A lot of people seem to be crying out that the students should have been armed. While in this one case it might have reduced the number of students killed, I think over all the killings at schools would go up.
Students angry over their grades confronting professors. Jilted lovers cornering their ex in the library. Drunken fights at the bar on/by campus. Hard core students pissed off about the noise about the noise party down the dorm hall?
These are not uncommon events on campuses. Now throw guns in that mix, and you actually think it will be safer?
On the other hand, you could further restrict gun ownership so this deranged individual couldn't have gotten a firearm.
Some will respond that if you outlaw guns, then only outlaws will have guns. This is true, but far fewer criminals will have guns. Look at England, where guns are so scarce that outlaws have resorted to using swords to commit crimes.
That is not to say guns could ever be eradicated. A war on guns would be about as successful as the on going war on drugs, but at the very least the availability could be dramatically reduced.
This also not to say I am against all guns. I am pro hunting. But I do not think you need a fully, or even semi automatic weapon for hunting. And I don;t believe you need hand guns for hunting. Bolt action riffles and breach loader shot guns should be plenty.
Anyway, that's my opinion on the matter.