Trump pushes for arming teachers

US Prez backs move to prevent mass shootings

US President Donald Trump has backed a proposal to arm school teachers with guns to prevent mass shootings, drawing criticism from certain quarters who accused him of promoting gun culture in schools.

Mr Trump’s comments came as demands intensified for stronger gun control after a shooter killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14.

The incident reignited national debate over gun laws and school safety.

“We have to harden our schools, not soften them up. A gun- free zone to a killer, or somebody that wants to be a killer, that’s like going in for the ice cream,” Mr Trump said Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Feb. 23: The armed officer on duty at the Florida school where a shooter killed 17 people never went inside to engage the gunman and has been placed under investigation, officials announced Thursday.

The Valentine’s Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School by a gunman

during a White House meeting with local and state officials on school safety.

Mr Trump said it was essential to provide concealed fire arms to teachers, who are highly trained. armed with an AR- 15 style assault rifle has reignited national debate over gun laws and school safety, including proposals by President Donald Trump and others to designate more people — including trained teachers — to carry arms on school grounds. Gun- control advocates, meanwhile, have redoubled their push to ban assault rifles.

“I want certain highly adept people, people that understand weaponry, guns — if they really have that aptitude. Because not everybody has an aptitude for a gun. But if they have the aptitude, I think a concealed permit for — having teachers and letting people know that there are people in the building with a gun in my opinion, you won’t have these shootings, he said.

The President estimated that 10% to 40% of school employees would be qualified to handle a weapon but he offered no data for the claim and said that he would devote federal money to training them.

“You give them a little bit of a bonus, so practically for free, you have now made the school into a hardened target,” Mr Trump said.

His comments drew criticism from certain quarters who alleged that Mr Trump was promoting gun culture in schools and it would be a massive financial burden on schools.