The Antelope Valley Times

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Your kids, school safety and the LASD

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State police led children from the school after the deadly shooting.

A gunman, believed to be in his 20s, walked into a Connecticut elementary school Friday morning (Dec. 14) and shot to death 20 young children and six adults before killing himself, according to published reports. Read more here.

Hours after the tragic school massacre on the east coast, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department issued the following bulletin:

Our sympathies and prayers go out to everyone associated with the terrible tragedy today (Dec. 14) at the Sandy Hook Elementary school in the community of Newtown, Connecticut.

Your children will hear about this incident through friends or others, and so talking with them about it in a calm way is a good idea. Give them a chance to talk about how they feel, reassure them, and help them (and you) not to feel overwhelmed. Discuss with them about people reporting to school officials if they see someone who does not belong on campus, or hear someone making threats.

Here are also some Safety Tips on traveling to and from school: https://local.nixle.com/alert/4873808/

Schools are one of the safest places kids can be. Yet we know that a tragedy like this causes great concern for any people. As a result, you will notice an increased presence by deputies near schools today and for the next several days. Please feel free to speak with the deputies you see and ask questions or comment about what is on your mind about school safety.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department works closely with all schools, public and private, within our policing jurisdiction to enhance safety for students and staff. Preventing these tragedies is a goal of law enforcement, schools and society as a whole. When an incident at a school does occur, it is our mutual goal to rapidly, safely, and efficiently resolve it. Each school is required to have a School Safety Plan specific to that campus that addresses most types of incidents. Sheriff’s deputies train for a variety of emergencies in strong partnerships with school staff, who are dedicated to the education and safety of children.

There are procedures in place, such as shelter in place, evacuations, and lockdowns that can be implemented depending on the given situation. Deputies are again reaching out and visiting schools to ensure they are familiar with the layout of the school grounds.

Notifications:

New notification systems have been added over the last several years. Many schools have the ability to create a message and call registered phone numbers or to email or text parents and guardians when necessary. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (and many other policing agencies in Los Angeles County and beyond) has also implemented routine and emergency notification systems.

We strongly encourage parents and all residents of Los Angeles County to register for these notification systems so that we can keep you informed as rapidly and directly as possible whenever needed. Below are many of these notification systems.

Emergency and Routine Messages from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department:

1. ALERT LA COUNTY emergency telephone notification system. Register your cell phone and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) (home computer) phones for emergency messages from police agencies in Los Angeles County:  http://portal.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/alertla

2. Website of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (translates into over 60 languages): www.lasd.org.

Websites for each patrol station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department can be found at the below link. Links to station Text & Email Nixle.com, Twitter and Facebook accounts can be found on the right column of their home pages: http://nixle.com/alert/4843791/

3. LASD EMAILS and/or TEXT messages (via NIXLE) from the NEWSROOM of Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Visit www.Nixle.com and register for “Nixle” alerts from “LASD – HQ Newsroom (SHB), Los Angeles County Sheriff” PLUS your local sheriff’s station area. Or, text your zip code to 888777 to receive text alerts only. Standard text messaging rates may apply depending on your calling plan. View NEWSROOM (Nixle) EMAIL / TEXT messages here, even if not subscribed from the Newsroom of Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department: http://nixle.com/lasd—-hq-newsroom-shb-los-angeles-county-sheriff/

Each LASD patrol station has their own LASD Text and Email notification through www.Nixle.com

4. FACEBOOK of the NEWSROOM of Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department: http://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartment

Each LASD patrol station has its own Facebook page.

5. YOUTUBE of the NEWSROOM of Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department:  http://www.youtube.com/LACountySheriff

Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s station. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org

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95 comments for "Your kids, school safety and the LASD"

  2. You guys just won’t listen to William. he knows everything from what i’ve read in all of his rants. shame on you. do as he says.

    • Exactly. I finally gave in and starting doing what the all-knowing William says. Now I’m broke, unarmed, homeless, and living large off the government. Life is good now!!

        • HAA. Just took a little break from the libs on here, but couldn’t resist chiming in. Otto the grasshopper is back!

          • Read some of Aesop’s fables today, the ant and grasshopper addresses the virtue of preparation.Ant works hard all year stockpiling supplies for winter, grasshopper kicks back and plays, then goes crazy because he has nothing and the ant is warm and safe.Grasshopper throws a fit and expects to be taken care of regardless.Hmmm.

          • Sounds like some on this site could learn a lesson based on that one. Unfortunately it’s too complicated for most of ’em.

