The Associated Press reports:
President Donald Trump says he’s considering backing proposals to promote concealed carrying of weapons by trained school employees to respond to campus shootings.
Meeting with students and parents affected by school shootings, Trump is responding to a call to arm teachers and other school employees so they can react before law enforcement arrives. Trump says the average school shooting lasts three minutes, while police response times average from five to eight minutes.
Trump says he believes the proposal could “solve the problem” of school shootings, by making potential attackers think twice. He notes that some airline pilots have carried concealed weapons since the attacks of September 11, 2001.
President Trump on concealed carry for teachers: “If you had a teacher who was adept at firearms, they could very well end the attack very quickly.” pic.twitter.com/dQWl1foLii
— NBC News (@NBCNews) February 21, 2018
Oh god. Oh god. This listening session just got terrifying. Trump is now fully advocating concealed carry for teachers and staff. That’s what this was about.
— Maureen Johnson (@maureenjohnson) February 21, 2018
#ParklandStudentsSpeak
Trump is outlining his 3-point plan:
1. Reopen mental institutions
2. Concealed carry for the teachers
3. Putting Marines on campus— LoriG (@passthepinot) February 21, 2018
This group was hand selected to NOT talk about an assault weapons ban. Trump is proposing teachers concealed carry. Trump thinks schools as gun free zones makes them less safe. NRA talking points. #ParklandStudentsSpeak
— Ellen W (@EllenBookstore) February 21, 2018
I’m honestly gobsmacked that the President just used a forum with gun violence survivors to pimp the @NRA’s priority legislation and to suggest arming teachers. Law enforcement are universally opposed to passing Concealed Carry Reciprocity. The NRA has tried to pass for 20 years.
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) February 21, 2018
Crooked Hillary said that I want guns brought into the school classroom. Wrong!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 22, 2016