Trump emphasizes arming teachers as response to school shootings

[February 23, 2018]    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday emphasized that he wants to see trained teachers able to carry concealed guns to ward off potential school shooters, and said he has recently spoken with the National Rifle Association about his ideas.

 President Donald Trump talks about gun safety in schools with local and state officials about improving school safety, including, from left, Attorney General Curtis Hill (R-IN), and Attorney General Pam Bondi (R-FL) at the White House in Washington, U.S., February 22, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis

During an hour-long meeting with state and local officials on school safety in the wake of last week's mass shooting in Florida, Trump brushed aside a suggestion of mandatory active-shooter drills for schools, and said he did not like the idea of having more armed guards in schools.

Trump also said he wanted to explore the idea of reopening closed mental institutions and said violence in movies watched by children should also be examined.

(Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Will Dunham)

[© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2018 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.