The system didn't fail us this time. Yes, yet another mentally confused teenager got ahold of guns and killed other kids, but the failure here was on the part of the parents of the mentally confused teenager, who failed to keep their guns out of his hands, despite the numerous, recent examples of just why they should have tried harder to do so.

Ultimately, if gun safety at schools comes down to treating (curing?) the mentally ill, the battle is lost. Most mental illness can be treated (some to a fairly effective extent) but can't be "cured," so if we put all our eggs in that basket, I expect a lot more tragic news from schools (and other places of public gathering) in our future.

We've got to do a better job of keeping guns secure, which I believe comes down to stopping the use of guns for personal security. If you sleep with a pistol in your nightstand or a shotgun in your hall closet, or if you carry a concealed gun, those guns are not secure. If they're locked in a safe to which only you know the combination and from which they emerge only for recreational purposes, they're still not completely secure, but they're a hell of a lot closer to it. Trouble here is obvious, as many people, including the loudest voices at the NRA, own and/or carry guns precisely for personal security.

The Second Amendment is an important instrument of our freedom, but it was intended to provide citizens protection from a corrupt government, not to protect citizens from one another. If we need guns to fight our government, we'll all have plenty of time to open up the safe before they come calling. Until then (or until your next hunting or controlled shooting outing), keep those things locked up.