(CNN) -- At least 31 people were killed Monday in two shootings at Virginia Tech, according to a state official, making it the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history.
We asked CNN.com readers to share their thoughts and initial reaction to the tragedy. Below is a selection of their responses, some of which have been edited for length and clarity.
Monica Midkiff of Lynchburg, Virginia
Let us use this tragedy to reach out to our adolescents and teens. Listen to them, teach them to share their feelings, stop ignoring their cries for help! Fill their lives with alternatives to violence. Use all the energy you are wasting to blame and turn it toward our young people, so no more generations may have to suffer this kind of agony! It may take a generation before we see the results, but my God, aren't our children's futures worth the work! Educate yourself to perform the most important job on earth! Be a parent who teaches conflict resolution that does not include violence!
Scott Smith of West Union, West Virginia
I feel incredibly disturbed by this entire ordeal. Even though I am currently conducting my student teaching internship which is in an elementary school off of the college campus, I'm still a college student and feel very affected.
This hits very close to home in the fact that VT is not really far from WV. Our own WVU is very similar to VT in multiple aspects: size, community, programming, and assumed safety. My kid brother is an aeronautical engineering major at West Virginia University, and I thought of him during this ordeal. This very thing could have happened right here in Morgantown instead of Blacksburg.
The simple fact is that we are not safe anywhere anymore. Yes, in relation to many countries, we are very safe, free to do as we please, but in a sense that has led to our potential downfall. We have let too much get by in our American society. We have ignored warning signs, and turned our cheek to factors that nurture such hideous incidents such as these. The violence in many of today's video games is a valid example.
It is frightening to think of how these things seem to happen anywhere and everywhere. Schools, churches, colleges, doctor's offices, federal and commercial complexes, what's next?
I find myself daydreaming ... in different places, trying to figure out my escape route in similar situations. This stuff is happening far too much, and I think it is a wake up call that our American society needs to find out what is sending our own off the deep end to such barbaric acts.
Anne Himebaugh of Boston, Massachusetts
As a December graduate from Virginia Tech's graduate engineering programs, I am very saddened and horrified by the events of April 16th. Seeing images of Norris Hall, a building that I was in practically every day of the past year and a half, with bodies being carried through doors that I know all too well is incredibly disturbing. Through all of this, one aspect of the media has truly begun to upset me very much, and that is the attack on the President of the University and the Virginia Tech police department. I believe that they acted on information that they had available and followed through with appropriate action. As far as students being notified of the incident at 7:15 a.m., the university waited until they knew exactly what was going on before alarming the community. When the escaped convict situation happened last August, I remember seeing the university's e-mail and only skimming it, thinking it had to do with something else. It wasn't until I was on campus and working in my office, that I fully comprehended the situation then. I do not doubt that a similar situation occurred yesterday. I am sure many students saw the e-mail and assumed it had something to do with the bomb threats from the week earlier. Please stop your attack on the university and the police department. They are doing their best in a horrific situation that nobody could have seen coming.
Kimberly Lenda of Englewood, Colorado
I am a college student in Denver, and was an 8th grader months shy of high school when Columbine happened -- I lived just one community over from Littleton. I also currently live just twenty minutes from Platte Canyon High School. Every time something like this happens, I have flash backs to Columbine. They are terrible, terrible events every time they occur, but communities can bounce back. Colorado has demonstrated that so many times, and unfortunately, the V-Tech community will have to do the same. It's hard not to have tunnel vision and focus only on the horrific points rather than the hope of the future, but with time, hearts will heal. My thoughts go out to everyone involved and affected by this massacre.
Hallie Futterman of Blacksburg, Virginia
I realize that this email may not be read, but I must write this. I am a Virginia Tech 3rd year architecture student. I was not on campus during the horrific event, and have been watching the news since the beginning. As a hokie, we are all banding together. We have gotten into groups to spend time with each other, watch what's going on, trying to reach people and family members, and trying to come up with answers. We are hokies and we love our fellow hokies and we love our school. While we are all very confused as to who the shooter was, or why he did what he did, the questions the reporters are asking are not helping us. I feel that these questions the reporters are asking in order to get answers are very harsh. They need to realize that placing blame on the police do not make us feel any better, but rather are blaming our beloved school. We do not blame our school for the situation. It is very grim and very saddening, but does not deserve such harsh criticism.
