In a controversial response to America’s most recent mass shooting in Florida, Donald Trump has suggested training and arming teachers across America.
The White House indicated this week that the federal government could provide funds for up to one million teachers to be trained and given license for handguns to protect school children.
Trump tweeted on Thursday: “20% of teachers, a lot, would now be able to … immediately fire back if a savage sicko came to a school with bad intentions. Highly trained teachers would also serve as a deterrent to the cowards that do this.”
When Raj Shah, the deputy press secretary, was questioned on the claims on a practical level he replied: “When you have a horrific situation, what you think and do not think is practical can change.”
At an event at The White House, Trump said he would take seriously the option for educators to be armed with guns.
“If you had a teacher who was adept at firearms,” said the US President. “They could very well end the attack very quickly.”
“Where a teacher would have a concealed gun on them. They would go for special training and they would be there, and you would no longer have a gun-free zone.”
The US President suggested giving a bonus to some teachers who were qualified to possess and use a firearm. This was immediately challenged, where it was found that giving 40 percent of America’s teachers a $1,000 would cost the US government $1 billion.
As well as increasing security at schools, Trump suggested his uncertainty surrounding “active shooter drills”, which is becoming more common in US schools.
“Active shooter drills is a very negative thing … I’ll be honest with you. If I’m a child, I’m 10 years old and they say … ‘We’re going to have an active shooter drill,” I say ‘What’s that?’ ‘Well, ‘People may come in and shoot you’ … I think that’s a very negative thing to be talking about, to be honest with you. I don’t like it. I’d much rather have a hardened school,” said Trump.