Feb 21, 2018
Trump on ending gun violence: "We're going to get it done"
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President Trump hosted a listening session on Wednesday with students and parents affected by gun violence across the country. He advocated for teachers to have a concealed carry license, as well as proper training, to keep guns on them while at school to prevent future shootings from happening.
"If you had a teacher who is adept at firearms you very well could end it very quickly."— Trump on preventing future school shootings
Trump's solutions
- Trump added that Nikolas Cruz, the student who killed 17 other students at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, "is a sick guy and he should've been nabbed many times."
- He advocated for more background checks and a focus on mental health institutes, in addition to arming teachers saying if there were armed personnel inside the school, shooters "wouldn't go into the school to start off with, I think that very well could solve your problem."
- "Two minutes after this meeting we're going to start working," Trump said. "It's not going to be talk like it has been in the past ... we're going to get it done."
- Axios' Jonathan Swan reported earlier Wednesday that Trump has been saying privately he supports increasing the minimum age to buy guns like the one used in Parkland to 21.
Secretary of Education Betsy Devos was in attendance as well and told the crowd that their "loss and trauma must never be in vain."
Go deeper: Students, parents and educators made emotional remarks about their experiences with gun violence and offered solutions to the president as well.
