they should have to complete a mandantory class that all Law Enforcement has to complete...And guns have no business in schools period! IMHO.

Not all gun owners are complete TOOLS of the NRA! I swear! LOL!

[Atypical Liberal]

17. Tools of the NRA

You may be interested to know that in my last election all of my Democratic candidates except one had high marks from the NRA, and three of them were the endorsed candidate. You can see my ballot in my sig.

[SkyDaddy7]

30. I know the NRA supports some Democrats...

That does not take away from the fact the NRA is reckless & out of control...Are those Democrats against the Assault Weapons Ban or closing the Gun Show Loophole? Both of which not bad gun control measures...Or are they going to be unreasonable & be "TOOLS of the NRA"?

[Atypical Liberal]

31. AWB and gun show loophole

Almost certainly my Democratic candidates would be against both of these, and for good reason.

According to the FBI's UCR data, all rifles, let alone assault rifles, account for fewer homicides every year than hands and feet.

But beyond this, the Assault Weapons Ban was fatally flawed from the start. Civilian variants of the M-16 and the AK-47, for example, only look like military assault weapons. Functionally, they are just another semi-automatic rifle. So the ban tried to ban rifles that looked like assault weapons. This was foolish for at least two reasons. Firstly, manufacturers just modified the cosmetics of their rifles to meet the letter of the law, while remaining functionally identical. Secondly, there are already semi-automatic rifles that look just like grandpa's hunting rifle and fire the same ammunition in the exact same way as the civilian "assault rifles". For example, these two rifles are functionally identical, firing the exact same ammunition in the exact same way:





It's basically impossible to ban civilian "assault rifles" without making sweeping firearm restrictions that would affect regular, 100-year-old semi-automatic firearm designs.

On top of this, the "ban" had the effect of driving up prices and encouraging sales. The AR-15, once a relatively obscure platform for civilian rifles, has now become the most popular center-fire target rifle in America. Nearly very major manufacturer, including Remington and Ruger now offer an AR-15 style rifle.

As far as the "Gun show loophole" goes, we know that few criminals buy their firearms at gun shows in the first place. But aside from that, the real problem is that it is very difficult to regulate the private sale of property. All the "gun show loophole" means is that private sellers at a gun show - people who are not in the business of selling firearms regularly - can sell their firearm to another private individual without a background check. But this is no different than putting an ad in the local Penny Saver or internet for-sale board and meeting someone in the grocery store parking lot and exchanging cash for a firearm. The federal government is going to have a hard time regulating intra-state sales of private property, due to existing laws concerning inter-state commerce.

I have ideas for how to solve the "gun show loophole", but I'll save them for another thread if you are interested.

[SkyDaddy7]

58. I may agree & disagree...

It has been a while since I even bothered looking into it. So, explain to me if I am wrong because I do have concerns & I obviously need a better understanding of the AWB if I am wrong. And I do disagree with you on one thing (cover later)

Basically a gun must have THREE of the following to be considered an "Assault Weapon" under the current AWB correct or incorrect?

Must fire semi-auto
...And two of the following
Pistol Grip
Folding stock
flash suppressor
ability to accept high capacity clip
ability to attach a bayonet

...Or is there more or less to it? If this is the basically the rules I tend to agree so let me explain...However, I know these restrictions may not do a whole lot but in my opinion they don't hurt anything either. I will explain my opinion.

Before I go any further let me tell you this is the first discussion I have had about guns since I suffered a spinal cord injury in 2003...I own an Soviet AK-47 & an Chinese SKS several handguns & hunting rifles of different calibers...I also own a what I call my "Hand Cannon" a Thompson Contender 7-30 Waters FUN STUFF!

And I was classified as an "Expert Marksman" on the M-16 in the United States Airforce...YES, some of us did train with weapons in the Air Force! LOL!

I use to reload all my ammo mainly to support my pistol shooting...I never got in to gun smithing but i am sure that would have happened.

