Dear Station Manager,The people of our Commonwealth experienced a terrible tragedy on the campus of Virginia Tech. The horrifying events there brought all Virginians and Americans together as we prayed for those who lost their lives or suffered injuries. Our thoughts are with them today.
While Virginians from every corner of the Commonwealth and people across the country were in mourning for the victims of the Virginia Tech mass murder, radio host Neal Boortz used his show, carried by your station, to criticize the victims for "allow[ing] themselves to be lined up in a classroom and picked off one by one."
His remarks were not an isolated error in judgment. Mr. Boortz has continued to defend and repeat this offensive argument, blaming the Blacksburg victims for being part of "the wussification of America" by "standing in terror, waiting for [their] turn to be executed."
Mr. Boortz tried to backpedal from his original remarks with continued justification of his "point" about the victims. Like you, we do not get Mr. Boortz's "point," but we know this: his outrageous public position on this tragedy in its immediate aftermath should have no place on Virginia's airwaves.Mr. Boortz's comments were not a slip of the tongue. It was an extreme view made forcefully and repeatedly. Your station's response to date has been disappointing and meager.
We are sure you agree that we must stand together as Virginians in the wake of this tragedy. Mr. Boortz's hateful comments should have no place in this Commonwealth, particularly at this trying time.
We look forward to your prompt response.
Sincerely,
Delegate Stephen C. Shannon
P.O. Box 406
Richmond, VA 23218
Tel: 804-698-1035
Fax: 804-786-6310Delegate Chuck Caputo
Delegate James M. Shuler