Agreed....I grew up in Newtown I have a family member that goes to that elementary school. I would have bet this could never happen there. You can't foresee every lunatics actions. An armed resource officer could have made this a very different outcome.

I can't believe there was another shooting this morning at an elementry school. 18 innocent children all under the age of 10. I can't even imagine getting the phone call and hysteria waiting to see if your kid is safe.

I would not have a single problem with armed teachers and administration providing that they are proficient.

We guard banks and other institution. Seems like warped priorities from my perspective. What is more precious?:(

Criminals will never care what the laws are that govern the law abiding and will find a way to prey upon the innocent. I say enable those charged with shaping the minds of the innocent with the tools to protect them from evil. I am sure it will come out that some gave their lives to protect... if only they had proper training and the tools to do so there may have been less loss of life.

Nick, I am really sorry for the loss in your home town.
God be with your family and all of those affected by this, and there are far too many.

Well --- We think this stuff only happens in the USA... But if you remember the shooter in Norway... That went to the island and shot up a kids camp.

If they can't shoot up a school - they'll go to the mall - or movie theatre - or where someone is giving a speech.

Thanks Robert. My cousin was home sick today and my wifes co'workers child goes to the afternoon kindergarten there. Completely sad.

Gun free zones are not the solution.......they are the opportunity.

Condolences to all effected by these acts.

The best advice is to work with a really knowledgable person at a gun shop who will guide you to the best pistol for your needs based on your experience, hand shape, hand strength, natural wrist angle, home design, defense capacity, and your particular personality.

My defense pistol of choice is a Sig Sauer P226, chambered in .40 cal.
I used the 9mm version in the military and it has become a natural extension of my arm at this point. I've shot about 125k rounds through them and never had a failure once, even under harsh conditions with a dirty weapon. They saved my life 6 times that I know of.

The ergonomics of the pistol are perfect in my hand - The grip angle is perfect for my natural-point-of-aim, the grip makes 2nd shot control easy, the balance is excellent, the recoil is pretty tame, and even blinded I can make secondary shots within a 6" grouping.

I always recommend the Sig night-sights and the rail system, standard on the P226 "Navy" version.

A really great thing about the P226 is that you can get a kit that replaces the barrel, mag, and upper receiver with a .22cal version for about $300. It makes a great practice set-up and .22 ammo is dirt cheap.

Now, should you go get a pistol I would REALLY urge taking a training class that is instructed by a combat veteran who will gauge your reaction to stressful situations. This is a key part of weaponed self-defense and the instructor needs to teach you methods to bypass the natural panic response and train your mind to focus under duress. I can't stress that enough.

Good luck!

I agree on training!

Because I have some police buddies (high ranking guys) -- I was allowed to go in the simulator. They have electronic guns -- and THEY can actually shoot you back with plastic balls that HURT!

The average weapons "fight" happens within 21 FEET.... and I can tell you that you have less than half a second at that range to react - draw - and defend or it's too late. OMG was the simulator fun! But OMG was it a reality check in what the boys in blue have to deal with.

I will share another thing that I learned -- and in a HOME style shooting would be very important! You trigger finger is still firing long after you've perceived the threat to have been hit and down or going down. I always wondered why there are so many shots fired at these "events" --- now I know why! Your brain says fire and you might as well be a machine gun! And by the time the brain says stop firing - you've squeezed off 3 more rounds. In a home -- rounds flying around wouldn't be a good thing! Sheetrock isn't stopping a 9MM or a .45....

This ammo from Dynamic Research Technologies that Steve Rupp suggested looks good.... I just sent a question to my cop buddy to ask about it.

http://drtammo.com/products/


I like their "explanation":


DRT lead-free projectile is a revolutionary round. The bullet breaks apart on contact with a solid surface. The handgun ammunition is made to be an all-purpose round, disintegrating into a cloud of dust on steel but yet is effective on an organic target. It is a target and a carry round.
Our round can be fired by law enforcement officers without any fear of ricochet or pass through, or fear of injury or death to innocent bystanders from ricochet or pass through.