Betsy DeVos Won’t Rule Out Arming Teachers With Assault Weapons – ‘An Issue Best Decided at the Local Level’
Betsy DeVos to Head Trump Commission on Gun Violence in Schools – After Refusing to Talk Gun Violence With Parkland Students
Last week Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos went to Parkland, Florida but refused to discuss gun violence in schools with some of the people most affected by it: the school mass shooting student survivors. Now, she will head President Trump’s commission, announced overnight, to examine ways to protect children from gun violence in schools.Â
Speaking with NBC News’ “TODAY” show, DeVos had few concrete thoughts on guns to share.
Asked why raising the minimum age to buy assault weapons to 21 has been removed from the administration’s plan, despite President Trump having promised to support it, DeVos claimed “everything is on the table.”
And asked about arming teachers and if they should wear their guns openly or conceal them, DeVos refused to answer, deferring, as she often does with any policy, by saying, “this is an issue that is best decided by local communities and by states.”
She even refused to say definitively even if teachers should be armed with assault weapons.
“Do you think they should be able to, teachers, should be able to carry assault weapons since presumably they may face assault weapons? Do you have an opinion on that?” NBC’s Savannah Guthrie asked the Education Secretary.
“I don’t think assault weapons in schools carried by any school personnel is the appropriate thing, but again this is an issue that I think is best decided at the local level by communities and by states.”
Do you think teachers should be able to carry assault weapons since they may face assault weapons? @savannahguthrie to @BetsyDeVosED pic.twitter.com/MJGhGceqkC
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 12, 2018
RELATED STORIES:
Betsy DeVos Bombs on ’60 Minutes’
Parkland Student Talks to Betsy DeVos About Preventing Future Shootings – Calls Her Response ‘BS’
Â
Â

Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.
![]() |