In the wake of several unthinkable shootings by teens and pre-teens in American schools, a national conversation is underway about causes, implications and suggestions for prevention of school violence. In response to last week's Q&A on the subject, SNET readers have offered many insightful comments, such as those summarized below.

• I am the mother of three daughters, age five and younger, and I, too, am scared for their safety. My oldest starts kindergarten in the fall. Before the shootings I was worried about things like, "Will she remember to get on the right bus at the end of the day? Will she listen to her teacher?" In a million years I never would have dreamed of her being shot at school. It is unfathomable. Now I have to say it "was."

  What do we do? We have to keep guns out of children's hands. The NRA is one of the largest lobbyists in our nation, but what they say doesn't make sense. My father was a hunter. The deer he shot was served on our table all winter, but he did not need an assault rifle. There were bullets and several rifles in our house, but the bullets were never anywhere near the guns.

  One Christmas I wanted to get my father a hunting present, so I went to a gun store. I couldn't believe what I saw. Who needs an assault rifle with a knife attached? When the right to bear arms was put in the Constitution, I don't think that our forefathers meant the type of arms that I saw that day in that store.

  We also need to be more involved in our children's lives. These days children are often treated like just another possession. They are put into daycare for hours with strangers. They are pulled from their beds before dawn and many don't get home until dark. How do they learn that they are important -- that they aren't just another $150 a week for the daycare provider? I know that most of us don't have the luxury to stay home full-time, but there has to be another way.

  How will children learn to value life? We need to get back to religion and teaching morality. As adults we are too quick to blame someone else instead of accepting the responsibility ourselves for our actions. Our children learn from us to blame others, too.

  We need greater security in our schools. I have been to my daughter's school a couple of times this year to register, etc. No one has ever stopped me or questioned why I was there.

  Finally, we need to protect our children from watching violent television shows and movies. On these shows when someone dies, no one sees people crying or their loved ones missing them. They just go on to the next violent shot. -- Stop Blaming Everyone Else!

• As a father of two who have survived High School, I would like to offer my opinion as to the problem with violence in schools.

  First, it is primarily the responsibility of parents to keep weapons out of the hands of children. Guns should be secured in a gun vault or have a trigger lock on each weapon. A parent may teach his child about gun safety, but should not make the weapon readily available to use any time a child feels like it. Weapons should only be handled by responsible children under adult supervision.

  Secondly, to convince children to tell us about threats made by peers, we have to sit down with them and show them what has been happening for the last eight months in our schools. We need to let them know that they can talk to us at any time about any problem. Then we have to LISTEN to our children and take their problems seriously. They do.

  Third, we have to hold our children accountable for their actions. Too many times, children who kill other children have received light sentences because of their age. Children who commit serious crimes must be tried as adults. Putting them back on the streets under supervision does not solve the problem; it adds to it. If we do not hold them accountable for their actions as children, how can we hold them accountable for their actions as adults? -- LISTEN to the Children

• My husband and I have always tried to have open communication with our two sons. Since they were small we have encouraged them to talk to us and we have listened. Right now there are things I wish I didn't know, but I'm glad our sons made me aware of it. Kids today are overprotected and can get away with just about anything. As parents it is our responsibility to teach them right from wrong, good morals and reality from fantasy. Adults need to be held responsible for their children. -- Hold Parents Responsible
• I am 13 years old and I think this topic is very serious. It doesn't seem like it's taken very seriously in the U.S. I think all schools should have metal detectors at all entrances. We have the right to be safe, even if no one was shot at our school yet! -- Equip Schools with Metal Detectors
• Today, in my 4th grade class, we were discussing the incident in Oregon. The students expressed shock at what happened and asked me what I thought. I told them it was tragic and unfortunate, and that it appears that we are going to have to be watchful of these kinds of episodes everywhere.

  One student responded, "Too bad it didn't happen here!"

  I think he said this for shock value, but after thinking about it further, I think that the sensationalism that accompanies a violent act encourages that type of response. Kids spend an inordinate amount of time in front of the TV, and they seem to be getting the message that vigilante type reprisals are a way of getting instant gratification (as well as instant fame.) We have to re institute the idea of being held responsible for one's actions and that inappropriate actions are followed swiftly by a word and concept many children and parents have forgotten -- CONSEQUENCES! -- Pay the Consequences

• Did you hear about the senator who is proposing legislation for teachers to carry guns into the classroom? I heard it on the news yesterday. I think he is from the south, but I can't remember his name. If I were a teacher in this day and age, I certainly would have my gun with me! -- Teachers Need Protection
• I commend the father for his concern over the well-being of the children in this country, but I don't think the problem should be totally placed in the lap of the educators. My concern is that the seeking out of "disturbed" children will become a massive witchhunt like that which occurred in the 1950's with the communists. It could come to the point where any oddity would be interpreted as potential for violence and that child would be taken into psychchological "custody" for his own good. No one can clearly define what kind of actions will cause a child to become the "schoolhouse killer."

  Instead what needs to happen is more parental involvement in each child's life. Parents have gotten so caught up in their lives that they have neglected the needs of their children. A survey done fairly recently asked over 90,000 teens what they wanted most. They said they wanted their parent's attention and, if they had that, they would not be doing drugs or having premarital sex. Doesn't this give you the idea where the problem really is? It's not the kids and it's not the media. It's the breakdown of the family. Children are crying out for help and parental love! -- Children Need More Involved Parenting

Author's Note: Due to the high volume of email on this important topic, more reader opinions will be posted next week.