CNN reports he has now proposed stiffer background checks, outlawing aftermarket devices that increase rates of fire of semi-automatic rifles, and raising the minimum age for purchase of guns to 21.
Marco Rubio on TV has endorsed all three and claimed there are 60 votes in the senate for all three.
When the Congress comes back, that is.
Trump is also urging that teachers with military or police backgrounds be trained to use and authorized to carry concealed firearms against well prepared and heavily armed school shooters - a measure long urged by the NRA.
He is not favoring a ban on assault rifles or even high capacity magazines for them.
So far as I can tell, he has not crossed the NRA to date in any particular.
Personally, I favor allowing some teachers or school officials with a military or police background to voluntarily carry concealed firearms on the job provided they undergo training aimed at the special dangers of use of firearms to defend students in such chaotic conditions.
But I don't favor requiring any teacher or school official to do this and I don't think such a measure even begins to adequately address the issue of mass shootings in America.
A real danger even when trained police try to deal with an active shooter in such a setting is that an innocent person will be shot by them.
Imagine being the parent of an innocent child or the spouse of an innocent teacher shot by police responsding to a school shooting rampage.
Or of a child or spouse shot by a teacher.
Update.
A half dozen states, including California, permit teachers to carry white at school.
Not clear whether it's voluntary or limited to ex-police or ex-military, but it should be.
Other states could certainly follow suit.
Update.
A half dozen states, including California, permit teachers to carry white at school.
Not clear whether it's voluntary or limited to ex-police or ex-military, but it should be.
Other states could certainly follow suit.
No comments:
Post a Comment