In response to reports on Wednesday that U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is considering allowing federal funding to be used to purchase guns for teachers, the Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence strongly opposes this dangerous and misguided proposal.
“The solution to our nation’s gun violence problem does not and should not include adding more guns, especially in educational settings. At a time when public schools across the country are suffering from budget cuts, federal funds should be deployed to provide the best possible education for students rather than purchasing firearms,” said Andy Pelosi, co-chair of the Coalition.
“Allowing faculty and staff to carry firearms can create a negative and disastrous environment for our children and staff,” Pelosi continued.
“Since the passage of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, we’ve seen school districts and sheriffs’ departments throughout the state struggle with ensuring the on-campus presence of law enforcement or Guardians,” said Coalition co-chair Mark Pafford. “Law enforcement personnel on campus are best equipped to handle an active threat, not teachers.”
Pafford continued, “To suggest we arm our own teachers when they can’t even afford school supplies is absurd. By focusing on ways to arm more people rather than passing common sense reforms, we continue to do a disservice to the victims of gun violence and continue to play into the gun lobby’s hands.”
