Dems Press DeVos Against Arming Teachers
Source: The Hill
Mike Lillis, 3 hrs. ago.
House Democrats - almost the full caucus - are pressing Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to scrap any plans to promote the arming of teachers in the name of protecting students.
DeVos is reportedly weighing whether to allow federal funds allocated under a 2015 law to be used for teacher firearm training and the purchase of weapons by interested school districts around the country.
Behind Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), the ranking member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, the Democrats maintain that Congress, in passing that law, "never contemplated, and thus never intended" those funds "would allow for the procurement of firearms."
The lawmakers are urging DeVos to reject entreaties from Texas and other states to tap those funds for the purpose of arming school employees.
"Based on the program's authorizing statute, recent Congressional action, and precedent, you have the authority to deny such use of funds," the Democrats wrote in letter Tuesday to DeVos. "Therefore, we urge you to swiftly exercise your authority to clarify to State and Local Education Agencies that [the funding provided under the law] may not be used to arm teachers and other school staff."...More...
Read more: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/dems-press-devos-against-arming-teachers/ar-BBMzPpa?ocid=HPCOMMDHP15
Lawmakers have asked DeVos to confirm, by the end of August, her intent to issue a formal guidance before Oct. 1 barring the purchase of guns or firearm training under the law. More than 170 Democrats joined Rep. Scott in endorsing the letter. A Dept. of Educ. spokeswoman said no such guidance is forthcoming.
At issue is a federal grant program which provides funding for education departments with the broad goal of improving "school conditions for student learning." At least two states, Texas and Oklahoma, have asked to use the federal funds to arm and train school employees as a line of defense, a strategy long supported by the NRA, and also Trump.
Earlier this year Trump tweeted, "Armed Educators (and trusted people who work within a school) love our students and will protect them," "Very smart people. Must be firearms adept & have annual training. Should get yearly bonus. Shootings will not happen again - a big & very inexpensive deterrent. Up to States."
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and President Trump.
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How about less guns? How about making it more difficult for people with a history of violence and mental illness to not be able to purchase a firearm? I swear the NRA won't be satisfied until we're all dead. 
