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Jessica Rekos, 6

"Jessica loved everything about horses," her parents, Rich and Krista Rekos said in a statement. "She devoted her free time to watching horse movies, reading horse books, drawing horses, and writing stories about horses." When she turned 10, they promised, she could have a horse of her own. For Christmas, she asked Santa for new cowgirl boots and hat. The Rekoses described their daughter as "a creative, beautiful little girl who loved playing with her little brothers, Travis and Shane. "She spent time writing in her journals, making up stories, and doing 'research' on orca whales - one of her passions after seeing the movie 'Free Willy' last year." Her dream of seeing a real orca was realized in October when she went to SeaWorld. Jessica, first born in the family, "was our rock," the parents said. "She had an answer for everything. She didn't miss a trick, and she outsmarted us every time." A thoughtful planner, she was "our little CEO."

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Lauren Rousseau, 30

Lauren Rousseau had spent years working as a substitute teacher and doing other jobs. So she was thrilled when she finally realized her goal this fall to become a full-time teacher at Sandy Hook. "Lauren wanted to be a teacher from before she even went to kindergarten," her mother Teresa Rousseau said. "We will miss her terribly and will take comfort knowing that she had achieved that dream." Her mother said she was thrilled to get the job. Rousseau has been called gentle, spirited and active. She had planned to see "The Hobbit" with her boyfriend after school on the day of the shooting and had baked cupcakes for a party they were to attend afterward. She was born in Danbury, and attended Danbury High, college at the University of Connecticut and graduate school at the University of Bridgeport. She was a lover of music, dance and theater. "I'm used to having people die who are older," her mother said, "not the person whose room is up over the kitchen."

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Mary Sherlach, 56

When the shots rang out, Mary Sherlach threw herself into the danger. Janet Robinson, the superintendent of Newtown Public Schools, said Sherlach and the school's principal ran toward the shooter. They lost their own lives, rushing toward him. Even as Sherlach neared retirement, her job at Sandy Hook was one she loved. Those who knew her called her a wonderful neighbor, a beautiful person, a dedicated educator. Sherlach's son-in-law, Eric Schwartz, told the South Jersey Times that Sherlach rooted on the Miami Dolphins, enjoyed visiting the Finger Lakes, relished helping children overcome their problems. She had planned to leave work early on Friday, he said, but never had the chance. In a news conference, he told reporters the loss was devastating, but that Sherlach was doing what she loved. "Mary felt like she was doing God's work," he said, "working with the children."

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Vicki Soto, 27

She beams in snapshots. Her enthusiasm and cheer was evident. She was doing, those who knew her say, what she loved. And now, Victoria Soto is being called a hero. Those who knew her said they weren't surprised by reports she shielded her first-graders from danger. "She put those children first. That's all she ever talked about," said a friend, Andrea Crowell. "She wanted to do her best for them, to teach them something new every day." Photos of Soto show her always with a wide smile, in pictures of her at her college graduation and in mundane daily life. Her goal was simply to be a teacher. "You have a teacher who cared more about her students than herself," said Mayor John Harkins of Stratford, the town Soto hailed from.

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Benjamin Wheeler, 6

Music surrounded Benjamin Wheeler as he grew up in a household where both his mother and father were performers. They left behind stage careers in New York City when they moved to Newtown with Benjamin and his older brother, Nate. "We knew we wanted a piece of lawn, somewhere quiet, somewhere with good schools," Francine Wheeler said. Ben was spirited and energetic. He was taking swim lessons, and at soccer practice, he'd often be running across the field long after it was necessary. A recent accomplishment, his family said, was performing at a piano recital this month - and sitting still long enough to play one piece. Francine, a music educator and singer-songwriter, used to make up songs for Ben when he was a baby. Some eventually found their way onto a CD, she said. Ben's father, David, still writes and performs, according to a profile on the website of the Flagpole Radio Cafe theater. Before school on Friday, Ben had told his mother he wanted to be an architect - but also a paleontologist. "That's what Nate is going to be," he told his mom. "And I want to do everything Nate does."

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Allison Wyatt, 6

Allison was a kind-hearted little girl who had a lot of love to give, and she formed special bonds with most people who spent any amount of time with her, her parents Cheyanne and Ben Wyatt said. She loved her family and teachers especially, but would often surprise people with random acts of kindness - once even offering her snacks to a complete stranger on a plane. Allison loved drawing and wanted to be an artist, often turning parts of the house into an "art studio" with rows of pictures taped to the walls. She loved to laugh and was developing her own wonderful sense of humor that ranged from just being a silly six-year old to coming up with observations that more than once had her parents crying with laughter. Allison made the world a better place for six, far too short years and and her parents said they now have to figure out how to move on without her. She was a sweet, creative, funny, intelligent little girl who had an amazing life ahead of her. "Our world is a lot darker now that she's gone. We love and miss her so much."

