My wife and I have always worried about our oldest son who is a newsman in NYC.... she always worries about his safety.... and he says... not to worry.... but now we have to start worrying about our youngest son who is an elementary principal! I remember reading about a speech some Medal of Honor winner made... they asked him "how".... he said something simple like... "someone had to do it... and I just didn't think and did it"... more power to all the staff and students at the school who became hero's and we might never know about them!

Sadly, the day has come when school districts will have to conduct 'random mass shooting drills' at the schools to better educate the staff and students as to what to do and what not to do during these God-awful events. Much the same way tornado and fire drills are conducted.

Guns were banned in Chicago and DC for decades, yet they remained two of the most likely US cities in which to get shot.

How are you going to 'ban' 300 million guns anyway? Do you think criminals and psychos will turn in theirs?

The sad fact is, we need to do away with victim-rich evironments called 'gun free' zones, like schools, movie theaters, etc..

Did you ever wonder why these horrible crimes nearly always occur where guns are prohibited? Because criminals and psychos prefer an environment in which they know no one will be shooting back.

Allow qualified faculty members to arm themselves if they so desire. It works very well for the Israelis. They fight fire with fire.

My heart is breaking over this senseless tragedy. I live in the West but have 4 Grandchildren and 1 Great Grandson. 3 of them are in school with the 4th ready to start in a couple of years. My mind just keeps going to 'this could happen to them at any time'. I am so heartbroken for these children and families affected by this horrific tragedy. It could be anyone of our family members and I mourn and pray for the survivors. They will carry this for the rest of their lives..as will our Country! I truly believe it is because we in the 'liberal' society of taking Prayer out of our schools, and God out of our whole Constitution including the Pledge to the Flag of our country that is the cause of all the turmoil. Being 'Politically Correct' is killing our Country and causing so much confusion and grief. We need to teach our children when they are young the way to go and when they are old they will not falter. PLEASE GOD, BLESS OUR COUNTRY AND BRING PEACE AND LOVE BACK INTO OUR LIVES, BLESS ALL THE CHILDREN AND ADULTS THAT HELPED KEEP THE SURVIVORS SAFE......AMEN AND AMEN!

I usually say something about how it was a setup or something else stupid, but this kills me to hear that we would be willing to do this to each other.... Where did we go wrong to allow such disspair that would drive a person to think of even doing such things? All i can ask is try and care more, this disspair that we live in needs to end soon, no one should be left behind no matter what anyone may think of that person.. Together we can stop this instead of worrying about where our next check is coming from or what new car to get "whatever", instead we should look at how we can make our communities better by simply doing two things paying it forward and helping those that are mentally ill not outcasting them or making them feel less of a person. try finding that poor sap and make there life better by understanding loveing"not all kissy"and letting them know that we do care that i will stop for that person on the road , giving them work, and overall acceptance. We arent meant to live this way allways competeing trying to be better than the guy next to you. We are supposed to take care of this world and each other , i believe this contributes to our problems. I am currently doing a life experiment .... this may help you all too. What i basicly have done is or trying to do is destroy my ego. this will garentee change your life for the better think on it anyways i rambled ... all io can think is what if was one of my family to those who lost someone or child im so sorry for your loss i vow to try and end this disspair we live in with appreciation for my fellow people . i promise to pay it forward to any and all i meet.

Mentally ill or not this guy was EVIL.

This is so unbelievably heartbreaking that it's hard to think about. As a school principal myself, I can't imagine having to go through something like this. Why anyone would walk into a classroom/school full of 5 and 6 year olds and start spraying bullets is far beyond my comprehension. The community as a whole deserves our deepest sympathies. Of course this will again bring up the age old debate on gun control. The problem with banning firearms is that the only people who will still have access to them will be criminals. Guns don't kill people, monsters like this man do. My heart is full of sorrow for all of those affected by this hideous tragedy.

