First off, I haven't read beyond the first 2 pages and this last one, so sorry...

I don't think this the primary angle on this tragedy should be with gun access or mental health services. Obviously, these do tie into it on some level, but I think the main issue is something else entirely - the development of mass shootings as a cultural phenomena.

You can compare levels of gun access or mental health care in the US with other developed countries, but those differences will never come close to explaining why such a specific sort of event seems to occur so frequrently in the USA. I think the most useful thing we can do right now is try to understand why this phenomena and from there hopefully find a solution to put and end to it.

What can we understand from it at the minute? Well I'm too ignorant to say give an opinion right now. Although I would be curious to see how many of the shooters fit the profile of a young male, shy, no friends, seen as a 'loser' etc. IIRC the ones at Columbine High and Virginia Tech fitted it anyway.

With the above in mind I'll refrain from commenting on the gun control debate, but for what its worth a similar event in Scotland (although a one-off that didn't fit the above stereotype) with the Dunblane massacre did directly lead to significant restrictions on gun ownership. Of course, I realise that the political culture in the USA is different. Although I will say that I find the idea of arming primary school teachers or staff to be pretty scary. Has it really come to that?