Originally Posted by Oldragbagger (Post 2099157)

My husband and I have both been retired for six years from Baltimore County Schools, but even in the last ten years of working the entire school system had instituted security measures. First, school doors were all locked after morning admission and stayed locked until dismissal. There were cameras at the door so the person seeking admission could be clearly seen before being admitted. School employees had swipe cards and one door for access throughout the school day. There was an an armed School Resource Officer who was an on duty policeman. His office was located close to the front door. All classroom doors were metal and had locks. They had a very small glass window so you could see out. We conducted drills regularly, much like fire drills. Upon hearing a code that signaled we had an armed intruder all classroom doors were locked, lights were turned out, a curtain was placed over the window, children and staff were trained to huddle against the wall at a location far away from the window and keep silent.
It is a sad state of affairs that we need such a protocol in this country, and that children should have to be taught that this might be necessary to protect their lives, but I would hope that every school in the country, no matter the size of the community, will take whatever steps necessary to protect their precious charges. There are measures that can and should be taken.

Originally Posted by jebartle (Post 2098784)

19 innocent children, 2 dedicated teachers, lives lost, solution????? More guns, bigger prisons, NOT. Japan, no guns unless police and military, murder rate .3 percent per 100,000, America, 4.7 per 100,000. Mental health wake up call.

Originally Posted by blueash (Post 2098823)

The Wild West had vigorous gun regulation in the towns and mass slaughters of civilians the likes of which we see so often did not happen.

Do you remember how horrified everyone was by Columbine in 1999. It had never happened before. In the last 22 years there have now been 13 mass school killings, defined as 3 or more deaths in a single incident.

Thoughts and prayers are not working.

Originally Posted by MartinSE (Post 2099131)

You seem to be focused on the wording, "assault weapon" while ignoring the AR15 is the most popular gun sold in America. It is also designed to "appear" like it's military counter part while meeting government regulations. And of course not least, it is the weapon of choice in most mass shootings since it's release.

So, call it what ever you like...

And, I expect if AR15s were completely 100% banned, then the people wanting to kill a lot of people quickly would simply move to another weapon, like some of those you have pointed out would be much better to use.

So, I personally have no desire to BAN all guns. I think the horse have left that barn. With close to 400 million in circulation there is no practical way to ban them. However, that doesn't mean we should do nothing. Cool down periods, ager restrictions, and other means could be used/tried. And, personally I also would like to see a Federal Law that required some minimum level of control. And if a state is found to not be enforcing that minimum level the state would be held responsible/liable for any casualties that resulted.

Originally Posted by spd2918 (Post 2099152)

The point i made shows you can chase your tail all day long by making guns laws and nothing will change. People who want to kill people can still do so without guns.

The press loves to celebrate school shootings for ratings and to further their political agendas. They will shove a camera into a greiving mother's face for ratings. They will rush to judgment and speculate just to stay on a hot topic. They are keen to talk about the shooter, and future shooters want that type of attention.

If the press were to report these pathetic individuals for what they are (lovers, mentally ill, socially awkward), then maybe we would have less repeaters.

Originally Posted by banjobob (Post 2098943)

The problem is not the gun, the problem is single parent households . The decline of the family unit in not married shacking up and producing babies , pretending to be legitimate, women being left to raise children .Compare Chicago, most gun control in the country ,worst gun violence in the country. Massachusetts no gun permit required ,safest state for gun violence. Politicians scream to repeal allowing gun ownership, Nonsense ! Hold parents responsible for their childrens behavior, period.

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive (Post 2099164)

One of the correlations that seems pop up in these debates (and I've been part of many) is that the lower the knowledge level, the higher the emotion. The post to which I'm referring makes this point very well. The rifle this Texas nutcase used wasn't an AR-15. It was an AR-15 STYLE rifle, specifically the Model DDM4 V7 rifle made by Daniel Defense of Georgia. Many companies are making these look-alikes since the original Colt patent expired I believe in the late 1970's. There are even BB guns made in this "style". But the term "AR-15" has taken on a sinister connotation and is thus used at every opportunity, even though the weapon isn't an AR-15.

The other overused term is "assault weapon". I had a client once who did some time for assault with a deadly weapon. His "assault weapon" of choice? A table leg, which he ripped off the dining room table and used it to chase some people out the door and down the street. Fortunately they were faster than he was so no harm done, other than of course to the table. An assault weapon, under the law, can be ANYTHING--but of course the term has also taken on a sinister connotation and as such is employed at every opportunity.