MTP Transcript for April 22, 2007

SEC’Y. LEAVITT: It undoubtedly will be revisited. The question is, will we find a better way than we already have? This is a very difficult proposition, and one that we can’t overreact to. Because there, there—the decisions we have made up to this point have been made in the context of these difficult countervailing matters, the privacy issues of, of a person juxtaposed with the—I mean, we’re talking about the basic discussion between how we balance liberty and security. These are fundamental issues of a society, and sometimes we find that there are risks to mortality that we simply have to march forward and do the—a better job in dealing with the imperfections our world presents us with.

MR. RUSSERT: Colonel, there’s been discussion that, under the assault weapons ban that went out of existence a few years ago, the magazine clip that this killer used, allowing him to have rapid fire, would have been outlawed. Were you—will your review extend into something like that?

COL. MASSENGILL: We will, we will look at that and see exactly what it did mean, Tim. I, I couldn’t agree more with the secretary and, and with Governor Ridge. These issues seem to be slowly evolving into a mental health issue, and, and a good thoughtful process that will allow us to step back from the emotions and look at this in totality, I think, is what needed—is needed, and I think that’s what we going to get.

MR. RUSSERT: What’s your primary concern, Governor?

FMR. GOV. RIDGE: I think, as a board member, is, is, is to be as open as we possibly can to—this is not going to be a police investigation. We have a lot of capable people being involved in that. We need to get that information, and we will consume that. But I think the primary goal is to do everything we possibly can to learn as much as we possibly can and apply it, not just to the Virginia Tech, but make sure that the lesson is learned, as hard and as tragic and as difficult as they’ve been, give us an opportunity to rethink how we go about protecting one of the most cherished institutions in America, and that’s our colleges and universities where we educated our young people. And the concern is that we do it right. As the colonel said before, you only get one chance to do it right. We kind of get a second chance here. And everything, from mental health to the means of detecting this, to the communication, e-mails, text messages, are there other ways, I think to—as the governor says, there’s a broad mandate. Let’s, let’s do a deep dive. Let’s make sure we understand everything that went—transpired. All the facts, all the assumptions, all the conclusions, test them all. Get lessons learned. We have 40-plus-thousand universities out there. Maybe they’ll benefit. Maybe—we need to reduce the risk of this ever happens again. I’m not sure we can ever eliminate it, but we sure—I think we can reduce it.

MR. RUSSERT: Will that cost money if schools upgrade their communications systems or have more security on their campuses or need more resources to train their teachers in recognizing the mental health shortcomings?

SEC’Y. SPELLINGS: Well, clearly I think the potential for additional resources certainly is implicated. I also think we’re going to learn to develop some models, and we’re going to figure out, you know, what works best where. I think it’s a—you know, obviously law enforcement and public education are largely state and local responsibilities, and they are governed by state and local laws, largely. But I think, clearly, the best use of resources and the best use of our capabilities, like technology, certainly will be brought to bear in these discussions.

MR. RUSSERT: Have you heard from high school principals, superintendents in the last few days as to how, how they should navigate the situation?

SEC’Y. SPELLINGS: Clearly, you know, just in, in the aftermath of the most recent spate of shootings last fall, General Gonzales and I had a—had a school safety summit that was largely focused on our—on our post-second—our secondary system. And yes, they’re concerned. And I think each and every time we have one of these incidents, they revisit their own policies. They talk with their administrators and families about are, are they prepared in this eventuality, in this set of circumstances. And I think they’re all doing that all over the country.

SEC’Y. LEAVITT: The answer is yes, we’re hearing from many people around the country, particularly mental health professionals and particularly from those who lead agencies in state governments and local governments on mental health. There’s a, a great concern on their part that as we revisit this, that we not overreact, that we recognize that the policies that have been established have been done in the context of this debate, and that this is a moment for us to recalibrate and rethink, but it—we need to do it in a thoughtful, national dialogue on it and not move in a way that would in some way unsettle a balance that may, in fact, have equilibrium today.

MR. RUSSERT: Colonel, before we go, you will try to, to teach us all the lessons learned from this tragedy. But if mistakes were made, you will be willing to point them out?

COL. MASSENGILL: Oh, no doubt. No doubt. And I, I would like to think, Tim, that’s one reason that the governor came to me. I think he, he realizes that this is important. This thing has gripped the entire nation, and appropriately so. So yes, I’d be remiss to do anything else but that.

MR. RUSSERT: Sometimes it’s hard for one police officer to criticize another.

COL. MASSENGILL: Oh, I don’t, I don’t think that’ll be any problem. You know, we’re, we’re not going out trying to second guess or point fingers and that kind of stuff. But if we see something, Tim, that, that, that we think should have been done differently, that will make our universities and our schools in this country safer, you bet we’re going to point it out.

MR. RUSSERT: We thank you all. A very important conversation with a very difficult subject, and we wish you the very best in your study.

COL. MASSENGILL: Thank you, Tim.

MR. RUSSERT: All of you.

SEC’Y. LEAVITT: Thanks, Tim.

MR. RUSSERT: Coming next, the future of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. The Democrats and the president continue to debate funding for the war in Iraq. And the Supreme Court weighs in on the abortion issue. Our political roundtable is next, right here on MEET THE PRESS.

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MR. RUSSERT: Our political roundtable after this brief station break.

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MR. RUSSERT: And we are back.

Welcome, all.

MR. JON MEACHAM: Good morning.

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