Texas disaster: Sad and infuriated

 I heard the news from Texas yesterday, before we were to go live with our weekly Coffee and Jewelry Show on YouTube. I was alone. After watching part of the initial report, I had to turn away. I could not watch one second longer. 

Ironically, it wasn't shock I was feeling.  Perhaps it was the realization that we were no longer shocked by these stories that gave me a dull, sick feeling. I tried to force myself to go back to the news clip and get specifics, but the newscaster was saying that all the facts were not yet being relesed because officials were still trying to notify parents. 

This felt like a hard punch in the gut. As a mother, grandmother and great- grandmother, empathy kicked in for a few moments.  This was my child and my phone call; I couldn't bear it. So, I fled. (Clicked out of it)

I have not been able to view the coverage, but I see headlines that the death count has gone up.  I can't discuss much about the event, since I have avoided most of the facts.  But, as my sadness quickly turned to anger, a few thoughts kept circling in my head. For the sake of brevity, I decided to list these numerically. 

1. Have you been to a courthouse lately? How did this shooter get in the school? Obviously, the same protocol is not employed. Why not?

2.  Why was there no armed personnel there who could have quickly taken out the shooter and reduced the death toll considerably? If no officers are available for school duty, why not?  At the very least, arm the administration. 

3. Reread #1.  If this needed security was provided at entrances,  #2 would be a backup plan. 

Tighter gun control will not protect our children at school.  Tighter, high-tech entrance control and armed protection on campus will.  They have had time to take steps to provide this protection since Columbine in the 90s. Why, not?

WHY NOT?