Letters: Teachers saved lives in Tehama. Are they the only defense?

Re “One lesson from Tehama shooting: School lockdowns save lives” (Editorials, Nov. 15): Is a teacher locking classroom doors and ordering children to take cover under their desks our only defense against a gunman armed with a semi-automatic weapon? How did this person, known to have committed multiple assaults, acquire assault-style weapons with unlimited bullets? The Sacramento Bee reported the gunman’s neighbor said he frequently shot hundreds of rounds from high-capacity magazines. Witnesses like these should have a place where they can report these worrisome activities, a place where these reports will be taken seriously and shared across jurisdictional lines. State and federal lawmakers must provide law enforcement and mental health professionals with new or revised laws to address people having a history of domestic violence and mental health issues and their access to firearms. New laws combining mental health, law enforcement, and a stronger public reporting mechanism would save lives.

This story was originally published November 16, 2017 at 9:55 AM with the headline "Letters: Teachers saved lives in Tehama. Are they the only defense?."