We need answers and action.

These have been the most shocking and sad few days in South Florida in many years.

It will be a long time before we have answers to many of the questions surrounding Friday’s slaughter of five people in the baggage claim area of Terminal 2 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The tragedy has shaken our area, the nation and the world. And we still don’t know the motive of accused shooter Esteban Santiago, or why he chose Fort Lauderdale.

As Santiago faced his initial hearing Monday at the federal courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, and as we await more information in the days ahead, we have some thoughts and questions on what we have all been through since Friday.

Amazingly, Florida lawmakers were scheduled today to discuss a bill that would lift the state’s ban on carrying concealed weapons on college campuses, into government buildings and at airport terminals. The Senate Judiciary Committee’s discussion of Sarasota Republican Sen. Greg Steube’s bill was postponed because one senator was going to be absent.

That the discussion was postponed because of one senator’s absence might suggest there is insufficient support for this bill. We hope that’s the case, because the idea of letting people carry weapons into the airport — including the baggage claim area — is terrifying. And irresponsible.

Yet Steube told Miami New Times the shooting “further enforces the point: people should have the ability to defend themselves.” Who is this man kidding? Can you imagine what would have happened if a hundred people had suddenly pulled out their handguns and started shooting at whomever they thought was the bad guy? It’s not like Santiago was wearing a sign that said, “I’m the bad guy!” Many more people would likely be dead.

We tried to reach Steube for evidence that support his belief that public safety would improve if more people carried guns in public areas now off-limits. We’re waiting to hear back.

But consider that more than a million Floridians have concealed weapons permits. And across the country, so do millions more. Yet when is the last time you heard of a citizen with a gun stepping in to take down a mass murderer? We can’t think of a single instance.

More guns in public places is not the answer.

Something needs to be done about guns and ammo packed together in checked luggage. What’s the point of requiring people to travel with unloaded guns if their ammo is right alongside?

If people want to travel with unloaded guns, let them purchase ammunition after they reach their destination. At a minimum, airports need a different process for reuniting guns with bullets.

No question is more infuriating than

why Alaskan authorities returned Santiago’s gun just weeks after he walked into an FBI office and told authorities he was delusional.

Santiago said he was hearing voices. He believed he was being influenced by ISIS. He said he was having terroristic thoughts. Relatives say he was “a different person” when he returned from military duty in Iraq.

“The FBI failed there,” his brother, Bryan Santiago, has said.

So, too, did the FBI drop the ball in failing to place Santiago on the federal no-fly list. If Santiago’s condition doesn’t get you on the list, what does?

Our mental health system is badly broken. Nationwide, insurance companies don’t want to cover mental health care. Neither do governments want to fund treatment for psychotic people incapable of funding treatment themselves. Florida is worst of all, as a Sun Sentinel series recently revealed. Florida is dead last in funding mental health care. And the results are deadly.

Given the number of mass murderers who have a history of mental health problems, and how many people face deadly consequences because so little care is available, mental health treatment needs to be at the top of this nation’s health care priority list.

It’s a matter of public safety. And it’s a matter of humanity. The greatest nation in the world must do better.

At his federal court hearing Monday, Santiago was told that if found guilty, he faced the death penalty. From what we now know, while he is accused of a horrific act, it’s hard to believe he deserves the death penalty.

The man has obvious mental problems. He sought help and didn’t get it. He needs help and confinement, not the death penalty. While Broward Sheriff Scott Israel has handled the public stage admirably, Gov. Rick Scott has let us down.

Asked Friday if the gun ban should be lifted at airports, Scott responded, “It’s not time to be political.”

Actually, there’s no better time than in the face of tragedy for leaders to clarify their values and vision. Besides, the governor has been dodging this question for some time. Does he, or does he not, believe people should be able to carry guns into airports? It’s a pretty simple question.

At the same time, Scott noted that he’d “reached out” to President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence. However, he did not reach out to President Obama, who remains in charge until Jan. 20.

Asked if it would have been more appropriate to communicate with the actual president, Scott replied, “I have a personal relationship with Vice President-elect Pence and President-elect Trump.”

In times of crisis, we expect politicians to set aside politics. That Scott failed to do so reveals a lot about the man.

Santiago has obvious mental problems. He sought help and didn’t get it.