From kindergarten on thru grade 12 their should be mandatory classes on self defense, weapons handling, terror situations, what do to when kidnapped,etc. it's a different world and the innocent need to armed with ways to protect themselves in a situation. Basically we need to train them like soldiers to help prevent another tragedy.

I know from experience that both Hathaway and Middle School buzz you in @ the front door. However, after that I was able to walk the halls if I chosed to do so. Yes, I went to the office to sign in but a crazy person wouldn't of. Just because you buzz me in at the front door and you know me doesn't mean I might be sane that day. Anybody at anytime could go nuts, there needs to be a better system. Perhaps, be buzzed in and then your in a closet like room with a metal detector then after you pass through that your again buzzed in from that small closet like room to the actual entrance of the school. If anybody can visualize that, its a better method than the one they have now. I'd be all for my taxes going up for that than the ridiculous turbine we spent money on and don't work!!!

The shooter in Newtown let himself in. I'm all for a ban on semi/automatic assault weapons. They belong only in the hands of Police/Military.

designated personnel in all public buildings should be trained and armed! Precious time is wasted for police to arrive and ultimately shoot the suspect!

Security guards armed at least with taser guns and possibly firearms. Maybe even a security guard with a dog. These would most likely work more as a deterrent against these cowards who assault women and children.

Increase window and door security.

Laminated ,reinforced glass plate should be used in any openings larger than a standard window. Building entrances today have steel doors with small windows.Next to the doors there is usually large windows to let the sunlight in. Replace the glass with tough glass.

The security door issues have been going on for years. For example you may see a steel door and door frame that looks impossible to go through but the wall next to the door is only one half inch sheet rock. You could actually put your hand through the sheet rock and open the door from the other side. Reinforce steel doors abutted by sheet rock.

The security specialist are aware of all the door issues. The problem is how much does the school spend on the materials around the doors and windows ?

I agree with all above comments except for the" buzz in" system at Hathaway and Middle....When Dr Martin was principal the office would ask who was at the door, now the door opens after buzzing. As for the Middle School, the front doors are not locked.
We should have security systems with intercoms, cameras and metal detectors. We do not live in a high crime area, the police are not busy so I don't see any reason why they cant patrol the schools.. Our kids are our life, we send them to school assuming they're safe. God knows we pay enough in taxes so lets put our money to good use and guarantee the safety of our kids!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is a toxic mixture of factors that caused this incident; guns, mental health, culture, parenting, divorce, beliefs, violence, video gaming, and more. We can debate for a long time on which factor was the greatest or which one was the catalyst.

We need to be careful and thoughtful on our solutions. Schools need to be safe, no doubt. But how safe and at what expense? If the school had the special glass and bolted doors and armed principals, he could have tried to get in another way, gone to a church, gone to a mall or any place else where there were a lot of unprotected people.

If you really want to make schools impervious, then that will be quite an expense that many school districts cannot afford. Be careful what you wish for.

And do not misinterpret. We need to protect children and we need to help those who need help.

If you go too far to react to a certain situation, then the law of unintended consequences kicks in.

The Station Fire is a good parallel. It is a sad, tragic story. It was also a toxic mix of factors that led to the tragedy. Won’t recount them here.

It did lead the state to put in a host of new fire codes which led to many businesses closing and led to a lot of expense. This town lost the Sea Fare Inn and Elmhurst School for this reason.

And state officials are on record now saying they went too far.

We need to protect people, patrons, schools and kids. But we need to do it in a reasonable, intelligent and calm fashion without spending us into oblivion.

Locked doors and buzzing people in is a fine idea but what everyone is forgetting is that the kids in elementary school are outside for recess twice a day you don't need a nut with a gun anyone with a car could run down 20 or 30 kids in a blik of an eye.

Columbine had two armed gurads on duty the day of the tragedy there. Just saying.

Guards