Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday the Trump administration has made school safety its “top national priority,” a day after he and President Trump hosted survivors of mass shootings and the parents of victims from last week’s massacre in Parkland, Fla.
“As the president said, no child, no teacher should ever be in danger in an American school,” Pence said during a fiery speech to attendees of the annual Conservative Political Action Conference. “Later this week, when the president meets with the nation’s governors, we’ll make the safety of our schools and students our top national priority.”
“I can assure you all of this, President Trump and our entire administration will continue to take strong action to make our schools safe” he added. “And we’ll pray for God’s wisdom that all of us in position of authority can come together to confront this great evil in our time.”
Pence’s speech comes as the White House weighs new regulations on guns, including raising the age at which Americans can legally purchase semi-automatic firearms from 18 to 21, and banning the sale of bump stocks, which can increase the firing rates on certain guns. Trump has also vowed to tighten background checks and look into other ways to prevent mentally ill individuals from committing acts of violence.
The vice president’s speech on Thursday overlapped with a second listening session at the White House between Trump, several lawmakers, and local and state law enforcement officials.
