My two cents…I think we need a three-prong approach to addressing school shootings.
1. Secure the schools and have everyone take it seriously. I have no knowledge of specifics, but I love my friend Janet’s shoe analogy: one guy in 2001 tries to blow up a plane with his shoe and we’re still walking barefoot through TSA today. We can certainly come up with a modicum of protection for schools. Government certainly finds money when they want to!
2. Mental Health! Most schools don’t even have a counselor or they share one among multiple schools. Disgusting. Mental health needs to be addressed in schools and in our country. It’s a sad state right now where people don’t have access to even the basic mental health services.
3. I agree with what my friend and expert Mark said: a mental health evaluation and a firearm safety course should be made prior to the gun sale for every individual. YES! I believe most of us have a right to own guns, but certain people cannot due to mental health issues or criminal backgrounds. I believe that every gun owner is responsible for gun safety for themselves, their families and others.
These 3 things would go A LONG WAY to helping. There is nothing we can do to prevent, only deter. But, we can be better than we are today. If we can work together and keep our minds open to wanting a solution, then it can happen. It starts with each individual.