And another...

[Boomhauer]

Yes, it will make it harder for criminals to obtain them. But it would make it impossible for upstanding citizens to buy them legally.
This would leave good people unable to protect themselves.

Protect themselves from who? When was the last time you heard of "ordinary citizens" getting shot at by gang members? Gang members are busy shooting other gang members. And when people do get caught in the crossfire, it's in places like clubs and malls - public places. Do we want people walking around in the mall with a loaded hunting rifle on their back?

It's the "ordinary citizens" who are committing these massacres. Organized crime didn't walk into an elementary school and kill 20 kids. The mafia didn't order two high school students to shoot up Columbine. It's the average, slightly-unstable guy in the neighborhood, who could easily and legally obtain weapons he had absolutely no need for, who committed these crimes.

Via WIKI about this guy's mom:
"Nancy was a survivalist, who had turned her home into "a fortress" in which she was stockpiling guns and food to prepare for a possible apocalyptic event associated with some possible future collapse of the economy".

Stockpiling guns/ammunition = not ordinary

Buying a couple of guns to keep in the house "just in case" = ordinary

ALSO* I was talking about the teachers having means to defend themselves and their students.
Who can prevent a psycho from flipping out and trying to kill a bunch of people.. even kids in this case? NO ONE.
Who can prevent a psycho from flipping out and actually killing a bunch of kids?
Well, just ONE armed teacher may have saved some of them, even if only one life was saved, it would have been worth it for one of them to be armed.
All retrospect.
Most school systems would have never considered arming teachers until now. But I bet they will start (considering it).
I know that I consider myself a responsible "ordinary" citizen.
I just happen to be Ex-military and armed to the teeth.
I also happen to live right across the street from an Elementary School, which my step-son, and soon my own son will attend.
Would I, as an ordinary citizen even consider doing something like this? No, absolutely not. After I left from overseas I find it hard to even kill bugs if they get in my house, I usually capture them and throw them outside.
Would I defend those kids against something like this if (God Forbid) something like this happens across the street at that school, and I am able? You better fucking believe it. And I would hope that there are plenty of others out there that feel the same.
I understand your argument, but it's invalid. There is no way to rid the country of guns.
Attempting to do so would result in Civil unrest, or even war.
I can go 3 miles from my home and buy a fully automatic assault rifle for $300 right now.
That means anyone else can do the same.
The best defense is a good offense. And pointing your finger at someone and telling them "No No, you bad man, you shouldn't have a gun!" Isn't a good offense.

It's not like it took bravery to kill his mother and a bunch of little kids (God rest their little souls).
If those teachers were armed, or otherwise protected from something like this happening, and he knew it, He may have just stayed home and killed himself without all of this horrific, senseless mass-murder of innocent kids.

EDIT** and I hate that I have to say this like I am:
BTW MerCyKiL: The UK does have the strongest gun-control laws that I know of, but the U.S. is a different culture, with corrupt and failing law enforcement. The lack of guns isn't the reason there is less violence in the U.K. It's the simple fact that the police forces are not screened well enough in the U.S, and concentrate their efforts on the wrong things. TBH, the U.K. as a whole are just better people, who glorify gang violence and selling hard drugs a LOT less. Whether this is because they are just psychologically less prone to such things, or their police force is superior, it's fact.
Hey, my heritage is Norwegian and English so I can admit this. :-P