Once again the Gun Free School Zones Act of 1995 seems to have been of zero use in stopping a criminal from carrying out a murder in a school.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27681338

While it's true that this was a student who murdered another student, it's important to note that she did it when she was not likely to be stopped by campus security guards. Not only did she bring a gun to school (illegal), but she concealed it (also illegal) and used it to kill another girl (also illegal). There are probably a dozen other crimes she committed in the process.

But Amanda Collette is still just as dead.

Now, I wouldn't advocate allowing students to carry their own defensive weapons in high school, but I am in favor of teachers and staff having that option -- even to carry concealed -- for the increased protection of themselves and their students. Security guards can only mop up the mess if the criminal knows how to avoid them -- or they may be the first ones shot. But if a criminal (student or another adult) knows that some teachers and staff may be armed -- but he or she is not sure which ones -- then I believe it would tend to suppress crimes like this.

This one may elicit some comments from some readers.