  3. Here’s a quote from Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine shootings, when he was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee.

    “Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.

    The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain’s heart.”

    • Oh, Christ. Now, you’re bringing the bible into it.

      It’s ironic that the so-called Christians in this country are also the gun nuts. What would Jesus say?

      I doubt that the NRA is full of atheists, just hypocritical Kristians.

      • As usual William, you missed the point. The point is here is a father who is still grieving at the loss of his child who lost her life in the same manner as in recent events and you don’t see him vilifying firearms. If anybody should justifiably harbor this kind of prejudice he should, but he doesn’t. He calls it what it is, the will of a person with a propensity to do harm.

      • William, stereotyping is a slippery slope. Gun control only effects the law abiding citizen. Criminals will get their guns from other sources. Most crime guns are illegally obtained anyway. The police can’t be everywhere. When you wake up in the middle of the night and an intruder in climbing in the window you will wish you had a gun to protect your family. Responsible gun owners have stopped many crimes and saved many lives.

        • Oh, God, another one with a ‘home invasion’ scenario dancing in his head.

          You’re gonna get it at the ATM, walking down the street or in church.
          Good luck.

      • Right, let’s blame Cain – anyone seen him lately?

        ” … What would Jesus say” ?

        ” 13Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

        14But Jesus said, SUFFER little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

        15And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

        16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

        17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

        18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no MURDER, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

        19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF.

        20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

        21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and SELL that thou hast, and GIVE TO THE POOR, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

        22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

        Matthew 19
        King James Version

  4. First of all, my tears fall for the horrible crime committed against these innocent children and adults.
    Secondly, if you even listened to Mr. Parker, his daughter was lost yesterday, as he said he feels for the family of the shooter not anger but compassion for what they too are going through. If he, the father of a beautiful little girl can show that after this, we should all take a lesson. I for one was amazed at his faith and willingness to feel for the other families.
    I do not think for a moment that this could not happen at schools anywhere. All of the schools in this area have a plan of action, so did CT, these plans are not fool proof. If someone wants to do this, they will, however they can. I think the answer is to keep training the school staff, talk to our children to let them know what to do in an emergency and to get on our knees and pray!

  5. What if only state run agencies could sell guns? No private businesses or sales between individuals.

    Gun manufacturers could only sell to the government agencies and nowhere else.

    The government ‘gun dealers’ would require a training program and testing of applicants and background checks.

    Where in the Second Amendment does it say that gun sales must be through a private business?

    Take some of the profit motive away and increase the regulations and make gun ownership ‘well-regulated’, maybe even having owners take out liability insurance.

    • Well,gun sales already have to be licensed and anyone in Calif has to have a gun card(for which you are tested) and be 21 to buy a gun “legally”;not sure that would have prevented the Connecticut scenario where wacko took his mother ‘s guns.Then there is the huge market of illegal gun sales where you can go to certain “neighborhoods “and buy them illegally.
      Not sure it would make a difference and the thought of the”government “having control of that is equallychilling.

    • William, I dont think you own a gun or understand how gun sales work. In order to sell guns you have to be licensed by the state and the feds. This is no easy process and you can lose your license at the drop of a hat. Do you know what it takes to buy a handgun in Ca? Also its worth mentioning that the worst school massacre on record in the US occurred in 1927 and a firearm wasnt used. This was a horrible tragedy perpetrated by a insane person. There always has and always will be crazy people bent on murdering innocent people. We should not be reactionary and ban guns… Firearms are used 2.5 million times a year in the US to stop crimes being committed in the U.S.

        • “Just because I’m paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not after me”
          .Seriously, one of these nights you are going to be in your cozy little bed when some lovely, misguided miscreant breaks in to your home and what will you? Oh yeah, call the sheriff and invite the thug to sit down and have tea and cookies while you both wait.

          • Republicans fear imagined threats in the future while dismissing liberals for reacting to actual threats such anti-everything legislation.

            Look around. Many women turned on the republican party because it passed over 1,000 anti-abortion laws in the last year- a reality.

            President Obama hasn’t pushed for gun control since 2008 but conservatives have been paranoid about it-an imagined threat.

            Liberals fought voter suppression laws because they were real.

            Taxes, abortion, same-sex marriage, taxes, unions, regulations, and so on. Conservatives are frightened outta their wits about everything.

            They are frightened about terrorists and also frightened about a pat down at the airport. The only thing that cures their ‘fears’ is shooting at squirrels and small birds a la Dick Cheney.

