Newsweek: Why?

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Nothing prepares a journalist, or anybody, to respond to the level of catastrophe that took place on April 20, 1999 at Columbine High School in Littleton, CO.  Two young men walked into their school and open fired at their classmates and teachers, eventually killing 12 students, a teacher, and wounding 21.  I was there within hours of the shooting.  Public outcry started focusing on the police response, and I interviewed two of the first SWAT squad members who entered the building – both of whom had sons in the school.  They recounted in great detail how they stormed the school when they thought they could still possibly save some victims – but obviously didn’t get there in time.