Donald Trump says teacher’s who arm themselves in class should get bonuses for keeping kids safe
DONALD Trump said teachers who bring guns to class should get cash bonuses for protecting students.
The President repeated his controversial view that school staff should be armed to prevent class shootings - like the deadly attack in Florida last week.
Talking at a meeting with Florida Mayor Christine Hunschofsky, Trump seemed to suggest teachers should also have training in automatic firearms.
He said: "I want certain highly adept people, people who understand weaponry, guns... [and] a concealed permit."
At least 17 people were killed at the school in Parkland last week after 19-year-old former student Nikolas Cruz went on a rampage on Valentine’s Day.
Trump told survivors of the Florida school massacre he would consider allowing teachers to have guns to prevent more mass shootings.
There are around 3.2million teaching staff across the United States.
Arming them would mean more people had guns across the country than the US Army, which is set to drop to around 450,000 armed members by the end of 2018.
Today, the armed sheriff's deputy who failed to run into the school blood quit over the shame of failing to act.
Scott Peterson resigned from the department on Thursday after being told he would be suspended.
Trump said on Thursday teachers who carry guns should be given a 10 per cent, 20 per cent, or even 40 per cent bonus.
The teachers must undergo "rigorous training" beforehand, the President stressed.
He added: "You can't hire enough security guards... You need 100, 150 security guards. But you could have concealed [guns] on the teacher.
On Wednesday, Trump listened intently to the raw emotion on display and suggested bringing Marines onto school premises might also be an option in the future.
He also suggested increasing awareness of mental health issues, and that he is considering an end to gun free school zones as well.
Tearful Samuel Zeif, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school, told Trump he turned 18 the day after the shooting.
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He said: "Woke up to the news that my best friend was gone. And I don't understand why I can still go in a store and buy a weapon of war."
Trump held cue-cards to remind him to be sympathetic and sensitive to the situation as he invited his guests to suggest solutions to the gun control issue.
The USA has seen five school shootings since the beginning of 2018.
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