            Here in the Antelope Valley, conservatives are already peeing their pants about what Steve Fox MIGHT do while blithely putting up with what Rex Parris does.

            It’s a world gone mad.

            Where are the analogous paranoid fears of liberals to ‘imagined’ threats like what conservatives fear?

          • Willie,Willie,Willie… There is data out there that shows firearms are used 2.5 million times a year to stop crimes. So my decision to own a gun is not based on fear of the imagined, it is based on the reality that one day a bad person may try to harm my family. I own a gun so that if that day comes, I will win and the bad man will lose. You might say it is an insurance policy. You do have auto, home and medical insurance right? Do you not purchase these as a means to protect what you hold to be valuable? Couldnt I also say that you own all those because of an imagined threat and not what is really occurring right now? So in closing William, the only way for you to make an honest argument about gun control is to be honest and say you just dont like them. You cant make any argument other than that.

          • Really, really. Are you as well armed and trained as the Secret Service.

            Ask JFK and Reagan ’bout that.

            Are you going to carry your guns to the Mall or to church or your kids’ school? Yet, you probably have these ‘imagined’ scenarios that you will shoot a home invasion attacker/s in the middle of the night with your trusty weapons.

            You are probably more likely to be shot and killed by a freeway shooter while you’re worried about your gun rights driving down the 14.

            That’s what I mean ’bout paranoia.

            The gun nuts think school teachers should be armed. Yeah, the same folks who want to cut teachers pay and benefits.

            The gun nuts want there to be armed guards on school campuses. Are they willing to pay for them?

            Y’see, really. You don’t think through anything. The conservatives/republicans/tea partiers are paranoid but don’t to pay for the solutions to their paranoia which keeps them and you continually paranoid. There’s no way out for you guys.

          • Right, William… Can you point to studies that show a decrease in gun crime when gun control or ban is put in place? States that allow their population to be armed have lower crime rates… Do I feel every person should be armed walking around? No. Do I think that gun control is a farse? Yes. You are entitled to your opinion just as I am. And your story about a freeway shooter shooting me before someone would invade my home shows how stupid you are. Simply math shows that there are far more home invasions than random freeway shootings thus making you more likely to be a victim of a home invasion. And nice job totally ignoring my statements about other forms of insurance. Also you show your ineptness when you automatically assume I am advocating arming school employees. My comments were in direct response to your statemts yet you choose to just make blanket statements about all conservatives. We will never be able to prevent insanity. My opinion is talking about guns after this incident is naive and short sighted. Any person bent on murdering people will find a way. If we banned firearms then these murderous loons would turn to cheap home made explosives or use a vehicle…etc… I also find it funny that far more kids are killed by cars or pools or suffocation… Yet I see no outcry to ban cars, alcohol, pools or plastic bags. Look at China, they jist had a nut go into school and slash the hell out of a bunch of people. We need to do more about mental illness and school safety protocols but gun control is not the answer….Go ahead and ban firearms.. Good luck getting all 200 million of them out of private citizens hands…

          • Can’t you read really? I read your rant and then went back and re-read my original comment. You’re like Tim B., the voices in your head are telling you something unlike what I wrote.

            That’s why, for months, I’ve told you that you weren’t worthy of a real debate.

        • “… We should not be reactionary and ban guns…”

          Who ARE these people who think they have the authority to tell others that they shouldn’t be reactionary with this horror that just went down in CT where some maniac murdered 20 little innocent children with an assault rifle? What, are they on Prozac?

          Boggles the mind.

          • They ARE the paranoid, fear and faith-based conservatives.

            They fear God.

            They fear the bogeyman under the bed.

            Notice the paranoia in the background of their comments.

            BOO!

          • William, let me guess, retired government employee? union member overpaid for years? Paranoid about losing your hefty pension if taxes don’t go up?

          • @sikntired. You are so wrong and stupid.

            I worked in a trauma center and not a union member.

            I recall seeing many gunshot wounds and dead people. One young girl came in with a row of bullet wounds down one side of her face. Her boyfriend shot her in her car when he pulled up alongside her in some kind of lover’s spat.

            If only she had a gun in her nightstand to protect her from a home invasion robbery, she’d be alive today.

            The point is your’e wrong and stupid…..still.

        • William, I am not paranoid. But gun ownership is a constitutional right. I legally own several firearms. I own them for sport and home defense. I have a beautiful family amd know it is my job to keep them safe. If someone kicks in my door I refuse to oiutsource my security to anyone!

