STILL NO GUNS AT SCHOOL

When the U.S. Supreme Court recently struck down a federal law prohibiting guns within 1,000 feet of a school, many parents, teachers and school administrators had raised eyebrows. Why would the nation's highest court take any action that could be perceived as allowing guns in school?

That wasn't the intent of the court's ruling, of course. The court took the position that the federal government need not step in where state and local governments are fully capable of adopting and enforcing needed laws.

Indeed, it is -- and has been for a long time -- illegal to have firearms at school. There are laws regarding the carrying of concealed weapons too.

The reason Congress passed the gun-free school zone law a few years ago was to add the federal penalties, which can be severe.

For now, the street signs that designate areas around schools as gun-free zones will stay up. Anything that reminds potential gun-toters that it is wrong to have guns at school is good.

While the Supreme Court and lawmakers can decide what the laws are, the responsibility for obeying the laws is up to each individual. In the case of children, it becomes the responsibility of parents to see that learning isn't mixed with guns.

Juvenile laws tend to deal lightly with young gun-carrying offenders, at least in comparison to adult offenders. Perhaps laws that hold parents responsible -- including fines and jail sentences -- would encourage parents to take a more active role in this and other areas of childhood responsibility.