I am a dual citizen of Australia and the United States. I love both countries. I am appalled by the extraordinary influence of the NRA in the United States. What was meant to be protection for the citizens against the abuses of government has been transformed by gun nuts in the United States and their sponsors in the small arms industry into a license for bursts of mass murder.

There are some big differences between Australians
and Americans.

Americans say:

"Everything in Australia can kill you!"

Australians say:

"Probably not an AR- 15 !"

"What do you suggest happens to start reducing this toll?"

Arm the school staff.

Arm the school staff.
mhaze,
an option but, how are we going to educate the educated with regard to common sense ?
There definitely needs to be a total ban on assault-type weapons for suburb dwellers & high-powered for those who require them in the Bush & river areas for self defence & feral animal control.
A total ban on weapons would make as much sense as no ban ! Those who want to change gun culture need to change dumbing-down by ignorant teachers education culture ! This will prevent the stresses that lead to such horrendous acts. Don't think for a moment that happy & contend people commit these crimes. It's those who are being harassed by stupid dumbed-down authorities in our society. How many times do we still have to read about people reporting domestic violence or bad neighbours or barking dogs & hoodlums doing wheelies etc. yet those in authority fail to act ?
Want Laws that work ? Change your own mentality !

In my opinion, as a former F/A Licensing Police Officer, it's my belief that every single soul who wishes to own a F/A, must be licensed. When an applicant applies for a F/A licence, he submits his (comprehensive) application. to police. Upon receipt, we (police) put it through our system to determine whether the applicant is a fit and proper person to possess such a license. If we find any of his answers on his application, to be deceptive, misleading, or illusive, his application is stamped denied. Moreover he MUST furnish a legitimate reason why he wishes to possess a F/A. And the type of F/A (SS, Bolt, Slide, S/Auto etc). At this point, if his application is denied, he can appeal, to a Magistrate, which is then taken out of police hands, unless the Crown (through the police) wishes to argue against the applicant's grounds for appeal.

If I was all powerful. Mindful that shooting is a legitimate sport/pastime/necessity for some: -

License the applicant as is accomplished now, but also add, a full psychiatric certificate of fitness, specifically to possess a F/A;

And fully license the actual F/A(s)as well.

Will this halt any further Port Arthur's or Texas massacre(s)...No. But it might just slow them down. Totally Ban ALL guns? Impossible, you'd only create a criminal black market where police have no measure of control whatsoever. And what of the burgeoning knife culture?

Many years ago, I attended a 10 day seminar in the US, Called 'Rapist Beware' run by the late, Capt. James SMITH of the El Paso County Sheriffs. Dept., who's considered America's foremost, law-enforcement expert, on crimes of violence occasioned against women and girls. At that seminar, he explained - the circumstances where a knife is introduced, to terrorise or intimidate a woman, into submitting to a sexual assault. This is known as the 'cosmetic' factor. As a woman's face is paramount to her. And If her face is threatened to be horribly disfigured This generally, above all (his words), transcends any thought of being sexually assaulted.

Steele,
The school shootings are murders, the countries I put to Paul. have many times the murder rate of the US.
Murder is murder. regardless of the age of the victims.
Most, if not all of the countries with murder rates that far exceed the relatively low US rate have far tougher gun laws than the US.
How do you explain that?

The US has the highest number of guns in civilian hands than any other country yet it is far down the list of murders.
Third highest number of guns in civilian hands is Switzerland and it’s murder rate is about the same aa Australia’s, could the factor be other than guns?
Switzerland also ranks as one of the World’s happiest countries.

Perhaps the relative social programs have something to do with the problem, particularly mental health.

The murderer in Texas put it on social media that he was going to murder his grandmother and then shoot school children and no one reported it.