      • ” … There always has and always will be crazy people bent on murdering innocent people”.

        Since the Cons are bent on slashing “Entitlement” funds even MORE: (MediCAL);

        Advocating to slash the exact funds that go to the states to subsidize care and housing of the insane….

        Assault weapons are A-ok …..

        And then the Cons wonder why our prisons are overcrowded, cost too much, meanwhile conveniently not admitting that our prisons are full of the criminally and not so criminally insane!

        Case in point: The facility in Camarillo that was closed down 5 years ago and refashioned into a CalState college. Where did the inmates go – does anyone care?

        Then they bitch about the homeless – why don’t they just get a job and pay rent?

        The bogus NRA-Lobbiest fight against gun control is much like the bogus Lobbiest fight against raising taxes on the uber-riche.

        Their gun-control advocacy has not stopped mass murders in this country, nor has 13 years of tax breaks for the uber riche produced ANY JOBS.

        Total policy failure on both issues.

    • What if the government regulated your precious right of freedom of speech?

      What if the governemnt required will to take out liability insurance because of the liability? Makes sense?

    • I like where you are going with this William…

      Right after we do that, I say we go ahead and do the same thing with forks and spoons.

      Because it’s forks and spoons that are killing innocent citizens by making them obese.

      I’m not trying to trivialize this horrific tragedy but it wasn’t the firearms that were hell bent on doing harm. It was the individual. You could completely ban firearms all together and nut jobs like this would merely pull up to the place in a uhaul truck full of home made explosives and leveled the whole building. Look at the same type of incident that happened in china where private citizens are not allowed to possess guns at all. The nut job there proceeded to stab 22 kids. Let’s face it, if someone wants to do harm, they will find a way no matter what the law states.

      • So, why don’t you demand that Home Depot unlock the cans of spray paint because graffiti ‘artists’ will find another way to get spray paint and paint your garage door or block wall fence?

        See, I can propose stupid arguments too. Just like you.

        • HAHAHAHA, Thank you for helping prove my point William.

          It’s an example of how “control” only affects those who submit to that control. Doesn’t slow down the “artists” from doing what they do does it? It only makes it more difficult for those who would follow the rules right?

          And you are right, your argument was stupid. Because I still wouldn’t blame the inanimate object (the spray paint can) for the graffiti, I would still blame the individual committing the crime (the artist).

          • So, are you demanding that home improvement stores remove their locked cabinets?

            If not, why not?

            BTW. Is there intelligent life on your planet?

          • Again William, because you cannot form a legitimate rebuttal, you argue points that are mute and you merely prove you have absolutely no understanding of analogy or context.

            The bottom line here is that those with evil in their hearts will do evil things no matter what they have at their disposal. The blame lies with the individual and no where else.

          • @Dan The gun lobby has made it nearly impossible to control the overwhelming number of guns in this country and, of course, to any intelligent person, that will inevitably lead to guns in the hands of sick people and criminals in record numbers.

            But, the dumbs*** gun nuts think that more guns is the answer.

            AND, the very same gun nuts and their paid for republicans in office will fight spending more money for mental health while willingly spending trillions fighting unnecessary wars.

            That’s your CONTEXT if you want context. Are you willing for the government to spend more on mental health since you claim that is the issue?

            I think you’re losing this argument. The NRA didn’t want President Obama re-elected. How did that work out?

            Things are changing in this country from Ron Smith’s inglorious loss to the President’s, Elizabeth Warren’s and other wins.

            Meanwhile, the GOTP is thrashing about like spoiled children and incredibly sore losers.

          • I will give you some credit where it’s due William. That was actually a pretty well thought out post and was in context. However you seem to be missing the point that the guns aren’t the problem. Timothy McVeigh didn’t use a gun, the nut job in China didn’t use a gun, the guy who ate someone’s face didn’t use a gun. All of the Anti-Gun nuts are just looking to demonize the tool that was used. Creating new policies that the nut jobs aren’t going to pay attention to in the first place will only disarm those who might have a chance to defend themselves or those around them which is a god given right.

    • Remember Timothy McVeigh?

      Timothy McVeigh didn’t use a gun and he killed 168 innocent people. He killed 19 children under age 6. He injured over 680 innocent people.

      You can still buy fertilizer. You can still buy racing fuel and you can still rent box trucks.

      Murderers will murder with or without a gun. Guns are not the problem.

