Focusing on mental health service availability would be more practical.

My heart goes out to these families. It is very sad and tragic.

I don't think the problem is with guns either. These people have mental issues that needed to be addressed and no one did anything about it.

thanks for sharing, and I think gun control is ok to a certain extent, i mean we should all be able to own a handgun but their is no need for the general population, sane or not, to have access to high powered weapons.

I just dont know what would be best. I did just see on the news that Conneticut has the strictest state gun control laws, yet this happened.

it's not that we need gun control, but we need to stop glorifying violence of any kind.

Guns didn't walk into that school and kill those kids, it was the person behind the weapon. Bullying, bad homes, shitty foster care, undermining of mental health examinations, handing out too many pills to 'solve' things rather than teaching young people to deal with stress, overcome abuse etc etc etc

are what leads to these things.
Remove the guns from main stores - go to your nearest ghetto talk to two or three people and you'll find an arms dealer. They'll still be on the streets.

Go online and find out how to make a bomb, take maybe an hour or 30 minutes.
And instead of 18 children being dead it could be an entire school.

Guns aren't the only things that allow people to be killed, they are just one of the easier to access. Pawn shops should be restricted from selling guns - and to quote someone a friend quoted "Keep the guns but sell each bullet for $500".

The UK has extremely strict gun control laws and their violent crime rate caps America's... so people will still die, still be killed - it will just be in different ways.

People need to stop looking to the Government to control things and lay restrictions and look within their community to see what they can help improve - that kid your kid laughed at last week? Make them go apologize, invite them for dinner. You never know what is going on in someone's life and what could be the 'straw that breaks the camel's back' so to speak.

Regardless of whether or not there's a ban on guns, or laws against holding them, people are going to find ways to obtain them regardless. If someone really wants to go on a rampage/create a massacre, it's going to happen, because someone is going to sell them a gun. Whether it's online or in some back alley, people can get their hands on guns, which is a shame.

The gun control argument is old. That's not going to solve the problem and prevent this from happening.

I don't know what the solution is, but this is so horrible it seems surreal.

I think guns can be a problem and should be controlled, but I do own a gun for protection and I do hunt. I think that I should be able to keep them... Maybe better tests and requirements to get guns should happen? I think that better testing, and required gun safety classes would help control some of the issues, but never all of it. People do stupid and evil things and will always find ways to do them regardless of rules and laws.

In respect to the precious angels who lost their lives today, I am going to make this brief and non-political. Instead I will be more...logical.

1. As an American citizen, we have the right to bear arms. My great-great-great grandfather took the famous bullet at Bunker Hill and helped write the Declaration of Independence to give us that right!!!

2. Just as cars do not drive drunk, guns do not randomly jump out of their cases and start shooting people. INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE with severe mental problems, irresponsibility and stupidity in THOSE people by not following a Dr.'s advice or not eve seeking help are responsible.

3. The Gun is not the problem, the high cost of medical attention to those who suffer mental issues makes it prohibitive for them to get reasonable care. The people who are aware there is an issue with someone's mental health--but look the other way also contribute to the medical expense issue.

4. Seriously, are you going to truely believe that if guns were unattainable, no one would be killed? --knifed --drugged--strangled-- poisoned--pushed off a ladder--run over with a car--beaten to death with fists or other weapons---Cocaine. Exstacy. LSD. Acid. Bath Salts. Marijuana. Meth. All illegal, all easily obtainable--by anyone at almost any age.

Instead of focusing on an inanimate object, we need to start focusing on the actual problem. Work together to make getting help for those who have mental issues easier, more accessible and affordable.

We need to REMOVE the stigma associated with a mental disease, temporary or permanent mental problem and depression/management issues. The afflicted did not ask for or deserve it--same as those afflicted with cancer, that is also a disease. But a "Socially Acceptable"one.

As individuals, we need to start stepping up to the plate, helping those who cannot help themselves and quit grandstanding about blaming objects--but start taking responsibility for our actions and fix the issues where they start. NOT where they end!! Maybe if we all would have done our part, those babies might not have had to suffer today.
---------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------
God bless those who survived,
May he enfold those who passed,
May the families embrace all the love,
Find shelter in everyone's compassion and
Surround themselves with strength they need
To get through the pain and despair.

May those whose lives were directly affected
Heal strong, so they may honor their loved ones
With faith, pride and the honest knowledge
That their short time on earth was the most valued
And precious memory to be treasured--

And they will never be forgotten
But will be remembered and included
As if they were as present in body
As they are in their souls.
-sj-

Gun Control is a must! It is one thing to have hunting guns, or a handgun for protection. However, here is no reason for people to have semi-automatic weapons!

I feel like even if they make more gun laws the only people that will follow them are law abiding citizens. Criminals and homicidal wackos will get guns any possible way they can. They'll get guns illegally, steal them... They'll get their guns and continue to do the crazy things they do. I don't think the average joe should have a rocket launcher or anything psycho like that though. =p

I think the issue is WHY people are shooting up innocent people and acting out with all this violence! It seems like a trend! 20-30 year old male shoots at random people in a crowded place. I don't get these self centered idiots that think the world belongs to them and that they're so damn special and have had such a "boohoo" life that they have the right to destroy other peoples lives. I have no sympathy for these people. Why don't they just do the world a favor, stick the gun in their mouth, and pull the trigger?

Unfortunately, if a person is hell bent on doing some damage, it won't matter what is immediately at their disposal; they'll find a way. Anything can turn into a weapon. Perhaps education about the signs that people exhibit before these types of tragedies occur, and more availability of psychological help would be a good idea.

I'm not sure yet. I think it is more the people buying the guns and teaching others the safe way to use them.