At his “listening session” on gun violence on Wednesday, President Donald Trump proposed arming teachers as a means of security, a move that’s been met with condemnation from gun control advocates in Hollywood.
“I was a full time High School English teacher. This semester, I’m teaching a High School Film Appreciation course,” director Scott Derrickson wrote on Twitter. “As a teacher and gun owner, let me say that arming teachers is the stupidest idea ever.”
“Not an expert, but perhaps if we didn’t have to spend time thinking about arming our TEACHERS, the United States could be ranked higher than 17th in worldwide education. This madness has to stop,” wrote “Frozen” star Josh Gad, who vowed to take political action on gun control after learning a friend’s son was one of the 17 people killed in last week’s school shooting in Florida.
At the event, in which families and survivors of school shootings were invited to the White House to speak directly to the president, Trump proposed that one solution to the recent rash of deadly school shootings might be to allow teachers to carry concealed weapons on school grounds.
“If you had a teacher who was adept at firearms, they could very well end the attack very quickly,” he said.
His critics were quick to point out that putting guns in schools simply raises the possibility of making deadly shootings more likely. On Thursday, Trump doubled down on his position, pointing to video games, movies as the causes of violence in addition of calling for teachers to be armed.
“I am so glad that our sixth-grade teacher Mr. Rock, who used to smack kids on the top of the head with his knuckle when he thought they got out of line, didn’t have a gun,” director Judd Apatow wrote.
I was a full time High School English teacher. This semester, I’m teaching a High School Film Appreciation course.
As a teacher and gun owner, let me say that arming teachers is the stupidest idea ever.
— N O S ⋊ Ɔ I ᴚ ᴚ Ǝ ᗡ ⊥ ⊥ O Ɔ S (@scottderrickson) February 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/kumailn/status/966471887101579264
Since we have made AR15s easier to buy we have seen more mass shootings. More guns, more easily had = more mass murders. Australia outlawed this type of gun, never happened again. Less guns = less mass murder. It’s simple. Putting more guns in schools will = more shootings.
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) February 22, 2018
Not an expert, but perhaps if we didn’t have to spend time thinking about arming our TEACHERS, the United States could be ranked higher than 17th in worldwide education. This madness has to stop.
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) February 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/966710619582881793
NYPD is only accurate 18% of the time & they don’t fire into crowds of children. Friendly fire dead kids are cool with you? Those kids would be heros? Their folks Gold Star Families? You’ll have to call them…..I knew you’d reconsider arming teachers when you got all the facts:) https://t.co/i2Rxh7BIQG
— Tom Arnold (@TomArnold) February 22, 2018
trump’s answer to school Shootings IS NOT SENSIBLE GUN REFORM LAWS.trump WANTS KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS TO GO STRAPPED INTO CLASSROOM OF 5 YR OLDS🤬.REALLY trump🙄THATS”ALL”U GOT⁉️THE SHOOTER’S GOT A MILITARY WEAPON,WITH HIGH CAPACITY MAGS‼️
trump #MAGUNSA#NEVERAGAIN— Cher (@cher) February 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/TheAdamGoldberg/status/966538513809223680
I am so glad that our sixth-grade teacher Mr. Rock, who used to smack kids on the top of the head with his knuckle when he thought they got out of line, didn't have a gun. https://t.co/KJvQiUWVUv
— Judd Apatow 🇺🇦 (@JuddApatow) February 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/DonCheadle/status/966532979177668608
https://twitter.com/DonCheadle/status/966527586917433345
We don’t pay our teachers enough to TEACH. Now these fools want them to double as armed security. Meanwhile our kids are the active shooter drill generation.
— John Legend (@johnlegend) February 21, 2018
I try to not get political but, arm our teachers? They’re teachers. Not cops, not security, not military. They HAVE a job. #confused
— Shannen Doherty (@DohertyShannen) February 22, 2018