South Dakota is currently the only state to respond to the tragedy with a new law allowing school staff to carry guns, but similar legislation is awaiting the governor's signature in Kansas. Conversely, several states, including Connecticut, Colorado, Maryland, and New York, have increased gun control measures following the slaughter.

Efforts to put more guns in the hands of trained school employees in Indiana, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Texas have encountered resistance. In Missouri, State Representative Mike Kelley initially proposed legislation allowing teachers to carry hidden guns in the classroom as a "line of defense." Yet, this legislation never received a public hearing and has seemingly been shelved.

"It's done the number one thing that I wanted, and that's to bring awareness to schools about some of their safety issues," explained Kelley.

Leaders like Indiana Governor Mike Pence have decided that requiring armed employees and officers should be a decision left to teachers, parents, and local officials. "Decisions that are nearest and dearest to our hearts ought to be made by parents and local school officials," Pence told reporters.

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder reflected a similar view when he vetoed legislation letting teachers carry guns, because it contained no provision for schools to opt out.

In Oklahoma a bill allowing policies for arming trained employees recently died in the Senate Education Committee. Similarly, North Dakota defeated a bill allowing people with permits to bring weapons to school. And the New Hampshire House of Representatives rejected legislation letting local school districts seek voter approval for their school staff to carry guns.

"The chance that an armed teacher will hit a child are high," said Dean Michener, of the New Hampshire School Boards Association.

However, the NRA Executive Vice president Wayne LaPierre disagreed, warning that gun-free schools "tell every insane killer in America that schools are their safest place to inflict maximum mayhem with minimum risk."

While the lugubrious nature of gun legislation may frustrate those who are eager to see greater safety measures introduced in schools, it is comforting to know lawmakers are carefully weighing the most successful way to protect students.

What do you think about your state's gun laws?
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