Muscatine

So Mal wants to know how to prevent these things from happening. 

I'll work from the assumption that it is impossible to prevent such tragedy if an evil person is determined to carry it out.  But that being said, here's what I think.

As I've stated before, we must demand that our justice system punish those who ignore gun laws to the fullest extent possible.  I'd also instantly up the penalties to such a degree that they would truly be deterrents.

Since the shooter is dead, and he killed his mother who legally owned the guns, we can't go after them.  An adult woman who keeps 4 weapons in her home with a self-described "goth" whackjob probably was part of the problem.  I would also go after the father, who certainly had some say in how this kid was raised and who despite being out of the house for awhile, certainly should have know there were  nuts and guns living together. 

Consider allowing trained, certified CCP carrying teachers the right to carry during the school day.  A good friend of mine who is a retired teacher had this converstation years ago after Columbine, and most of his female co-workers were agains the idea.  I wonder if their views might be altered by this most recent event. 

I am a card carrying member of the NRA, but would not have a problem with a ban on assault weapons.  In this case, it appears it wasn't assault weapons that did the damage, but I don't understand who needs them, other than law enforcement.  They're no good as a concealed carry weapon, and for home defense, a good shotgun is certainly preferred.  The trick here would be to make sure the liberals wouldn't then want to keep the gun-ban ball rolling.

Background checks....again, should be part of the process in all cases.  But I don't understand the numbers I see based on my experiences at gun stores or gun shows, where I always had to produce a CCP or have a background check.  Hell, I have no problem with the background check process being made more comprehensive and detailed.  But again, it wouldn't have mattered in this case.  A stupid gun owner with unsecured weapons cannot be held accountable because she's already dead.

More to follow.....

How about it Mal?  4th try.  Will the criminals follow any new gun laws?

The idea of trained, certified and armed teachers is one that seems to be making more sense.  Our schools are defenseless and prime targets for the evil cowards.  If you've visited a Muscatine school in the last few years, there is a buzzer-intercom system at the entrances.  While it sounds good, all they do when you hit the buzzer is either welcome you in or ask why you're there, and then welcome you in.  I wonder if this procedure might be tightened up in the weeks to come. 

Good post as always, Nigel.  I too tend to place the blame, from the facts we know now, at the feet of the mother.  We are warned often during the Concealed carry classroom process that we are responsible for securing weapons and will be held accountable if they are taken and used in the commission of a crime. 

I am legally permitted to carry a handgun.  I have a question for malodery, and anyone else who cares to think about it:

If I was caring for your child, and something like this starts to happen, what would you want me to do?

The answer is clear and obvious.  In the case of this school, had there been one armed person in the office where this idiot went first, he could have been taken down and 20 children would now be alive.  Certainly every scenario is different, but in this one he could have been stopped.