Poll Finds Majority Think Arming Teachers Makes Schools Safer
June 2, 2022 Updated 7:33 A.M. ET
(FLV) – A new poll from the Trafalgar Group found that almost 60% of likely voters say that training and arming teachers with weapons would make schools safer for students.
The survey was conducted with the Convention of States Action (COSA) utilizing 1,091 likely U.S. voters from May 25-29, after the Texas school shooting was politicized by Democrats calling for gun control.
The poll found that 57.5% of respondents said that properly trained teachers with guns will make schools safer. 62% of adults aged 18-24 agreed.
Officials in Texas like Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton have called for arming teachers to bolster and ‘harden’ schools.
“We can’t stop bad people from doing bad things. We can potentially arm and prepare and train teachers and other administrators to respond quickly,” Paxton said to Fox News. Former President Donald Trump echoed the same sentiment at a National Rife Association convention.
Democrats, by-and-large, oppose arming teachers.
“We need fewer guns in schools, not more,” National Education Association President Becky Pringle said to the Guardian.
Nikki Fried Touts Anti-NRA and Anti-Constitutional Carry, Fundraises After School Shooting
After the shooting, Florida Democrats like Nikki Fried, who is vying for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ position in the 2022 election, took advantage of the outrage to fundraise.
“I’m Nikki Fried and I’m the only leading candidate for governor of Florida who has never accepted a damn dime from the NRA,” Fried said shortly after the shooting on Twitter. “If we want to protect our bodies, our school children, our democracy, we must beat Ron DeSantis.”
Fried began asking for donations the following day to beat Gov. Ron DeSantis in the race for Governor.
Some of Fried’s comments are similar to President Joe Biden’s comments when he urged Americans to “stand up against” the gun manufacturing industry. Biden said “we have to act” to pass “commonsense” gun laws.
Gov. Ron DeSantis Promises Constitutional Carry in Florida
Late April, Gov. Ron DeSantis promised Floridians that he will legalize constitutional carry by the time he is finished being governor of the Sunshine State.
“The legislature will get it done. I can’t tell you if it’s going to be next week, six months, but I can tell you that before I am done as Governor we will have a signature on that bill,” DeSantis said.
State Rep. Spencer Roach, R-Lee County, is an avid supporter of constitutional carry and said there are “credible” rumors that it may be addressed in the May special session. DeSantis called a special session this May to address the unstable property insurance market.
“I think that I don’t need a permission slip from the government to carry weapons to protect my family,” Roach said. “The only permission slip I need is the Second Amendment.”