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Nancy Lanza, 52

She once was known simply for the game nights she hosted and the holiday decorations she put up at her house. Now Nancy Lanza is known as her son's first victim. Authorities say her 20-year-old son Adam gunned her down before killing 26 others at Sandy Hook. The two shared a home in a well-to-do Newtown neighborhood, but details were slow to emerge of who she was and what might have led her son to carry out such horror. Kingston, N.H., Police Chief Donald Briggs Jr. said Nancy Lanza once lived in the community and was a kind, considerate and loving person. The former stockbroker at John Hancock in Boston was well-respected, Briggs said.

Every night since, once my little guys go to bed, I get salty. One of the girls had the same exact birthday of my youngest son.

I just attended our elementary school's "Town Meeting" which is an assembly for the kids about what's happened in school this past month. They show slides, sing songs, give school news updates, etc. Many parents also attend. I nearly lost it as my first grader's class sang. It would be like his entire class was wiped out.

Needless to say, I will never take any of my kids' activities for granted again. I'm embarrassed to say that wasn't always the case, especially with my older two.

Texas is quite different. We can buy a gun any time with nothing but a little money.

It is your problem when someone comes down to TX buys a gun, goes back to your home state and city and starts killing people. Perhaps someone you know. And that is exactly why I believe it is a federal problem.

Have you and MS gotten it out of your system now. Make you feel better? Show me a single post on this forum where I have advocated denying rights to any group. I am in favor of the KKK and NAMBLA having a right to speak their piece. I have never every said anything of the kind and I dare you to prove your accusation.

And like others have said, everyone knows gun owners always abiode by the rules and act responsibly right?

Perhaps initially but again it is just like the speed limit. If the penalty is very very high, you are much less likely to leave your guns unprotected. Perfect idea no. No idea is. But I have yet to hear a better one.

The ladies kid had no interest in being educated. While I agree education is always a good thing, someone hell bent on doing bad with a gun is quite uninterested in education. Those people need to be kept away from guns and education will not do it. A safe will.

Does not have to be fire safe. If you want your stuff to burn up that's your choice. Personally I'd rather try and preserve my stuff. That's why I have a fire rated safe.

Already answered that earlier on but I guess you missed it when you were flying off the handle;) No, if you can prove that you were held up at gun point (irony) and had your gun stolen or you can show that your safe was broken into then you are clear as far as I am concerned. You did all that you reasonable could to safe guard your weapons. No system is perfect and guns will be stolen. That is a fact of life.

Why not. You drive a get away car where your partner murders someone your on the hook for murder. You leave your guns unprotected, you are an accessory to the crime. What is not constitutional?

Not so sure. I already have two people on here who were stead fast against anything I have said saying that they agree in theory.

Make that three. MS just jumped in the boat. Only took us a little over 1000 post to come to an understanding that did not infringe on people rights but provided some added safeguards to protect all of us. It's not hard, we just need to get business and lobby interests under control and perhaps we can make some head way.

You're giving me the eye problem again Swamp.

Hang tough!

What if the driver of that getaway car stole it from YOU?:confused: Are you also an accessory to the crime?:confused:

That is the best argument you can come up with? Sad.

It would be more like if you left the keys in the ignition and a child playing in your yard got in the car and accidentally ran over some people.

Yes, you should be held accountable.

Stupidity and ignorance are not a legitimate defense.

Peoples reactions to this tragedy are pretty interesting in their differences.

Like you, I am also sad, but I have to admit being filled with a volcanic rage that this is the SEVENTH mass shooting for 2012, and look at all these wonderful kids who will never see another day. We can cry all day, and the setting is already set for the next shooting.

We weep for them, but we dam well should be acting for them as well. Be it better mental heath screening and assistance, or minor gun control safeguards.

Davidmash's proposals are so mild as to be pretty hard to object to, but still he gets huge objections from most 2nd amendment folk. I don't see his proposals really affecting the core elements of the right. It says nowhere in the amendment that you are guaranteed instantaneous firearm access with zero regulation on sale or tracking, and zero insurance that you are correctly storing and using the weapon.

He is so moderate, its amazing there is such a spirit of objection to his ideas, or others like him. Were it up to me, all weapons capable of firing one round after another with the pull of a trigger each time would be melted down into shipping ballast.

If we really want to return to the spirit of the amendment, every modern weapon would be exchanged for either a smoothbore musket, or a muzzle loading long rifle, as thats what the amendment was referring to when it was written.

It's way, way harder than that. Think of the potential to frame someone if your proposal were enacted. Steal one enemies gun, use it kill another enemy, both are cooked. Too easy. Too much risk. Think of the liability it will present to insurance companies, won't happen.

Society is designed for corporate profit, not for people's good. Gun control will come to increase insurance companies profits or something, not to make the world safer.

Gun control loves to use Australia as an example. But overall, are the people there really safer? Probably not.