Betsy DeVos Won't Be "Taking Any Action" to Stop Schools from Purchasing Firearms With Federal Funding
Education secretary Betsy DeVos has announced that she will not prevent school districts from using federal funds to purchase firearms or conduct firearm trainings at their schools.
In a letter sent to Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, that was tweeted on Friday, August 31, DeVos told Scott, a ranking member of the committee on education and the workforce, that she has "no intention of taking any action concerning the purchase of firearms or firearms training for school staff under the [Elementary and Secondary Education Act],” Politco reported.
The social media response from DeVos comes after The New York Times had reported that DeVos was considering enacting a policy that would allow states to use federal money to purchase firearms for teachers.
Politco notes that her response on Friday would suggest that DeVos would like to instead leave possible firearm purchasing decisions up to local officials.
As previously reported, the current language of the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grant Program does not explicitly prevent schools from using the grant to purchase firearms or firearms training. DeVos wrote in her Friday letter that school districts have "substantial flexibility" with how they may use federal funds afforded to them through the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants program.
DeVos also notes in her response that she will "not take any action that will expand or restrict the responsibilities and flexibilities granted to State and local education agencies by Congress". She continues, writing, "Congress did not authorize me or the Department to make those decisions."
President Donald Trump began considering the possibility of arming teachers following the February shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. He first mentioned the possible idea during a February listening session with survivors of the Parkland shooting. The idea to arm teachers was brought up again in March when the Trump administration unveiled their plan for school safety; among other shortcomings, the idea fails to recognize that the NRA-favored saying "the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun" has consistently been proven to be untrue.
Trump's plan has faced continued criticism; a vast number of teachers have spoken out saying they don't want to be given guns in the first place. The protests have also spurred a social media movement among teachers that demanded better school resources and funding instead of guns.
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