USA Trump's solution: "Arming teachers"

Of: 

Emelie Svensson 

Published: Today 07.25 

Updated: Today 09.36 

NEWS 

HOUSTON. Donald Trump demands that teachers carry weapons in American classrooms. 

Speaking at a gun conference in Texas last night, the ex-president presented the idea as part of a security plan - with guards, fences and metal detectors - to stop school massacres in the United States. 

- It is completely idiotic, says teacher Rose Kidson, 23 in Houston. 

When the former president stepped on stage, he called the shooter in Uvalde "a monster" - and then presented his own list of demands to stop the bloody school shootings in the United States. 

- The school should not be the simplest targets, they should be the most difficult, he said and received applause in the hall. 

"Therefore, as part of a comprehensive school security plan, it is time to finally allow teachers to be trained so that they can safely and discreetly carry concealed weapons," he continued. 

He called for a national overhaul of school security, and wants metal detectors and fences to be installed, armed guards or police at all schools, and a single way in and out of the building. 

Trump spoke about the act during the influential arms lobby group NRA's annual conference in Texas, a trade show that started just three days after the massacre in which 19 students and two teachers were killed in the state. 

Carrying out the arms conference, despite the tragedy, has stirred up strong emotions and caused thousands of people to protest outside the fairgrounds. 

Many of the protesters want to see stricter gun laws after the act. But Trump says in his speech that he wants to see more weapons - not fewer. 

- The existence of evil in our world should not be a reason to disarm law-abiding citizens. It is one of the best reasons to arm law-abiding citizens. 

It is even dangerous to let schools be "unarmed zones", he claims - then they become an easy target. And according to Trump, the United States has the money needed to make the country's schools impenetrable fast. 

"If we have $ 40 billion to send to Ukraine, we should do whatever it takes to keep our children safe," he said.

- We spent thousands of billions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Before we engage in nation-building in the rest of the world, we should build safe schools for our own children, right?

One of those demonstrating outside the conference - behind a riot fence where children's clothes soaked in fake blood hang, to symbolize the massacres in Uvalde - is Rose Kidson. 

 - Shame on you! NRA has blood on its hands !, she shouts in the direction of those who leave the exhibition hall. And Trump's plan to make schools safe? 

 - Total idiocy, answers Rose, who recently became a fully trained music teacher. 

- How would it even work? I would never pick up a weapon in a classroom, she continues.

Music teacher Rose Kidson, 23, is on site outside the NRA trade show to demonstrate against gun laws. Photo: Nora Savosnick 

During his speech in Texas, Trump also sent a boot to the police in Uvalde, because it took 78 minutes before they entered the classroom where the students were locked up with the perpetrator. 

At the same time, the children called the emergency number, over and over again, not knowing that the police were outside. Now an investigation will show what made the police task force wait. 

Teacher Rose Kidson says it's terrible and the police criticism makes her saw Trump's plan even more. 

- If police officers are not to be trained in how to act, then how should we teachers be? It's so stupid. 

If she, as a teacher, is forced to train to carry weapons in the classroom, she will question her career. 

- I would not be a teacher anymore. It is not feasible. This is an excuse to continue earning lobbying money from the NRA. Millions of dollars go to Republican senators, just so they don't have to club through stricter gun laws. 

She hopes that at least semi-automatic weapons, such as the AR-15, can be banned. They should not fall into the hands of 18-year-olds, which was the case in Uvalde, she believes.

Physics teacher Michael Daniel, 59, does not view Trump's plan positively. Photo: Nora Savosnick 

Next to her in the crowd is physics teacher Michael Daniel, 59. He agrees that Trump's plan is not feasible. 

- I see teachers who can barely walk through the corridors. Should they be trained to draw weapons? And should I have a weapon stored somewhere in the classroom to protect students? It's a crazy idea. If the police task force does not make it, how are we going to do it? he says. 

 - Does he expect a teacher to go from teaching English, physics, math - to a combat mode? It is impossible. When politicians say that, it's to throw red meat at idiots. 

Ahead of the jubilant NRA rally, Trump claimed a similar schooling, and the many mass shootings in American cities, would never have happened if he were president - despite the fact that a record number of shootings also took place in 2020, when he sat in the White House. 

 - And if I ever do it again, ie run for president, then I will crack down on violent crimes like never before.