I am a retired teacher. Republicans it is time to stop vilifying teachers and their Unions. They certainly are not overpaid and given too many benefits. I always said teaching was something I loved to do and just happened to get paid for it. Teachers are born, not made or trained. It is in your blood. True, a university might fine tune that. How much is a child's life worth to you? Do you really want the Walmart greeter as your child's teacher just because it might save you a few dollars? People need to wake up and realize that teaching is about and covers far more than subject matter. I can not tell you how many times I have bought a student of mine clothes, food, and school supplies. Nor can I tell you how many nights I couldn't sleep for worrying about them. I think most teachers would give their lives for their students without even thinking about it. We are not the bad guys. It is unfortunate that it takes a tragedy like this for some of you to realize that. One last point. Those stupid standardize tests that everyone puts so much importance on. I wonder how many of those students locked in a closet with their teachers to avoid bullets were reciting the answers to those tests? Lets get real and stop teaching tests and answers, and start teaching about the real world. Memorizing the answers to test questions does not make you smart, but real world application does.

These stats were taken from global post and the US census.

The US homicide rate has declined since 1991 but it is still amoung the highest in the industrialized world. There were 14,748 murders in the United States in 2010.

The 1,097 murders in Japan last year were, according to statistics from the National Police Agency (NPA), down 200 from the previous year, a third of the number in 1954. This is out of a population of 127 million, in the middle of the worst recession since the war.

This represents less than a tenth of the murder rate in the U.S

Once again, we're hearing what if there were cops in the schools? Really, most people are way too concerned about their purses and wallets to see tax increases to pay for anything else a school district needs. Most districts are getting by despite massive funding cuts. Greed and arrogance always wins over common sense. Teachers will always be heroes.

Im very worried for our children. The amount and level of violence that they are exposed to at even the tenderest of ages whether it be through the media, games, movies, etc, has really affected them. Case in point, i am a mother of three elementary aged children, ages 9,8,6. I sat them down yesterday afternoon after we got home from school, and in age appropriate words i explained, or tried to, what had happened. They listened, and sadly didnt seem affected. My 8 year old son only asked one question, "What kind of gun was it?". I was very disheartened. They are so desensitized that this sort of thing doesnt even seem real to them. I was let down, and now wonder if ive failed them as a parent. I am going to do the only things i can think of, im going to change what i allow them to view, what games i allow them to play, i am taking all toy guns and things of that nature away from them. Times have changed, and not for the better im afraid, and our little ones are really changing too. Such a sad day, such a sad time.

RIP the little ones :'(

if only someone in that school had a gun to stop this sooner

I'm a school custodian with 25 years experience. I have experienced school shootings. Student safety comes first. I don't know what to say, so sad.

It is sad what happened, but i have a question. What was the precautions taken at the school to protect students. I mean we are having shootings so frequently now a days and I know I'm not the only one asking this question. Where can I read about what the school did to keep this from happening??

i pray for these families...yet we must learn by this and move forward...teachers have always been heros to me...kept me from trouble many of times but yet, thats when times where diffrent...

WOW...it is appalling how people attack one another on sites such as this, at times such as this...may God bless and comfort the families and loved ones of the innocents slaughtered in this latest tragedy. I wish I knew what could be done about this but sitting in my living room and attacking some one else with words because of the pain is senseless...almost as senseless as this type of violence...we all have our own thoughts and ideas but let us LISTEN to one another...help those in need, and pray for our children...pray for those in mental darkness...pray for strength...stop attacking each other...with words, actions, guns, bombs...find the kindness in yourself and let everyone see it with your actions, your words, you might change a life!

Stephan Flay Jakovljevic: Obviously you haven't been following the story. He didn't walk in the school in the normal way, he BROKE in. As to your question, all schools in my state, Michigan are required to have and practice a lockdown procedure.

no one can stop the sickness .. we have made these killers into movie stars and we know we love this stuff.

from what i read the staff should have seen the signs and reported it as a conflict of interest

The teacher who pulled the boy from the hallway that was interviewed was Mrs Abbey Clemens. The other teacher who helped pull another boy into the classroom was Mrs Walker. Both Heroes!

