"Because that's where the money is."

That  was  Willie Sutton's answer to why he robbed banks.

On a related note if the question is: "Why attack schools?"

"Because that's where the children are."

As a bonus it's also an area where, aside from a visiting cop, no one has the tools to fight back, and very few have the inclination.

Edit:  This is horrific and that's the point. And we should morn the dead. The people that do this want the infamy.

And as China has repeatedly shown, even in an attack today,  banning guns won't stop someone from going into a school and causing a couple dozen casualties.  Again "that's where the children are".

Don't expect this to stop the antis.  They think they can make this America's  "Dunblane"

Edit:  This from Glenn Reynolds: "Meanwhile, get ready for cynical attempts to push gun control on the back of a tragedy, again. As William S. Burroughs once said, “After a shooting spree, they always want to take the guns away from the people who didn’t do it.” "

But Freiheit and Robb Allen on GBC have hit on a larger point:

RobbAllen; RTBAV?
Freiheit; refuse to be a victim
RobbAllen; Got it
Freiheit; NRA program, teaches you not to be condition white, lock your shit up, that kind of thing
...
RobbAllen; At this moment, Freiheit has changed my perspective. I don't give a fuck about the calls for gun control. I'm pissed. I want calls to teach kids to NOT LAY DOWN AND DIE

Like how the antis are not just anti-gun.  The problem here is not just the calls for gun control.  Again, China has a major problem of mass-casualty knife rampages in schools.

Added: Bad things will happen, monsters do exist.  And people should be prepared for it.  This is tragic, horrific and frightening, and that's what makes large gatherings of children such a prime target.

As Freiheit says:  "Being armed is only one facet of being safe. It's a prepared response to risk of being attacked. However being aware of your surroundings, physical location security and similar strategies pay off more than being armed."