The White House indicated on Thursday that the federal government could come up with the money to fund as many as a million teachers being trained and armed with guns across America in a controversial attempt to keep schools safe from more mass shootings. This followed repeated assertions from Donald Trump during earlier meetings at the White House, as well as in presidential tweets, that his response to the school massacre in Florida last week is to arm teachers and sports coaches.It would be a “great deterrent” to killers, he said.

“When you have a horrific situation, what you think and do not think is practical can change,” Shah said. Teachers’ unions have expressed shock and skepticism that any such plan could be feasible or effective. But at a meeting at the White House with state and local officials early Thursday afternoon, Trump talked of paying bonuses to some teachers, providing “highly adept people, people who understand weaponry, guns … [with] a concealed permit”. He suggested paying bonuses to armed, trained teachers, suggesting that “10, 20, 40%” of teachers could be qualified to do so, especially retired military personnel. “I want my schools protected just like I want my banks protected,” he said.(theguardian)…[+]