US Gun Control: President Donald Trump wants more schools with armed teachers
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Earlier, President Trump addressed the annual Conservative gathering also known as CPAC. The US gun debate was a big part of his speech. CGTN's Jim Spellman reports on what Trump said and how it was received.
U.S. President Donald Trump says more guns will make schools safer. He proposes arming trained teachers with concealed handguns in response to last week's deadly school shooting in Florida.
DONALD TRUMP US PRESIDENT "This is maybe 10 percent or 20 percent of teachers. It's not all of them, but you would have a lot and you would tell people they are inside and the beauty is it's concealed. Unless they needed it so this crazy man when he walks in wouldn't even know who it is that has it and the teacher would have shot the hell out of him before he knew what happened."
The sheriff in Parkland, Florida says an armed deputy was at the school during the shooting but he stayed outside and failed to take action.
SCOTT ISRAEL BROWARD COUNTY SHERIFF  "Went in, address the killer, killed the killer."
Trump says teachers love their students, and they would be more likely to take action against a shooter. Teachers were back at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Friday. Students will return next week. Many educators are rejecting the idea of carrying guns in school.
ROBERT RUNCIE BROWARD COUNTY SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT "I am totally against arming teachers with that. And it's not just about me, you just got talk to teaching professionals of whether that makes sense. If we really want to do something, spend money on adding more school resource officers and law enforcement personnel out there."
The governor of Florida wants armed police officers at schools and proposes making it easier for law enforcement to take guns away from the mentally ill.
RICK SCOTT FLORIDA GOVERNOR "I want to make it virtually impossible for anyone who has mental issues to use a gun. I want to make it virtually impossible for anyone who is a danger to themselves or others to use a gun."
The governor also proposes raising the legal age to purchase a firearm from 18 to 21, with some exceptions, and better training for schools on how to deal with mass shootings.
JIM SPELLMAN WASHINGTON "Both President Trump and Governor Scott are Republicans and both are members of the powerful National Rifle Association gun lobby. Neither is proposing banning assault weapons, a policy promoted by many gun control advocates and many survivors of last week's shooting. Jim Spellman, CGTN , Washington."