Ivanka Trump says plan to arm teachers with guns is 'not a bad idea'
Ivanka Trump has said her father’s proposal to arm teachers in the wake of the massacre at a Florida high school, was “not a bad idea”.
The mother-of-three said it was "worth discussing" but admitted she did not know if would make students safer
Survivors of the attack on Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the city Parkland have already called it “an idiotic idea” and a combat expert claimed it would “cost kids’ lives”.
Teachers have also objected to being trained to take on gunmen like Nikolas Cruz, who has been charged with the murder of 17 people on 14 February. It is alleged that he used an AR-15 assault rifle to kill his victims.
“Obviously, there would have to be an incredibly high standard for who would be able to bear arms in our school,” Ms Trump told NBC News.
“I think that having a teacher who is armed, who cares deeply about her students or his students and who is capable and qualified to bear arms is not a bad idea, but it is an idea that needs to be discussed."
She added: “But I think there is no one solution for creating safety.”
Her comments attracted criticism on Twitter.
Supporters of gun control have pointed out that an armed officer was at Stoneman as the tragedy unfolded but waited outside instead of going in to confront the killer.
As a teacher I say ~ hell no
— bleuwolf paintings (@stephaniebleuwo) February 26, 2018
You have your nerve @IvankaTrump Your kids are watched by the @SecretService , Arming teachers is ridiculous & dangerous to everyone. Hey, how about not letting civilians buy #Militaryweapons ????
— Gail Lukan (@gailmlukan) February 26, 2018
I’m a teacher, and I don’t give a hoot what ivanka’s opinion is. Tell her to get back to me when she’s taught a classroom of first graders for 17 years.
— L lou (@mainepotato82) February 26, 2018
President Trump called Broward County Deputy Scot Petersen, who resigned after being placed under investigation over his failure to intervene, was a “coward”.
Mr Trump has also suggested increasing the minimum age for purchasing assault rifles from 18 to 21 despite opposition from the National Rifle Association.
"I think we're going to have a great bill put forward very soon having to do with background checks, having to do with getting rid of certain things and keeping other things,” he told Fox News. “Perhaps we'll do something on age, because it doesn't seem to make sense that you have to wait until you are 21 years old to get a pistol, but to get a gun like this maniac used in the school, you get that at 18. That doesn't make sense."
The backlash against the NRA after the shooting has led to major companies like Delta Airlines and car hire company, Hertz, ending their relationship with the organisation.
