The local sheriff, speaking at an afternoon news conference, also said that authorities had recovered yet another gun from the shooter's residence, bringing to 14 the number of weapons linked to him.
Similar legislation has been proposed in North Dakota and Wyoming to allow concealed firearms on K-12 school grounds and college campuses, as a part of a larger effort to expand gun owners' rights.
Students of Marysville-Pilchuck High School describe a desperate scene — and in at least one case, a teacher is being credited with helping to prevent more killing.
Television images showed students running out of the Marysville, Wash., high school with their hands up. A local hospital said it had received four victims; three of them are in critical condition.
The latest Pew poll shows a slight upward shift in the percentage of Americans who say it's more important to control gun ownership than it is to protect the right to own guns. But deeply felt feelings appear to be limiting the change.