CBC:
I don’t remember if anyone I know goes to Dawson now, but a lot of my friends went there. Oh, my god…
GAH.
I’ve been keeping up with the news. I can’t help but remember the École Polytechnique and shudder… 
For some reason, shooting or crime spree always sounds like somewhat of a joyful diversion.
“Whee! Let’s go on a spree!”
Doesn’t quite convey the force of - say - rampage.
Sorry youse Canucks gotta experience some good old Americun-style insanity…
That’s horrible! The only kid I know that is left in cegep is at Marianopolis, I felt a pang when I read the title…knew lots of kids from Dawson, though.
Bastard.
-Bryan, Graduated '89.
This is insane. That’s one of the busiest parts of downtown Montreal. Atwater is a busy metro station, Alexis-Nihon is a popular mall and office complex, and Dawson has 10 000 students. Please don’t let the death toll rise…
I just graduated from Dawson last year. I got some firsthand eyewitness info from a couple of kids on the bus on the way home just now, but as we know, that sort of info isn’t always reliable.
Looks like there were between 2 and 4 young men with guns who started shooting outside the building, and then went into the cafeteria and continued shooting. There were stampedes as students tried to evacuate the building, some panic about whether it was smartest to stay in the classrooms and barricade the doors (most of them don’t lock) or try to run for it, as the men were trying to go hide in the school to get away from the police.
Cops are now going through the school one room at a time looking for more gunmen. It’s a huge damn school and it’s going to take them forever.
God, I hope this isn’t FLQ-related (no matter how distantly related it might be).
Hoping for more details soon…
Elly (franco-ontarian, ex McGill student)
Very sad, very mad news. I hope all the Montreal Dopers are okay.
So… Steve, what about that gun registry now ?
I suppose we’ll have to wait for the details about whether a gun registry would have been able to do anything about this. It’s perfectly plausible for a legally acquired gun to be used in a criminal way.
I remember that the gun registry was established in response to the Polytechnique shootings. Just because the bureaucrats fucked its implementation, is no reason to get rid of it.
It doesn’t mean that it would have been effective either. I don’t know either way - there’s not enough info yet - but if these were imported, stolen guns, there’s not a damn thing a registry could have done to stop this.
Current news: Single shooter, now dead. 20 victims. (Death toll not reported.)
Reuters, Wed Sep 13, 2006 5:05pm ET:
20 hurt, gunman “neutralized” in Canada shooting
Oh, don’t even go there.
My first response when I saw this was, “Oh no! Not again!” Damn.
I read something about him being pissed off at feminists who prevented him from attending there.
Death toll now 2:
the gunman, and one woman. 19 others wounded, 2 of whom are listed as critical.
Very bad indeed; with luck, the death toll will stay low.
Are you sure that wasn’t referring to a similar, but more fatal, incident in 1989?
One of the victims works as a busboy for my dad. He’s quite well liked, because he’s a bit young and naïve and funny when it comes to getting his job done. He was shot in the arm, I think a through and through. I’m not 100% sure of the details (coming from my dad via my mom) but he called my dad to tell him he wouldn’t be coming into work “because I was shot”. My dad’s response was “what the hell? You don’t need to call - go be with your family!” and he replied “Well, I wasn’t sure what the procedure is when you have to call in to work because you’re shot”!
My dad loves this kid, because he’s funny that way. I’m freaking out just thinking about it. I don’t think I know anyone still at Dawson, but the fact that my dad does brings it quite close to home.
fuck.
God, I remember that. I had just started college and it scared very much. I’m the type that looks for escape routes in crowded theater in case someone comes in shooting (as me about my childhood…) and it validated all my worst fears.
That incident immediately came to mind today.
I am so sorry this happened to all you canucks.