However, my world came crashing down in 2003 when I got hurt (nothing to do with firearms) & I have never fired a gun since. And since my world revolved around guns & I found myself without the ability to shoot anymore, at least not safely, I have just avoided gun conversations in general.

However, it has been 7 yrs & life moves on so lets talk.

OK, I know for a fact the two picture you used as examples do have differences in the ability to kill mass numbers of people efficiently...Of course both could kill lots of people & I know the argument you are making is the "action" is the same only the "cosmetics" have been changed, correct?

HOWEVER, having a short butt or folding stock, shorter barrel & pistol grip allows you to control a weapon with much greater accuracy when sending lots of lead down range! Add in a high capacity clip and it just does! The same caliber & higher caliber deer rifles simply do not have the same ability...They just don't!

I worked for Local Sheet Metal Union 85 in Atlanta & I use to build all kinds of metal "plink" targets for my friends and I to shoot at. Mainly pistol but we would unload on them with all our other guns as well...To me the SKS was extremely accurate at great distances firing very fast! No one could hit targets like we could at the same rate of fire we could with a deer rifle! There is a world of difference!

So, I agree the with you the "action" is the same but the "cosmetics" do make a difference...YES, even without the pistol grip, short butt or folding stock you could kill a lot of people.

I agree, most deadly crimes are not done with these so-called assault weapons...But you can't deny deadly crimes are on the rise with these weapons.

And even though most deadly crimes are committed with handguns I strongly oppose doing away with handguns...Because just like most deadly crimes are not committed with assault rifles most self defense cases are not done with assault rifles!

So, what do I suggest? VERY GOOD QUESTION! I simply do not know & I guess I could go both ways depending on what legislation said.

Grandfather all existing weapons & do not force them to be registered but seriously put restrictions on the "cosmetics" that allow one to kill mass amounts of people efficiently...And do away with high capacity clips for both rifles & pistols!

Look, I was a huge hunter as well...The one thing that use to PISS ME OFF MORE THAN ANYTHING was to be sitting in the woods & hear "BOOM...BOOM..BOOM.BOOM...BOOM..BOOM...BOOM.BOOM.BOOM.BOOM..." I would know for a fact that person never killed that deer & if anything he wounded it & it would probably die a slow painful death that benefited no one!

So, I have come to the conclusion that high capacity clips have no purpose in civilian life, period. Not for self defense of for hunting...Plus, target shooting they get in the way & unless the gun is made to fire multiple rounds you can warp the barrel & ruin the gun.

For instance, I had friend who had the same Glock 19 with 30 round clip...He had to buy a new barrel because he would run rounds through that thing like crazy. Plus, the long clip hanging out of the gun make the gun very hard to shoot accurate unless you are at close range & can simply point & fire like Jared Loughner did! So they have no advantage for target shooting.

THEY ACTUALLY MAKE A 50 RD CLIP FOR the GLOCK 19! WTF! LOL! It hangs down about 2ft & weighs a ton! There is no purpose in it other than to just make it...Maybe just to get under the skin of anti-gunners? Who's knows!

So, there are differences between guns built to kill humans efficiently & those that are meant to take a shot or three at wild game despite both being semi-automatic! Or to be used for target shooting & recreation in a constructive manner.

I am not of the thought that "I am an American & I should be able to own any type of firepower I choose!" That is not responsible thinking nor does it serve any purpose. AND...To those who think you should be able to own firearms for the sole reason to revolt against a tyrannical government...THOSE DAYS ARE LONG OVER WITH! If the government was to really turn its firepower on its civilians then we all know what that outcome would be! Plus, who really thinks the military would use its firepower on its own relatives?

[jpak]

22. And they will be *concealed* - so not to cause panic before the shooting starts

More GOP/NRA suckage

yup

[Roland99]

35. Or Florida. New legislation being considered to allow concealed carry of guns onto campuses.

[elocs]

7. The problem was that the instructor and the 12 others in the class were not armed as well.

Or, so would say the Gungeon.

