Just as no one will forget Columbine, no one will forget April 16, 2007, when the campus of Virginia Tech University was faced with a massacre. The massacre consisted of two separate attacks approximately two hours apart, killing 32 people and wounding many students and faculty members. What has been dubbed as the VT Massacre goes down in U.S. history as the deadliest school shooting.

Many people walked away from the tragedy pointing fingers at the Virginia Tech administrators for not reacting quickly to prevent casualties. Everyone was left asking who was to blame. In reality, there is not one person or group that is responsible, except for the perpetrator, and instead of focusing on blame, attention should go towards preventing a similar situations from happening again.

After this incident, people wanted to do everything they could to prevent another tragedy from happening. Laws were created to prevent mentally unsound individuals from purchasing guns without detection by National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Also, the incident prompted the first major federal gun control measure in more than 13 years, a law that strengthens the NICS, signed by President Bush on January 5, 2008.

Legislation and politics aside, it is most important to remember those who were killed and wounded more than one year ago. Virginia Tech held several commemorative ceremonies April 16, 2008 to honor those who were lost one year ago. In addition, a candlelight vigil, similar to the one held immediately after the shootings, was held on the campus, along with several memorial services throughout the day. As a school, they pulled together after facing a horrible tragedy, and they now look toward a bright future.