I cringe at the news of an eleven- and a thirteen-year-old deliberately killing schoolmates from the cover of nearby woods. My heart goes out to the parents of the dead school children. Not only in Arkansas, but in Kentucky and Mississippi, in the past several months.

But even more, my heart goes out to the parents of those children who became killers, for surely they ask themselves: "What did we do to cause such desire for vengeance in our offspring?"

Consider this. Did those parents believe that every kind of gun be allowed in anyone's possession? Did they trust gun clubs who taught children to become men by becoming good marksmen? Did they listen to preachers who fueled fires of hatred with vicious militant biblical references? Did they ignore television and movies that numb the sensibilities of the human mind to violence, making bloodshed not only acceptable but desirable? Did they admire the pentagon in keeping countries in line with massive weapons of destruction? Did they do anything out of the ordinary?

With such lethal pressure from many conflicting sources, how can we not expect excessive anger to build up in impressionable minds seeking immediate outlets?

Society gropes for ways to prevent such shootings ever again. But how can teachers and administrators be burdened with inspecting un-cooperative youngsters on the lookout for classmate killers? Can psychologists profile children and isolate or treat them before tragedy strikes without violating basic rights? Can police get enough funding to patrol hideouts beyond all schoolyards?

Expecting solutions from those directions reminds me of throwing water on coals of a campfire while the prairie burns out of control behind it.