I am at heart an optimist. I think we can find solutions if we can understand the problem. I know that it didn't used by be like this. I know there has always been evil in the world, bad people, and that is why we need good people willing to defend other good people. I'm sure, as Gato points out, creating "evil bastids are safe from credible resistance" zones has made things worse. If only to move into the target area the most vulnerable, kids, which makes the tragedy even more deep.

But at the core are the minds and hearts. In my youth, as so many of the same vintage have pointed out, firearms in schools were common - many kids learned to shoot early and practiced often, safely, and the presence of firearms in the school did not cause violence. Perhaps the values gained learning firearms safety and the responsibility gained was a key. Certainly my experience is people who understand being responsible for their own safety are less likely to commit murder ;-).