Roundtable: What steps to prevent school shootings?

What steps do you support to prevent mass shootings, such as the May 24 shooting that killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas?

Gun restrictions shouldn't threaten law-abiding citizens

I firmly believe in gun control; however, there are many Americans who think that gun control will take away their guns. While that isn't true, I support steps that are a tamer approach than total gun control. I believe in background checks, licensing, making it harder to purchase an assault rifle and safety courses. People say that it is not the gun that causes the damage, but the person behind the trigger. If that is the case, why shouldn't we make it harder for them to get guns? I believe that a law-abiding citizen would not feel threatened by these setbacks. I believe that enough is enough. One child dead was one too many. — Liz Wicks

Don't rush legislation to 'get something done'

This monstrous crime has left the whole nation heartbroken. No one can hear about this tragedy without feeling the pain of the loss of these beautiful little children and their teachers. At times like these there is a sense that we need to do something. That’s natural and we all wish we could help.

But I distrust politicians who run to the cameras trotting out their old, rejected ideas in hopes that in the pain of the moment they might foist them on us. First, legislation should not be rushed through just “to get something done.” Secondly, whatever is proposed must have the possibility of getting passed, which means it must be bipartisan. In our deeply divided country, that does not leave a lot of options.

We just spent $40 billion to keep Russia out of Ukraine. Perhaps a few billion for security to keep murderers out of our schools. — Harry Bulkeley

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Written tests, skills tests, license, background checks

It’s just irrational to demand that teachers be armed. Just today before I began to write this another active shooter in Tulsa at a hospital.  An AR-type weapon was used to kill four and it was purchased the same day as the shooting. And the answer? More firearms. Arm the doctors. Arm the rabbis. Arm the guy that makes the popcorn and slices the deli meat. How many “highly trained” guards/safety officers do you need in malls, movie theaters, grocery stores? It’s ludicrous to think that you can put more guns in everyone’s hands and this is all going to stop. Parkland School had an armed guard. He failed in his duties and has since been prosecuted for child neglect and perjury. In Uvalde, active shooter training had been completed by law enforcement several times and look at that outcome.

Firearm training in most states is a joke as exemplified by concealed carry requirements. In Illinois, the practical training to put holes in man sized targets is far from adequate. The Uvalde shooter bought two AR-type rifles via a website and got instant financing (no payment for 90 days) to “buy” weapons that were selling for thousands of dollars. Buy now. Pay Later. Kill Kids. Enact “Red Flag” laws. Also consider that firearm ownership is similar to owning a car. Written Tests, Practical Skills test, license, background check, liability insurance, vision test, recertification after a period of time (including another background check).  — Stephen Podwojski

Law enforcement, lawmakers failed us in Uvalde

My heart goes out to each and every one of the families affected by this tragedy. Our law enforcement failed us along with our law makers. Law enforcement failed because it took too long for them to enter the building. God forbid, I ever be in that situation, but if so, I’d be like Angeli Rose Gomez (look her up). When it comes to being a mom, we are fierce when it comes to protecting our kids. Why did it take so long? Why not better security at schools?

To our law makers, put yourself in these situations and stop it with these power trips! I’m not against guns, but they get into the wrong hands!! When are we going to make changes? Does it have to hit home before we take preventive action and are we going to let these mass murders keep surpassing the days of the year? — Courtney Wallace

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Train and arm administrators and teachers

The security person confronted the shooter; he was nowhere around. The doors were locked; doors were unlocked and one had been propped open by a teacher. Police couldn’t get in because they had no key; the janitor gave a key to the police. I’ve read each of those stories and more. Even the Texas Governor complained about being “misled.” What are the facts?

What to do?

• Ensure that the security that’s supposed to be in place actually is and that it works. Test the process frequently.

• Train and then arm school administrators and teachers. No exceptions. It’s part of their job.

• Never ever publish the picture or name of the shooter. Many shooters want notoriety.

Chicago has some of the most restrictive anti-gun laws in the country. They’ve never worked. Once we would read/hear about the shootings from the weekend. Now it’s almost every day until it’s no longer news. — Charlie Gruner

There's no reason an AR-15 should be accessible

The gun laws in place now clearly aren't protecting innocent lives from being slaughtered by the domestic terrorists who carry out these heinous acts. The Second Amendment isn't sacrosanct and modifying it doesn't give an advantage to criminals. There's no compelling argument an AR-15-style rifle should be readily available for anyone who wants one. Some claim more mental health services will help solve this crisis, but most states have dramatically cut their mental health budgets.

At a bare minimum, raising the age limit, universal background checks, red flag laws, and a waiting period must be required to purchase a firearm. A gun purchase must be more difficult than having access to certain books considered indoctrinating. The proposal for schools to limit access to a single door is ludicrous. Arming teachers with guns creates a whole new set of issues. Offering thoughts and prayers have done nothing to curb this epidemic. When DNA has to be used to identify a child's body obliterated by an assault rifle, something has to change. — John Hunigan

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So much went wrong, one almost has to cry

In most recent shootings the warning signs were there, but nobody reported them. Probably some didn’t consider the threats serious, others were afraid of a lawsuit, and some had been taught to not trust the police.

In general, we have enough laws on the books, but they are not enforced. With everyone operating with reduced numbers, sometimes information is just not passed along or processed. We have violent video games, news coverage that encourages copycat killings, and drugs that distort judgment.

So much went wrong in Uvalde that one almost has to cry. The rules, the training were all in place. But a troubled young man got in through a side door that wouldn’t lock. The classroom door opened outward (so that an intruder couldn’t kick it in?), frustrating the police, who could not locate a key or pry bars. Then the police wouldn’t let the Border Patrol team in! — William Urban

Treatment of mental illness should start in schools

So far this year, as of June 2, there have been 233 mass shootings in the United States. Nearly all of them have been committed by angry, aggrieved young white men. I strongly doubt that a single one of them as boys went through school without a series of teachers noticing their troubled state and being concerned about them.  We have serious untreated mental illness in our society which is a major public health problem, and the lack of adequate, available treatment begins in our schools. The younger people are when they get help, the better their chances of regaining health.

We also have failed miserably to confront our corrupt politicians. Polling has made painfully clear the extent of their dereliction as they fail to do the peoples’ will. Wide majorities of us, responsible gun owners included, want reasonable regulations imposed. Waiting periods before purchase, a national database for background checks, required licensing, and red flag laws are all supported by more than two thirds of us. Our Congress and our Courts have abjectly failed, as our Constitution requires of them, “to insure domestic tranquility.” — Laurie Muelder

The Community Roundtable runs each Sunday and is made up of local writers. Community writers answer one question each week in 150 words or fewer. 

This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: Roundtable: What steps to prevent school shootings, like in Uvalde?