Student arrested over Va. Tech remarks

Student arrested over Va. Tech remarks

BOULDER, Colo. - A University of Colorado student pleaded not guilty Wednesday to making comments that classmates deemed sympathetic toward the gunman blamed for killing 32 students and himself at Virginia Tech, authorities said.

During a class discussion Tuesday of Monday's massacre at Virginia Tech, Max Karson "made comments about understanding how someone could kill 32 people," university police Cmdr. Brad Wiesley said.

Several witnesses told investigators Karson, who turns 22 on Thursday, said he was "angry about all kinds of things from the fluorescent light bulbs to the unpainted walls, and it made him angry enough to kill people," according to a police report. Witnesses "said they were afraid of him and afraid to come to class with him," Wiesley said.

Karson, of Denver, was arrested Tuesday on a misdemeanor charge of interfering with staff, faculty or students of an education institution.

His father, Michael Karson, told the Camera newspaper that the comments may have been misinterpreted and questioned whether his son's free speech rights had been violated.

"I would have hoped that state officials would know their First Amendment better than they seem to," he said.

University spokesman Bronson Hilliard said privacy laws prevented him from releasing personal information about students.

At Oregon's Lewis & Clark College, another student was detained by campus police Wednesday shortly before a vigil for the Virginia Tech victims when he was spotted wearing an ammunition belt. Portland police later determined that it was "a fashion accessory" made of spent ammunition, and said the man did not have a weapon. The belt was confiscated.

I'm sorry, but this is kind of a stupid reason to arrest someone. I do hope this allows him to get some help though.

Well, I'm not sure if it's stupid... but, I think that there could be a problem with this student. Enough to warrant looking into him, and what his 'problem' is.

After things like this go down people tend to get their panties wedged up the crack a little bit. It's understandable. Sure, there's a Freedom of Speech issue, but there's also a thing called tact.

-HECK!

I don't think he should have gotten arrested but everyone's on high alert.

he's stupid for saying he could understand how someone could kill those people. BUT, everyone's afraid of him because he's angry about unpainted walls and fluorescent lights? come on. That doesn't make someone a killer. If he has anger management issues, fine, if he's disturbed, then he should get help. but people shouldn't go throwing around a word like KILLER to just anyone either without some serious investigating first.

Sure there is a thing called tact but you can't arrest people for not having it.

If he has some sort of history, or warning signs, than maybe they should try to get him into counseling but I dont even really think I can comment on what he said becuase it doesnt actually quote him.

He might have just felt bad for the guy being picked on and understood how that could lead to this type of behavior since it seems to be becoming a trend. Not that I'm excusing it or comdoning it, or even saying that it should be an option, I'm just saying he's comment may have been taken out of context.

This is becoming a whole new type of profiling.

Nymphadora wrote:

Sure there is a thing called tact but you can't arrest people for not having it.

If he has some sort of history, or warning signs, than maybe they should try to get him into counseling but I dont even really think I can comment on what he said becuase it doesnt actually quote him.

He might have just felt bad for the guy being picked on and understood how that could lead to this type of behavior since it seems to be becoming a trend. Not that I'm excusing it or comdoning it, or even saying that it should be an option, I'm just saying he's comment may have been taken out of context.

This is becoming a whole new type of profiling.

I totally agree. There were shock jocks on the air making 9/11 jokes a week later. It can be mean and totally uncalled for, but like I've said in the past unpopular speech has to be protected the most.

-HECK!

exactly

Like I said... he should be looked into. But, arrested? I don't think so.