President Trump on Monday slammed the Broward County sheriffs who failed to enter the high school in Parkland, Fla. this month, and said it was “disgusting” that four of them waited outside as the shooter killed more than a dozen people.
“They weren’t exactly Medal of Honor winners,” Trump said about the sheriffs to a roomful of Republican governors at the White House. “The way they performed was frankly disgusting. They were listening to what was going on. The one in particular… he was early, then you had three others… a similar kind of a thing.”
“I really believe I’d run in there even if I didn’t have a weapon, and I think most of the people in this room would have done that to, because I know most of you,” Trump added.
Trump has proposed arming some teachers in response to the shooting, which has reignited a national conversation about gun control and school safety. The president said he had lunch with National Rifle Association leaders over the weekend and recalled that the NRA executives had expressed their shared desire to “do something” about gun violence.
Trump’s remarks came in the wake of mounting criticism against the Broward County Sheriff’s office, whose four deputies stood outside the school while the rampage took place. Sheriff Scott Israel defended that failure to act over the weekend, and said he has provided “amazing leadership” to his office even as calls for his resignation grow.
The president also stood by the NRA, which has served as a target for anti-gun activists in the wake of the attack on Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
“Don’t worry about the NRA. They’re on our side,” Trump said.
Trump encouraged governors not to shy away from confronting the gun rights advocacy group on these issues.
“Half of you are so afraid of the NRA,” Trump said. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
“Sometimes we’re going to have to be very tough and we’re going to have to fight them,” he added.
During his lunch over the weekend with the CEO of the NRA, Wayne LaPierre, and top NRA lobbyist Chris Cox, Trump said he discussed mental health policy and strengthening laws that could allow police to confiscate weapons from mentally ill people.
“We’re going to have to start talking about mental institutions,” Trump said.
He said that “in the old days,” law enforcement officers or family members had an easier time committing people who acted “like a boiler ready to explode.”
The president noted that the suspected shooter, Nikolas Cruz, had been the subject of dozens of calls to law enforcement officers leading up to the shooting. Peers and neighbors had warned police and the FBI that Cruz had exhibited threatening and suspicious behavior both online and in interactions with others.
“This kid had 39 red flags. They should have known — they did know,” Trump said of Cruz. “They didn’t do anything.”
“If we see a sicko, I don’t want them having a gun,” Trump added.
Days after announcing his administration had concluded it’s necessary to ban bump stocks, devices that allow semi-automatic weapons to fire faster, Trump said he would work to outlaw the hardware. Trump said bump stocks allow semiautomatic guns to fire more quickly, but not very accurately, which is why many are fine with restrictions.
“I don’t care if Congress doesn’t,” Trump said. “We’re getting rid of it.”