Criminals,spree killers, and mass murderers are not going to follow advisory signs that say, "Guns are not permitted."

Taking guns away from citizens who follow the laws, because of a maniac who kills chidren...

That is like solving the 30,000 people who die per year from drunk drivers, by taking everyones right to drive away...

Israel has been protecting their school children from terrorists, with assault riffles for years... America needs security in our schools! We did it immediately after 911 in our airports, why not protect our most precious resource, our children.

If there is anything guaranteed in life, it is that we will be on calm waters one moment, then tossed upon stormy seas the next. Facing the most terrible tempests, worst forces which life can deliver us. At times sending us through the crucible of fire and trying our very souls to the core with death and destruction.

Leaving one to wonder how they can go on. At other times we are given awful choices between life and death and split seconds in which to make them. How we will respond, is unknown, until the moment is upon us. As this story demonstrates, some step forth and reveal the pure hearts of heroes.The shining knights we may have heard from childhood stories of old.

We all hope in the most awful of circumstances, that we would do the same thing. If need be, laying our lives down, for others. But the truth is, none of us, except those who actually have gone through such horrific events, actually knows how we would react.

So to read about children, bravely facing such danger waiting for friends, then passing the shooter to leave through a door, a Principal rushing towards a killer intent on murder-KNOWING-she may die, a janitor running down halls calling out warnings to others, is the true dyed in blue, valiant heroic actions of the highest human qualities possible.

Qualifying for that saying, "Greater love hath no man-(or woman)-than this, that he lay down his life for his (her) brother-(Child)"

If children can be this brave, then let us as adults be brave as well and help something good come from this awful situation. Let's make the world better, Starting with ourselves, for all children.

Stand up when we see injustices in life. Let us live to make the world a lovely place. Remove violence from our lives in every way.If children are exposed to it less, it becomes less acceptable.

Finally we need to be kinder, more patient,civil and tolerant to everyone. More forgiving, less judgmental and understanding with each other. Show our children and all others who may see us, we can talk civil, actually listen and stop blaming others for our problems in life. Act responsibly. I know change is hard and scary, but let's be brave. Be the change we want to see in the world.

We can take baby steps to do that right? Start with ourselves and be the heroes our children need every day. So someday they will have a better world. By doing this, each of us, so many more adults will learn to treat each other like decent compassionate human beings.

This can all start, from little children who once showed us how to be brave. Enough to change the world for the sake of all children. Including the ones who died yesterday.Who are as angels now, watching over us in our new opportunities. If we be brave.

The brave teachers are Mrs Clemens and Mrs Walker. Mrs Clemens grabbed the boy, Bear, who was interviewed and pulled him in the classroom. Mrs Walker grabbed another boy and did the same.

The gun law (and seller) that disallowed this person from obtaining the rifle he wanted in the first place, worked. No other law was needed. His mother had legally procured weapons. That system worked. What didn't happen was to have this mentally disordered person contained. You can pass all the gun laws you want and mentally ill people will still do this. We need to figure out a way to deal with mentally deranged people.

The real discussion should be centered about how to get the media to only focus on the victims. That way the psychotic perpetrator would not get his 5 minutes of fame end of story. There is no justification or understanding that can be gained. He was another angry male bent on destroying innocent lives. These cowards go after unsuspecting innocent and unarmed people, like elementary or college kids, or people attending a movie. It's never a guy trying to kill 20 people in a police station or bank. I'm sick of the discussion on gun control because that is not the problem. Television and the internet love to report on the most sensational crimes, usually involving the most number of victims. It has to stop. Pray for the innocent lives lost and their families who will never ever be the same.

“Heroes emerge in Connecticut shooting,” and none of them is related to Trash Limbaugh, Bill O’Dummy, Insannity or an NRA member. I wonder why!