Feinstein: Arming Teachers is Dangerous

Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement on the Trump administration’s consideration of a proposal to arm teachers:

“Arming elementary school teachers is a dangerous policy that should never see the light of day. I will do everything in my power to block this policy—including through the appropriations process—if the administration moves forward with it. A teacher’s job is to prepare our children for the world, not walk into the classroom armed. Arming teachers who have little training is a recipe for tragedy.

“We’ve seen in shooting after shooting, including the most recent in Parkland, Fla., that trained, armed guards are no match for gunmen carrying AR-15s and thousands of rounds of ammunition. How can we expect teachers to do better?

“President Trump and Republicans in Congress have failed our children. They’ve done nothing to reduce gun violence. They’ve blocked universal background checks, a ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines and laws to take guns out of the hands of potentially dangerous people. Now, they propose taking money earmarked for teachers, counselors and books and putting it toward guns. It’s sickening.

“The goal of this policy is to pad the pockets of gun manufacturers and the gun lobby, not protect our children. It should be cast aside. If it’s not, we’ll fight it.”

###