White House proposes school safety changes

WASHINGTON—The Trump administration unveiled new proposals to curb school gun violence Sunday, calling for additional federal funds to train and arm school staff. The policy blueprint comes nearly a month after the school shooting in Parkland, Fla., that killed 17 people. Since the shooting, President Donald Trump has signaled support for a number of reforms to gun laws, but the Sunday announcement doubles down on his call to have school staff across the country carry concealed weapons—a policy backed by the National Rifle Association (NRA). In addition, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos would lead a new commission to study a number of gun policies including raising the minimum age for rifle purchases from 18 to 21. “Very strong improvement and strengthening of background checks will be fully backed by White House,” Trump tweeted Monday morning. “Highly trained expert teachers will be allowed to conceal carry, subject to State Law.” The president added that states also are reviewing raising the age limit for some gun purchases. Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed a law Friday to set 21 as the minimum age to buy rifles in that state, and the NRA promptly filed a lawsuit saying the measure violates the Second Amendment. “The White House has taken tiny baby steps designed not to upset the NRA, when the gun violence epidemic in this country demands that giant steps be taken,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement responding to the president’s proposal.