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There are no quick fixes, but after Uvalde, we can do a lot better on gun violence

The slaughter of innocent children in a Uvalde elementary school didn’t have one cause. The more we learn about the shooter, his weapons and the police response, the clearer that becomes.

And that means preventing similar tragedies in the future doesn’t have one sweeping solution — at least not one that’s realistic. Ban AR-15s tomorrow, but the nation will remain awash in guns. Turn schools into fortresses, but there will still be gaps in security. Put police everywhere, but you’ll need a plan to pay for it.

There are, however, things we can and should do on every front, including guns. Some will be easier than others. Some will require compromise from firmly held political positions. Some will need deep study and a commitment to change in society and institutions that we have only begun to grapple with.

Here’s our road map to the most realistic changes. If we start with some of these concrete changes, there’s a path to true progress, and every step may represent lives saved.

SHORT-TERM

Secure schools better. Notice we didn’t say “completely.” That’s impossible. But fewer open entrances, more officers, better ability to lock down classrooms — all would reduce the odds of a massacre.

In 2019, after the shooting at Santa Fe High School near Houston, the Legislature undertook a thorough effort to “harden” schools. It’s clear now, though, that those changes didn’t trickle down to enough schools. As the Texas Tribune reported, few schools have the required active-shooter policies in place. The state must spend more, expediting the funds to districts and follow up to make sure the spending is wise.

Arming teachers? Doing so broadly would be a mistake. As in any other large, diverse group, some educators are well-equipped to handle such a responsibility, and some would actually add risk if they had access to a gun.

Districts that want training and support to allow some faculty and staff to guns — military veterans, perhaps — should get it. But arming everyone isn’t a practical or useful solution.

MEDIUM-TERM

Rifle purchases. The shooter was able to buy two AR-15s just after reaching the age of majority. Had he sought handguns, he would have been denied. We see no reason for this discrepancy. Make 21 the minimum age to buy any firearm.

This won’t affect a large number of purchases. And young adults would not be able to buy their own rifles or shotguns for hunting. But these are small objections.

Red flag laws: Laws that allow police, with court approval, to confiscate guns temporarily from someone shown to be a proven danger are urgently needed. They must be carefully crafted and monitored for abuse, but taking more seriously someone who shows a propensity for violence will prevent mass shootings.

Background checks. “Universal” background checks are the immediate policy proposal after any shooting, whether applicable or not. It may be wise to require checks on sales at gun shows and between individuals. But it wouldn’t have prevented this or many other shootings.

Sen. John Cornyn has worked frequently in a bipartisan way to improve background checks, assuring that more relevant information makes its way into the necessary federal databases. The better they are, the more useful they can be.

Magazines. High-capacity magazines paired with easily fired semi-automatic rifles enable a great deal of carnage in a short span of time. Like bump stocks, which enable almost automatic-weapon speed and were a factor in the Las Vegas shooting’s high death toll, whatever purpose they might serve is far outweighed by their danger. New federal limits are appropriate.

LONG-TERM

Mental health. There isn’t yet a strong indication that the Uvalde shooter was known to have mental health issues. But many shooters do, and for that and many other reasons, the U.S. needs a moon shot on mental illness. Reducing stigma, improving diagnosis, and widening access to therapy and other treatment is a must.

Helping young men. Something is going on with American youths, particularly boys, and it’s not good. The institutions that once helped them learn to handle rage, embarrassment or lack of fulfillment have failed. The answers will be complex, but serious study and efforts to reach them are an urgent priority.

And sadly, we need new pathways for teachers, peers and even parents to warn school officials and law enforcement of a potentially dangerous student. Rare is the case in which a shooter wasn’t known to be alienated and perhaps even have lodged threats. Police and schools must take these signs more seriously.

Getting any of this done will require an infusion of goodwill and commitment to compromise. Lawmakers — and all of us — must start small and build trust.