Hindsight is always 20/20. No system is perfect. One of the prices way pay for the freedoms we enjoy and cherish is that those with no regard for others have the freedom to do horrendous things of this nature.
When I was in the police academy, I was told that the bulk of all police officers shot in the line of duty were wounded or killed by their own gun. A significant part of our defensive tactics training dealt with maintaining control of your weapon or relieving a suspect of control of his.
That said, most police officers never fire their gun in the line of duty, and many only draw their weapons on felony stops or certain domestic situations...That is to say, not often.
Complacency and taking "business as usual" for granted is a fault most people succumb to at some level.
Regardless of the lapses in security or mistakes that were made or even what sacrifices were burned at the altar of political correctness IMHO is sort of moot at this point.
In the end, it comes down to the decision of one man who chose to destroy four families in an act of complete and total disregard for anyone but himself. He has murdered, raped, kidnapped, and stolen and will continue to do so until he is stopped.
Don't count on the police taking justice into their own hands when they catch him. Unless they have a clear reason to shoot, they will conduct themselves professionally and place him under arrest. :(
This guy seems to be rabid and on a rampage. It won't surprise me if he gives them a reason.
It's a little too late for these victims, but it shouldn't be a moot point in that security procedures need to be revamped in these courtrooms. This incident should be a lesson to be learned from and serious changes need to be made.