[n2doc]

8. Or the other excuse

"It's not our fault that someone else broke the law! Why punish law-abiding citizens for the actions of a lone nut?"

[elocs]

12. Yeah, those 2 go hand in hand. The only problem the Gungeon has with the 2nd amendment

is that they resent it was not made the First.

[Atypical Liberal]

18. I have no problems with the order

I have no problems with the order of the rights enumerated, so long as they are all respected.

[Atypical Liberal]

16. How could it possibly be someone else's fault?

"It's not our fault that someone else broke the law! Why punish law-abiding citizens for the actions of a lone nut?"

It's not anyone else's fault that the criminal broke the law.

And I am not going to allow anyone to use the actions of criminals as an excuse to restrict my right to keep and bear arms.

[DBoon]

25. "laws are useless. Criminals don't obey laws"

so get rid of the legal system and the police, carry a gun, and shoot anyone suspicious before they shoot you first?

It works in the movies, doesn't it?

[WatsonT]

28. Or use the laws to punish those who break them

rather than punish everyone on the grounds that some of those people will go on to become criminals.

[DeadEyeDyck]

47. Laws didn't stop Law

[WatsonT]

29. Many people would argue that it's proper to punish

only those who break the laws, rather than everyone preemptively.

What's it called when you project the bad behavior of a tiny minority on to a larger group?


Also there is no need for new laws when this person likely already violated a number of existing laws prior to the murder. So that's the argument you hear. Not "laws are stupid, we shouldn't have any" but rather "this is covered by existing laws, we don't need more".

[Atypical Liberal]

33. Yes, thank you.

Well stated.

[slackmaster]

24. The Astute Reader(TM) will note that nobody on DU has ever made such a suggestion seriously

It's just a giant straw man that gets dragged out every time some gang-banger goes ape shit and murders someone.

[joshcryer]

63. Yep. It's the least original comment ever made on DU.

Seriously, there is nothing less original.

[bowens43]

9. Obviously, we need more guns in schools.

This absolute proof that all students and faculty need to be armed....or so the gun lovers would have us believe.

We need much stricter gun and ammunition regulation, unfortunately, we seem to be moving the other way.

Our march toward being a third world n nation continues......

[Javaman]

20. "Okay students, take our your pistols, there's a pop quiz today!"nt

[handmade34]

10. thanks for posting

you did good! :hi:

[Lucky Luciano]

11. The Vietnamese gangsters are among the lowest form of scum.

The Vietnamese gangs have zero value on human life.

[somone]

14. Gangs have zero value on human life. Period.

Mexican gangs, Mara Salvatrucha, Aryan gangs, Crips, Bloods, whatever.

[flamingdem]

32. It's hard to feel any sorrow for what happens to them

even knowing their choices are limited ... but they do have choices.

[Atypical Liberal]

34. How do we know this was gang-related?

[slackmaster]

41. 22-year-old male with a bad temper, enrolled in vocational school, murders someone

...and lives in Gardena.

That has "guy who recently got out of jail" written all over it.

[MyrnaLoy]

45. I haven't found

any mention of gang, ex-convict, or anything like that. Did you guys just derive that from his name and where he lived? based on that what can we determine about the teacher who was named Robert Herrera? Do yo have any facts that say he's in a gang or a felon or are you just wanting it to be true? Kinda shameful in my opinion, he may have been someone who was really trying to improve himself at a school he could afford and for that one brief moment lost control, it does happen.

[slackmaster]

48. The relevant fact is that most murders are committed by people who already have violent records

Felony convictions, or at least misdemeanor domestic violence.

...he may have been someone who was really trying to improve himself at a school he could afford and for that one brief moment lost control, it does happen.

That is certainly possible, but in my experience someone who loses control that badly at age 22 almost invariably has a life-long pattern of violent behavior. Most young men start to mellow out a little bit by that age, or at least have enough sense to take themselves out of situations that they can't deal with before they get themselves into trouble. This wasn't a sudden act of passion that lasted "one brief moment". He left the school, got a gun, and came back. That's plenty of time for a normal person to cool down. He'll be charged with murder in the first degree.

