Education Secretary Betsy DeVos defended President Trump’s idea to allow some teachers to carry concealed firearms on campus and said it has been both oversimplified and mischaracterized.
Speaking with reporters Wednesday after meeting with students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., DeVos sought to clarify Trump’s proposal.
“Let me be clear: I think to say ‘arming teachers’ is an oversimplification and a mischaracterization, really,” DeVos said. “The concept is for those schools and those communities that opt to do this … is to have people who are experts in being able to defend, and having lots and lots of training to do so.”
DeVos brought up Polk County, Fla., where a program was started in 2016 by Sheriff Grady Judd to certify some teachers and staff as “Special Deputies.” Those who participate in the “Sentinel Program” undergo law enforcement training that allows them to carry a concealed firearm in the event of an active shooter on campus.
To become a “Special Deputy,” faculty and staff must undergo criminal background tests, drug tests and a mental health evaluation. They are also required to complete 100 hours of firearm safety and proficiency training with the sheriff’s office.
“They are required and requested to do training that is above and beyond what the deputies in that country are actually trained to,” DeVos said. “So the standards are actually very, very high, and I think that’s a model that can be adopted and should be an option for schools, for states, for communities. But it’s certainly not one that needs to be required or mandated for every community.”
Trump raised the proposal to arm some teachers and staff on school campuses during a listening session with students, parents, and teachers at the White House last month.
The idea, however, has received some pushback.
The president has also discussed raising the minimum age to purchase a semi-automatic weapon from 18 to 21 and strengthening background checks.
