Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action Respond to White House Call for Firearm Training for School Staff
3.12.2018
Everytown for Gun Safety Releases New Fact Sheet on Dangers of Arming School Staff
NEW YORK – Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety released the following statement today denouncing the White House’s push to provide firearms training to school staff.
STATEMENT FROM JOHN FEINBLATT, PRESIDENT OF EVERYTOWN FOR GUN SAFETY:
“It’s no surprise that after spending $30 million to get him elected, the NRA has already convinced the president to back away from common-sense policies he supported less than a week ago and instead support their dangerous dream of putting guns in schools. America’s teachers don’t want to carry and school safety experts agree it’s a reckless idea. The best way to protect children and communities from shootings is to pass the comprehensive gun safety laws proven to save lives – not cave to the NRA.”
STATEMENT FROM SHANNON WATTS, FOUNDER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“This plan from the White House is a farce. Instead of standing up to the gun lobby, the President is asking students and teachers to stand up to gunmen. Are our lawmakers so beholden to the NRA that they’d consider asking educators to double as armed guards rather than passing common-sense gun laws? Moms Demand Action stands with America’s educators and administrators in their fight to keep guns out of schools, and we demand that our lawmakers pass legislation that would actually make us safer.”
According to Everytown’s fact sheet on the dangers of arming teachers:
- Arming teachers ignores research that the presence of a gun increases the risks posed to children.
- America’s teachers, school safety experts, and law enforcement oppose arming teachers.
- The NRA claims arming teachers will stop “active shooters” during a school shooting. But arming civilians is not an effective way to stop active shooters.
- In fact, armed civilians have put law enforcement in danger, delayed law enforcement responses, and posed a risk to innocent bystanders during active shooter crises.
- Arming teachers would burden schools with large new costs for insurance and security.
- The best way to protect American children and schools from shootings such as the incident in Parkland, FL is to pass comprehensive gun safety laws that can prevent people with dangerous histories from ever getting a gun.