Jeff Moskow of Las Vegas, Nevada
In all the questions being raised about the security at Virginia Tech, I'm surprised no one has asked if there were any Closed Circuit TV cameras on campus. Most schools have them and if there were, perhaps they can explain what happened in the "missing two hours" between shootings.
Eric Beeson of Mineral Wells, West Virginia
My thoughts, prayers, and deepest condolences go out to the friends and families of this terrible tragedy. I am left with thoughts of why and how this can happen again? My biggest frustrations revolve around this question: How many lives are going to have to be lost before we begin to make changes in the way we live to end this cycle of violence?
Cassandra Ketrick of Norman, Oklahoma
I'm a resident advisor for the University of Oklahoma dorms and I was pleasantly surprised when our President, President Boren, sent out a mass e-mail to students at 2:02 p.m. this afternoon letting us know that our security doors on halls and outside doors will now be locked 24-7 in light of the Virginia Tech events. My residents and other friends have already expressed their grief and prayers to the students of Virginia Tech and I wanted to let you guys know that other schools across the country ARE taking precaution.
Tiffani Price of Blacksburg, Virginia
I am a freshman at Virginia Tech. I have lived in Blacksburg my entire life and I cannot believe that something like this would happen here. It's such a small peaceful town and I just cannot believe it.
Sneller Penni of Holts Summit, Missouri
First of all, my heart goes out to the families of the 31 shot and killed today; my prayers are with them. My prayers are for the 29 injured. I want to know where in the hell was the security guards at this school? How much more can we Americans take? I'm tired of the killing overseas and the killing on our own soil. We need to come together as Americans and figure out what we can do to keep our schools safe for our children.
Steven Wolinsky of Highlands, New Jersey
To me the whole story is: How did the kid get the guns?
Lovely Lansang of Manila, Philippines
I am an incoming college student myself and this incident is indeed appalling and it really affected me a lot. I don't know whatever the motives of the killer may be, but the end does not justify the means. Just because something not good happened, doesn't mean that you will channel your anger to others by killing them. Schools, colleges and universities should really strive hard to give students a fun and safe learning experience. I sympathize with all the staff, faculty, students and others affected by this incident.
Mary Lou Anderson of Pasadena, California
My deepest wish, in the aftermath of this terrible tragedy, would be that the gunmen are NEVER publicly named! The "fame" associated with this kind of event is often the most significant motivating factor. If the press participates in facilitating this heinous desire for notoriety, the shooter may have exactly what he/she wants!
If this person is never identified publicly and is thrown, publicly, into an unmarked grave, perhaps there would be a message to any future maniac who dreams and plans his "day of fame"!
Alex Anderson of Belmont, California
This is a tragedy on an epic scale. If it was a student who committed this heinous act as is being reported, then someone needs to figure out how he got to the point where he felt he needed to kill so many people and how he got access to the firearms used. Fortunately the rest were just wounded and didn't or hopefully don't share the same fate as the 31 who died. Working for a major university myself it's hard to not live with the fear that this could one day happen at my university.
Drew Miller of Rockmart, Georgia
I wrote this poem immediately after the Virginia Tech massacre today on April 16, 2007. I would like to share it with the world.
One Sad April Day
The Virginia Tech massacre has caused sorrow for one and all
Lord be with the many parents who sadly received a call
On this mid April day united we all stand
We will bear strong hearts throughout our great land
Let's keep our schools safe and secure from all harm
Pledging to keep a look out for those that cause alarm
Although we are shocked this tragic April day
Our prayers will press us forward come what may.
Alex Fagan of Blacksburg, Virginia
I don't have any pictures or videos, but I do live in West Ambler Johnston on the 6th floor. I was in the shower at 7:15, and I left the building at 7:45 to go to class. What I want to know is why they did not respond in 30 minutes and lock down the building. I was in class for an hour and a half and was still not notified of a shooting. I walked back across the drillfield with no knowledge of the shooting. I walked into my dorm and was confronted by a police officer, after eating, at 9:45 a.m. Something is wrong here. Why did it take so long for them to respond?
Michelle Dreuillet of Paris, France
Our thoughts and prayers to the victims, students, and families in Virginia Tech. Paris, France.
Cheryl Rodgers of Collierville, Tennessee
My prayers go out to especially the students, teachers and support staff at Virginia Tech. Please use sensitivity when showing constantly pictures of injured students or others being carried to safety in the backdrop of your news report.
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