I love guns, but I'm okay with there being some add'l steps to the average Joe getting their hands on an AR-15 rifle like this one.
I go along with friends all the time who get permits - I think it is WAY WAY WAY too easy to get the green light to carry a gun. You fire ONE round and sit thru a 90 minute class, and then you can carry a gun everywhere you go. It's way too little - you should be GOOD with a weapon in order to carry it.
AND penalties for crimes, in society in general, need to be greater. Lock up criminals longer, have a visible police presence (just cut 1-2 classroom projectors and you can afford it). It'd create jobs, it'd add to community feel, and a cop car outside of the school would make most punk shooters reconsider.