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Trump considering arming US teachers after Florida school mass shooting

US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Ariana Klein (R) watched by fellow student Carson Abt at the start of a “listening session” on gun violence with teachers and students in the State Dining Room of the White House on February 21, 2018. (Photos by AFP)

US President Donald trump is considering arming teachers in the country in the backdrop of a deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

Trump met Wednesday with some of the survivors of the recent attack in the State Dining Room of the White House.

On February 14, 17 students and school staff were killed and 16 more were injured at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

The 19-year-old shooter, identified as Nikolas Cruz, fired some 100 shots by his AR-15 rifle.

The tragic event revived the ongoing gun control issue in the country, leading to protests spearheaded by students themselves.

As the president was being censured for his great relations with the National Rifle Association (NRA) in the demonstrations, he called for arming the teachers as a way protect students.

“If you had a teacher ... who was adept at firearms, it could very well end the attack very quickly,” Trump said.

The president’s “listening session” with the students and teachers, who survived the shooting rampage, was part of an effort to calm the situation.

“Some of your suggestions, I’ve heard some of them. We’re going to do something about this horrible situation that’s going on,” Trump said. “I want to listen. And then after I listen, we’re going to get things done.”

The idea of arming teachers was brought up by one parent, which Trump described as “a point we will discuss.”

“We’re going to be looking at that very strongly. And I think a lot of people are going to be opposed to it. I think a lot of people are going to like it,” he said.

Following the mass shooting, Trump expressed some narrow support for measures to tackle the country’s gun issue.

“We’re going to be very strong on background checks,” he said. “There are many ideas I have, there are many ideas that other people have, and we’re going to pick out the strongest ideas, the most important ideas.”

He further suggested that he intends to take concrete action against gun violence.

“It’s not going to be talk like it has been in the past,” Trump said.


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