Arming teachers in schools is up to states, Trump says
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. President Donald Trump appeared Saturday to begin refining his proposals for combating school violence, tweeting that arming teachers as a deterrent against such often deadly violence — an idea he championed in recent days — is “up to states.”
Trump heavily promoted the idea of putting “gun-adept” teachers and staff carrying concealed firearms in classrooms and schools to protect students following this month’s shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 people, most of them students.
He called for bonuses for educators who volunteer to carry a firearm, and said he also wanted action to strengthen background checks and boost the minimum age for the purchase of assaultstyle weapons.
Expectations were raised that Trump would propose federal legislation on arming teachers, but that no longer appeared to be the case Saturday.
“Armed Educators (and trusted people who work within a school) love our students and will protect them. Very smart people. Must be firearms adept & have annual training. Should get yearly bonus. Shootings will not happen again — a big & very inexpensive deterrent. Up to States,” Trump wrote on Twitter. The White House did not respond to a request for comment about the tweet.
The White House has yet to offer a complete plan to address school violence amid the public outcry sparked by the Florida shooting, including addressing who would bear the financial cost. Trump said in the tweet that arming educators and paying their bonuses would be “very inexpensive.”
Asked on Thursday whether the federal government or state and local municipalities would pay the millions of dollars it would cost to train and arm teachers, White House spokesman Raj Shah said: “The policy hasn’t been fleshed out,” then added: “Do we really think that that’s too much to pay for school safety?”
Teachers and law enforcement organizations oppose the idea, while several states are considering arming teachers.
Trump spent several days last week hearing emotional pleas from parents and students, including some who survived the Parkland shooting, and others who had lost children in school shootings in Connecticut and Colorado.
He also solicited input from state and local officials.
Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence have said school safety will be a top agenda item when they meet the nation’s governors next week.