We'll see what happens within a couple of days. If he's charged with "felon in possession of a firearm" that will prove me right.

You are correct if you have the impression that I'm speculating. But I'm usually right.

[MyrnaLoy]

53. So

are you basing this on his name? Where he lived? Because he has a temper? What did you use to profile this individual?

[slackmaster]

55. It's painfully obvious that you are trying to tar me as a racist. That's bullshit.

What did you use to profile this individual?

Gender and age; and overt behavior.

[Paladin]

57. I'm Cutting You Some Slack, Slack. You Know What I Mean.... (n/t)

[MyrnaLoy]

61. were

you correct in your profile of this man?

[Lucky Luciano]

52. I am not 100% certain, but on even odds, I would place that bet any day of the week. nt

[MyrnaLoy]

54. What is your

real last name so we can profile you?

[Lucky Luciano]

59. I was profiling the behavior - not the name.

Did I really have to spell that out for you? Seriously?

How about a friendly wager? As my sig suggests, I am the betting type.

[MyrnaLoy]

60. were

you right in your racial profiling?

[Lucky Luciano]

62. haven't checked...and again...the profiling was of the behavior.

That behavior is much more consistent with gang behavior. You seemed to think I was also profiling Herrera above, but I have not the slightest clue how you came to that conclusion.

[TheCowsCameHome]

13. If Huynh was carrying, he could have avoided a trip to get the gun

right?

[slackmaster]

27. I'm going to make a bold guess that Huynh has something in his background that makes him ineligible

...to get a concealed weapons permit (or even to own a gun at all).

I'll bet that he has a criminal record that includes a conviction for a felony, or misdemeanor domestic violence, or that he's an unlawful drug user.

[Paladin]

36. Well, Thank Christ He Was Able To Get A Gun Anyway.

Just like the Founding Fathers intended, right?


(Sarcasm Alert, for those in need of it.)

[slackmaster]

42. LA County Sheriff's "inmate search" page doesn't list charges for him yet

Bail is set at one million dollars.

http://app4.lasd.org/iic/ajis_search.cfm

[JJW]

15. All gun carrying students

will get straight As and be on the honor role.

[Javaman]

19. I'm glad texas is allowing guns on campus now...

:sarcasm:

[Paladin]

37. Yeah, That's The One Thing I Regret About My Texas School Years.

No crossfire in the classrooms.....

[Javaman]

43. A whole new meaning to "duck and cover" LOL nt

[jpak]

21. and the GOP/NRA want's MORE guns on campus - fucking idiots

yup

[slackmaster]

23. Gang member goes berzerk, shoots innocent man over some kind of petty dispute

In a place where only the most wealthy and connected have any hope of getting a permit to carry a concealed weapon legally.

[beevul]

26. Another shooting in a "gun free zone"? N/T

[hayu_lol]

38. I guess the poor kid will get...

an incomplete in the class.

[melm00se]

39. damn,...

if only California had strong gun control laws!!!

oh...wait....they do...

[cbdo2007]

40. This is why I try my best to avoid ALL confrontations if I can help it.

These days you never know when someone is going to come back with a gun and shoot you.

[provis99]

46. shot a man over an argument?

Sounds like the killer had a bright future as an LA cop.

[slackmaster]

50. I thought the same thing briefly, but he was studying to be a private security guard

Based on that information I have the impression that he's a wannabe cop who couldn't qualify to become a real cop. Maybe because of a criminal record. ;-)

[Rosa Luxemburg]

49. one of our students tried set fire to the library a couple of months ago

he was angry. Fortunately the fire system picked it up before it could get much worse.

[boppers]

51. "teaching a class Wednesday on how to become a security guard"

Great.

[slackmaster]

56. UPDATE: Neighbor says Huynh was "quiet, and kept to himself"

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=7978362

He lived with his mother and a sister.