US President Donald Trump, during a televised White House ‘listening session’ with the all those who have been affected by various school shootings in the US, said that armed teachers and guards could frighten off potential shooters and prevent deaths.
Trump’s comments come after the attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 students and educators were slain on Feb. 14 in the second-deadliest shooting at a US public school.
The terrorist was identified as 19-year old Nikolaus Cruz, who is a former student of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, was expelled for ‘disciplinary’ reasons.
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The incident has revived the long-running US debate over gun rights.
During the televised White House “listening session” with students, parents and people affected by other US school shootings, Trump spoke at length about how armed teachers and security guards could frighten off potential shooters and prevent more deaths.
“If you had a teacher … who was adept at firearms, they could very well end the attack very quickly,” he said while acknowledging that the proposal was controversial. Some of the meeting participants indicated support. Others were opposed.
