WHY? UPDATE

Is the question being asked by the parents of 18 20 small children murdered today at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.  A madman entered a school that was on lock down, (How he got entry is unknown.) murdered the staff in the Principal's office, then entered a Kindergarten class and proceeded to murder those sweet, innocent children.

Authorities say at least 26 people, including 18 20 children, were killed Friday when a gunman clad in black military gear opened fire inside a Connecticut elementary school.

A law enforcement official said the shooter, who is dead, was from New Jersey and had ties to Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. Authorities recovered a Glock and Sig Sauer 9mm handgun, but it was unclear who killed the shooter, who wore black combat garb and a military vest.

Local news outlets report that the shooting occurred inside a kindergarten classroom, and that all the pupils in that classroom are unaccounted for.

An official with knowledge of the situation said the 20-year-old gunman, whose name has not been released, also had a .223-caliber rifle. The motive is not yet known.

Police are also questioning another man in connection with the shooting. Witnesses told the Connecticut Post that a handcuffed man, dressed in camouflage, was led out of a nearby woods by officers.

Connecticut State Police Lt. Paul Vance said during an afternoon news conference that police arrived at the scene "within minutes" of a 911 call placed shortly after 9:30 a.m.

“Every door, every crack, every crevice of that school” was checked, Vance said. “The entire school was searched.”

Vance did not give details about the number of victims other than to say they included students and staff, pending notification of the families. He said more information would be released, possibly later Friday.

The massacre began inside the school's main office as the principal was making morning announcements. Sources told Fox News students throughout the school could hear gunshots over the intercom system before the gunman entered the kindergarten classroom and continued his bloody rampage.

A dispatcher at the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps said a teacher was shot in the foot and taken to Danbury Hospital. Local news outlets also reported that the principal was among those shot.

Parent Lisa Procaccini told Fox News that her daughter was sitting in a classroom when she and others heard gun shots.

"She was in a small class -- a reading group and they started hearing bangs," Procaccini said. "Her teacher, and I’m grateful for this, rushed kids into the bathroom and locked the door. They told kids it was hammering and tried to keep them calm.”

"Children were crying," Procaccini said. "She did tell me about a little boy that was in a police officer’s arms, bleeding. I don’t know if she gets it."

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said two firearms were recovered from the scene.

President Obama was notified of the shooting around 10:30 am ET, White House officials said.

The Newtown School District has locked down schools as a preventive measure to ensure the safety of students and staff.

A statement on the district's website stated that afternoon kindergarten classes have been canceled.

The elementary school has close to 700 students.

Newtown is in Fairfield County, about 45 miles southwest of Hartford and 60 miles northeast of New York City.

Source

The gunman has been named.  He was Ryan Lanza, 24 of Hoboken , NJ.  He was originally from New Town, CT.  It has been rumored that the shooter was the son of the Kindergarten class teacher, but a woman was found murdered in a nearby home.  His mother Nancy did work at the school as a teacher and has been found deceased.  The shooter's father was murdered by Ryan earlier today.  

I expect to hear how we need to get rid of guns, but in China today a man went on a rampage with a knife and slashed 22 children.  Do we ban knives then?

Before we condemn guns and gun owners, let us say a short prayer for the parents of 18 children.  Parents who will never be able to celebrate Christmas or Chanukah again.  This season will always be one of sorrow.

It is being reported that President Barack Hussein Obama will address this tragedy on TV.  It would be better for him to wait a few days and let the families absorb this tragedy instead of using this as a political point.

My condolences go out to the families of the massacre.  May they find peace and solace in their faiths.  And may G-d avenge the blood of the victims.

UPDATE:

The madman is Adam Lanza, 20.  He stole his brother Ryan's identification.  20 children have been murdered.  Adam Lanza first killed his mother Nancy, a kindergarten teacher at the school, then drove her car to the school, devastated his mother's class then the principal and the people in her office.  His father is alive, lives near by and is cooperating with the authorities.

For the record Adam Lanza stole the guns from his mother.  Used her gun to shoot her in the face, then commit the horror at the school.