Officials at Western Kentucky University have said that they’ve sent text messages warning students to seek shelter after reports of shots being fired on campus earlier today.

From the Associated Press:

Police spokesman Barry Pruitt says officers have had reports of shots fired at the school about an hour north of Nashville, Tenn., but have not confirmed them.

University spokesman Bob Skipper says at least one building on the university’s south campus has been evacuated after someone reported seeing gunmen. University lawyer Deborah Wilkins says there are no injuries reported.

South campus is home to Bowling Green Community College, one of six undergraduate colleges. The Bowling Green Daily News reports that elementary, junior high and high schools in the area have been locked down in response to the reports.

From WLKY:

Officials have reported an armed man on Western Kentucky University’s campus.

MP3: Interview With Anonymous WKU Student MP3: Interview With WKU Student Joey Hudson

WKU issued the following text alert at 12:30 p.m. CT Wednesday: “An armed man has been reported on WKU South Campus. Please stay clear of this area.”

Here is a statement from the University:

The South Campus building on Nashville Road was evacuated earlier following reports that one or more persons were observed in the building with weapons. WKU Police, Bowling Green Police and State Police have conducted an extensive search of the building and the premises. At this time, the police have been unable to find any witnesses or evidence to support earlier reports that weapons were present.

Following this, WKU PD received an unconfirmed report of shots fired in the vicinity of Pearce Ford Tower on the WKU main campus.

Police have confirmed that there was a physical altercation not involving weapons between individuals that occurred in or near PFT, but the police are interviewing witnesses on the scene to determine if weapons were or are present, or if shots were fired.

At this time, the campus emergency warning system has been activated. Students and employees have been advised to remain indoors, in secure areas, until an “all clear” is issued.

The young man that shot and killed students this week at the University of Illinois was labeled “mentally ill”. Of course we think that he was, who would do anything like this in his right mind, we say. But I believe it was much deeper than this.

My prayers go out to all the families that were hit by this terrible tragedy. May God comfort you during this difficult time.

When I saw this following comment, it made me think.
“His parents placed him in a treatment home after high school, because he had become “unruly” at home.”
What was his home life like? I don’t know. I believe if we where to know what went on in his home, this might provide many answers. But we don’t.

How many young people today are “unruly” and thus placed on drugs? Parents do not want to deal with their kids behaviors, so they drug them up. Hard to imagine, but true. They now have many behavior labels that they use and thus all kinds of drugs to deal with the problem.

This is real sad when we began to see the problem of overmedicating that is mounting at an incredible speed. Our society is severely drug induced. All ages, now have become the victims.

Now, I do think that there are real cases of mental illness out there, but I believe in most cases we are looking for the “quick fix” and not taking the time to look at the problem and what might be causing it.

What would happen if all the people that have been labeled “mentally ill” , depressed and ADD suddenly could not get their medication?

From what I hear in the following quote, this may have been the problem with this young man who did the recent killings.

“He never wanted to identify with being mentally ill” she said (the house mgr. for the home where he stayed) “that was part of the problem”. Part of the problem? I believe it may have been more than just “a part”.

Another quote was, “He had a history of resisting his medications”. Why? Was he forced to believe that he was mentally ill? Was it because no one wanted to deal with him? No one had the time?

The University police chief said, “He became erratic in the past two weeks after he stopped taking his medications”. Was he still crying out, I am not mentally ill? Someone listen to me? Someone help me?

Sorry, but it was too late.

This is once again, a wake up call for all of us.

May God help us to beware of the people that God has placed in our lives. Let us not be so consumed with our own agenda that we put blinders on and thus not notice those around us. May we run from the “quick fix”.

A former student of sociology charged into the ocean sciences room at Northern Illinois University and fired about 20 rounds killing six students and maiming another 17 or students.  According to reports, as the students sat in their seats the man stepped out from behind a curtain on the stage of the lecture hall, said nothing and opened fire sending students and teachers running helter skelter in an effort to save their lives.

   Again,  students are traumatized and fearful and this incidence brings back the nightmare of other university shootings that have occurred in the recent past. Classes were cancelled yesterday and today as well. What a tragedy

DEKALB, Illinois (CNN) — A gunman dressed in black stepped from behind a curtain at the front of a large lecture hall at Northern Illinois University on Thursday and shot 21 people, six of them fatally, then shot and killed himself, said university president John Peters.

read more on CNN.com

What is the cause of the recent increase in school shootings? Is it the accessibility to guns? Is it the publicity of the aftermath? Is it the glorification in media? Is it the increasing desensitization to violence? Is it the desperate need for purpose? What is it?

Lord, this nation needs you. We pray your mercy be upon us and our children.

A gunman has opened fired at Northern Illinois University and reports are saying 18 people are injured, with two possible deaths at this time (10.45pm GMT). Why does this keep happening? Some may say you can never eliminate all risk, but have lessons not been learnt from previous mass shootings at schools, universities and shopping malls? What needs to be done in balancing the constitutional right to bare arms versus public safety?