      • @Beervana, Dan, really, Tim B. etc.
        When stabbings and bombings in this country reach the numbers of murders as guns do, you might have a point.

        Until then, you guys are simply spouting the NRA meme over and over and thinking you’ve said something.

        Apparently, the NRA took down its Facebook page today. 31 republicans refused to go on Meet the Press Sunday because, y’know, they are so brave about their pro-gun stances.

        Opinions are changing on this subject and you guys are holding onto whatever by your fingernails.

        No one is calling for your pea shooters to be taken away but your paranoia makes you think so.

        • Ok William so are you advovating banning cars? Do the research there are similar numbers of cars and guns in America but car accident fatalities outnumber gun deaths significantly. So you must want to ban cars too right?

      • High-powered assault rifles which take absolutely no skill to kill many people are the problem.

        1 hand gun per household = a chicken in every pot.

    • Yes, the state has done a wonderful job of managing the budget. Lets not forget the STATE run prison system that is releasing thousands of prisoners early. To sum it up the state has no concept of time and or money.

  6. After a father found out his child had been one of the victims, he was seen taking the car seat out of the passenger compartment and putting it in the trunk before leaving the school.

    I was talking to my sister over the phone about the shooting and couldn’t say the above without crying.

    • Sad what the wounded spirit will make you do. Everyone reacts in different ways. There will be parents who can’t ever remove that car seat.

        • It is so important that we love our children with all our hearts and talk to them. Tomorrow may never come. Put down the cell phone and pick up a ball and glove or that tiny plastic tea cup. We never know when all we will have is memories.

  7. The current practice is to have one deputy work up to three schools. If they were to hire Lasd security assistants they could be posted at all schools. One deputy equals three armed trained security assistants. The college and court house use them. This would safeguard all campuses all the time school is in session.

    • Are we really to the point of discussing armed security at ALL schools? Something just seems so off about that. In my day, student patrols sufficed (I was a student patrol and good at it!)

      I think we just need to educate students, parents, teachers, staff etc. so that they are more vigilant. We need to get emergency plans practiced and in place (similar to fire drills).

      We also need to get public campaigns out there so that more people are able to spot the warning signs of mental illness and the signs of someone on the brink. If someone is coming to shoot up a school, the first person they shoot is the armed security guard, then they proceed with the plan (similar to bank robbers). The only thing we can do is educate the public so that we are better able to intervene BEFORE the would be gunman ever reaches to that point of no return…

      • I felt safer in the 1950s doing ‘duck and cover’ exercises in case the Soviet Union were to drop an atomic bomb on my little town.

        The Soviet Union is gone but we’ve got the NRA/GOP/Fox News opposing any attempts to control the easy access to guns in this country or even discuss the subject.

        I’ll take the old Soviet Union any day. It never did the damage to this country that gun violence has done.

      • You are talking about educating the same kids who are skipping school to rob houses’ and the parents who turn their heads when their kids come walking in the door with the big screen TV. Good luck.
        I do support the belief that something drastic needs to happen to wake people up. I hope it isn’t catastrophic for our community. Even a catastrophic event only holds the outrage and attention for a short time. That’s a shame.

      • Vigilance is very important but there should be an armed guard at or around the entrance (offices) and restricted admission.Unfortunately these are the times we live in and the police react after the fact.

  8. WERE’S THE OUTRAGE IN THIS FREAKIN VALLEY? WE KNOW HOW THESE PARENTS FELL! WE JUST LOST OF OUR CHILDREN TO A SENSELESS ACT. THIS POS NEEDS TO BE REANIMATED THEN KILLED AGAIN. TWENTY YOUNG LIVES LOST AND THIS COMMENT STRING IS THE QUIETEST I’VE EVER SEEN. HOW TELLING!

    • I am overwhelmed with sadness. That said, with all the crime around here in this town, I feel somewhat desensitized.
      I watched the TV yesterday, all day. I cried everytime I saw one of the parents crying and cried somemore, as the kids cried. To know that those parents would not be tucking their kids in last night and their best friends were so frightened, breaks my heart. So much unfinished business for those little kids and teachers.
      I couldn’t believe the media posing as caring people to get their interviews.
      I used to be quite active in the neighborhood watch program. It seemed like I was the only one who was looking out for the kids walking to and from school. I called in lots of truants and called the police when groups met ofter school and fought in our neighborhood. I felt that it was just a matter of time before something deadly happened. People from the schools blew me off when I called them.
      Theschools need to be more engaged. I am talking about the people in the office. They need to be taught to recognize when a problem is approaching and call police. Police NEED to respond to things happening in and around schools promptly. Even if they don’t catch th e trouble makers, those kids see that the cops will come when called. It seems to me that kids have never been taught about empathy, guilt or shame.

