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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTrump's Solution to End School Shootings
Give the police a boatload of military equipment!
From MSNBC.
By Steve Benen
In Benton, Ky., this week, two teenagers were shot and killed at a high school, in an incident that left another 18 people injured. As the New York Times noted, it was one of at least 11 shootings on school property recorded since Jan. 1.
At a White House press briefing the day after the deaths, a reporter asked Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders about the presidents efforts to prevent these school shootings. She talked about the administrations efforts to crack down on crime, but had little to say about school shootings specifically.
That same afternoon, however, Trump delivered remarks at the White House to a group of mayors, and raised a curious point about public safety.
Were supporting our local police beyond what weve ever done. Great. And fire departments. Were also getting you a lot of our excess military equipment; you know all about that. Previous administrations but in particular, -on the previous administration, -on they didnt like to do that, and someday theyll explain why. But we had a lot of excess military equipment; were sending it to your police as they need it. And its made a tremendous difference.
We believe every child deserves to live in a safe home, attend a great school, and look forward to an amazing and very, very safe future. So youre getting a lot of equipment.
The transcript may appear a little disjointed, but if you watch the video of his remarks, it was clear Trump was trying to condemn the Obama administration for scaling back local police departments use of military weapons.
For months, Trump has appeared completely baffled as to why Obama was reluctant to have weapons of war on American streets to be used against civilians. Its really not that complicated, but the Republican remains dumbfounded.
This week, however, was the first time Ive heard Trump connect police use of military weapons with school safety.
Look at the quote again: We believe every child deserves to live in a safe home, attend a great school, and look forward to an amazing and very, very safe future. So youre getting a lot of equipment.
In context, in his comments to mayors, equipment appears to refer to military equipment to be used by local law enforcement in communities across the country. Looking at the full transcript, there were no other references to schools or other kinds of equipment.
The Washington Monthlys Nancy LeTourneau noted in response, [T]o suggest that turning schools into war zones with grenade launchers and armored personnel carriers will keep our children safe leaves me at a loss for words. It is utterly insane.
secondwind
(16,903 posts)TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)Fred Sanders
(23,946 posts)MineralMan
(146,329 posts)Open fire at the first sign of school violence. That'll stop those rotten kids from starting something, dammit!
(for those who don't know me)
Ohiogal
(32,057 posts)I suppose soldiers with police dogs on patrol will be next.
A tank sitting outside every school.... Insanity..... That last paragraph says it all. Like little kids going to school in a war zone.
dewsgirl
(14,961 posts)gratuitous
(82,849 posts)After all, our country is not going to regulation firearm proliferation or ownership, so we are left with solutions that only treat the aftermath of the latest massacre.
Fred Sanders
(23,946 posts)responding and they will be heavily armed...so, bless the first responders and pass the ammo.
And of course, thoughts and prayers!
Ohiogal
(32,057 posts)struggle4progress
(118,338 posts)in an elementary school, we is gonna be able to fill that place with RPGs and mebbe even take him out with a tactical nuke! Huzzah!