This is part of the Catherine Violet Hubbard Wildlife Sanctuary in her honor. She was a 6-year old who lost her life that day. This is just one of many memorials and funds and nonprofits created in memory of those lost that day.

What have we learned, besides how long and deep heartache can go....

A very sad day.

So sad, no words....

So heartbreaking. I get chills thinking about the horror of that day.

Such a horrible horrible day. Our grandson is six. I can't even begin to imagine.

I grieve for those darling children all the time.

And nothing has changed.

That's the double tragedy of this anniversary. If this event could not make an impact, nothing can. Add to the despair, we were a much more united country nine years ago, so really a hopeless situation here.

Well, at least in CT they did pass much stiffer gun control laws...but with ghost guns, variations in state regulations, etc., they are nowhere near as effective as they might otherwise be.

God bless every parent, grandparent and sibling of those precious children.

I hope they are able to find happiness again in their lives.

So terribly sad.

I was so saddened by that horrible event, but I do think plenty of things have changed, at least around where I live. It is FAR more difficult to enter a school nowadays, without being a parent, signing in, and wearing a nametag. Gates are locked and securely so. Classrooms have door-locks on the inside. Kids are trained (yes, sadly this) in what to do in the event of a school shooting or lockdown over threat. Teachers are trained as well. In fact, our local high school closed down for the day a couple weeks ago after a threat was written on a bathroom wall (a vague threat, at that). The student under suspicion no longer attends that school (now), I happen to know. However, security was increased on campus for at least the following week, a police car/officer on campus (I don't know how much or how often), an administrators were at the drop-off/entrance points for at least a week. There were flurries of emails, facebook posts, Nextdoor posts, etc, about the importance of vigilance and reporting anything that might be suspicious. And, I am aware that administration monitors some social media and there are avenues for kids reporting contextually threatening media posts.

Our local elementary school is quite "hidden" from view, tucked into a residential neighborhood, but I know certain other elementary schools have put up screening barriers, taller fences, and landscaping to block playgrounds from view (to the consternation of some parents questioning that...but I thought it a great idea, personally).

So, I wouldn't say nothing has changed. I know what you are getting after, and I don't disagree, but strides have been made in student and campus safety. I hope it's nationwide, but at least in a couple districts near me, a lot of things have changed.