      Kids are not afraid of law enforcement or any other authority today. They show no respect for anyone, not parents, teachers or strangers.

      THE EDUCATION AND SAFETY OF OUR SCHOOL CHILDREN SHOULD BE A PRIORTY TO EVERYONE. THESE KIDS ARE THE KIDS WHO WILL BE WORKING IN HOSPITALS AND DR. OFFICES IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

      I find it interesting that both of these guys (school and mall) took their owns lives. Cowards, only larger than life when they knew they were in control with their guns.

  9. Yes i totally agree what is this world coming too these poor defenseless,innocent,children lost thier lives over someone elses stupity he should have pulled it on himself…smh god bless the victims and there families

  10. The same people who point to the mental health of the shooter in this and other mass murders are the same people who oppose stricter gun control legislation.

    They don’t want to fund mental health and they don’t want the government to take needed action on gun issues.

    End of discussion.

    • What action is needed on gun issues?

      We have some of the strictest gun laws in the USA but criminals still get them, people who cannot even own a gun legally still get them. The only answer I can see is to arm yourself, end of discussion!

      • ” … The only answer I can see is to arm yourself, end of discussion” !

        Oh yeah, that’s a brilliant solution…

        Since 40% of the guns sales in this country are transactions without background checks, when are you gun lovers going to rise up and DEMAND that our laws be upheld?

        chicken.

        • I dont know where you got that 40% number. If you go to any gun shop or gun dealer there is a background check done.

      • We have almost as many guns in this country as people, so according to your logic, we should be very safe.

        I’m sick of birthers, Grover Norquist, and the gun lobby who no longer deserve to be in any discussion of anything.

        The real adults have to address this and take the appropriate actions.

        • There are more guns in this country than people, get it right will. It is ridiculous to think tighter gun laws or outlawing guns is the answer. On the same day of this incident a man in China stabed 20 kids with a knife. What is a real adult? Sounds like something someone would say that still lives in mommy’s garage.

    • They basically do not want to take responsibility for their lack of empathy of human life, and continue to allow their false, hyped-up NRA definition of their ‘right to bear arms’ trump common sense and decency.

      Notice the NRA is silent on this horrible crime against young children and humanity.

      We have definitely gone over the edge.

      • I believe their official statement will be released, they said, when all the facts are released, but what would you suggest, specifically, to deal with this problem?

    • When you focus on one group of people as the only ones doing crime, then nut jobs like this monster go overlooked and slip through the cracks. Pure evil walked into that school today and that evil had nothing to do with skin color or gov assistance. It shouldn’t take a tragedy like this for some of you to understand that!

      Praying for the families of these babies.

    • Arming teachers, or anyone else, that is not constantly trained and tested periodically on how well they shoot and under what legal restrictions the use of deadly force is authorized is a really really bad idea.

        • If there had been a presence on campus who was armed he might not have gotten so far.
          And how about the new children’s primer, violent, senseless killing in video games.

  13. My heart and prayers go out to the families of Newtown, Conn. So many young lives taken much to soon in such a horrific act. No place is safe, shopping malls, movie theaters, schools, what a shame. I for one knows there is nothing worse than losing a child. Hug your kids tonight.
    RIP little ones.

    • I don’t know Tyrus but if I see one more reporter trying to interview one of those kids and ask them how they “feel” I am going to be physically ill. We are in a culture that celebrates violence, look at our most popular movies, video games, rap, bad jesus and other forms of crap”music”.
      Teach your children well…Crosby, stills and Nash.

      • I know right! I was shocked to see them interviewing an 8 yr old who said her teacher pulled kids from the hall in the classroom then locked the door and they could hear the shots. The girl had no emotion so she was obviously in shock. I don’t think they should put the kids on TV. The kids need counseling, not TV cameras in their faces!!! CNN said the crazo killed his mother first and he was using his mom’s guns. Good God! As much as I can’t take it anymore, I been watching it all day and I can’t seem to stop…

    • Violence is everywhere. Violence on T.V. Violence in the movies. Violence on the streets. Violence in video games (has anyone seen the Hitman video?!) I call these young men The XBox generation. They’ve become desensitized with so much violence around them. Sad.