Schoolteachers in the U.S.A may be allowed to carry firearm on school property if new legislation for “concealed carry” is approved. President Donald Trump has recently voiced his support for the idea, stating that certain “highly adept people” (selected teachers) would go through though rigorous training to be granted the concealed carry permit in schools. He also recommended that those teachers with concealed carry would be given a bonus. 

Trump has also highlighted on numerous occasions that the students carrying out the shootings are “cowards” and would not follow through with the shootings if the schools were no longer gun free zones.

All of the protests for change made by Americans have been evoked by the recent mass school shooting in Florida that took place in Stoneman Douglas High School on the 14th February 2018 where 17 people lost their lives. The Florida shooting is said to be just one of 19 school shootings to take place in America in 2018 before March.

Although there is no doubt in anyone’s mind that change needs to  be made, there have been many debates as to weather having teachers with concealed carry is a good idea. Some have said that this will dramatically decrease the likelihood of more school shootings happening, and even the President himself stated that by granting this action, it would “make the school into a hardened target”. On the other hand, many have questioned this plan, stating that it sends the wrong message and one teacher from the Florida school said “there’s no point to somebody having an AR-15”.

According to the BBC, 40% of Americans have said that they either own or live in a household that possess a firearm. This statistic is incredibly high, and the safety of citizens living in the U.S.A needs to be considered, especially as (according to a 2017 survey) the rate of manslaughter/murder by firearm in America is the highest in the developed world. 

Many students and parents have come together enlight of the Florida shooting to fight to have their voices heard, and to demand change. The BBC interviewed many of the students and adults marching in said protest, and there were several members who commented on how “sad” it is that children are having to be trained in school about how to act in the event of a school shooting. President Trump has also commented on active shooter drills, where students are trained about the procedures that need to be taken in the event of a school shooting. Trump stated that they were a “very negative thing” and said he would not want to let his son participate in one, as it’s “very bad for children”. Despite many contradicting views on the gun laws concerning teachers, I think many Americans will conclude that when even their children need to be trained on such matters, changes must to be made.