DeVos says she won't block schools from using federal money to buy guns

[DonViejo]

Source: Politico




By KIMBERLY HEFLING and MICHAEL STRATFORD 08/31/2018 08:26 PM EDT

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced on Friday that she would not stand in the way of states that want to use federal grants to purchase guns for schools, emphasizing that it’s a decision for local officials to make.

“I have no intention of taking any action concerning the purchase of firearms or firearms training for school staff under the [Elementary and Secondary Education Act],” DeVos said in a letter to Rep. Bobby Scott, the top Democrat on the House education committee.

DeVos' letter comes as Democrats and some education groups had asked the Trump administration not to allow federal education grants to be used for firearms after The New York Times first reported last week that the Education Department was considering the issue.

Education Department officials said that they believe that states and school districts already have the flexibility to purchase firearms using federal education grants.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/08/31/devos-schools-guns-federal-grants-806103

[Solly Mack]

1. Can she be dropped off on an ice floe?

Left to her own devices atop an ice floe far, far away from the rest of us?

[joshdawg]

2. Blood thirsty bitch!

[Maxheader]

3. They aren't exactly making it mandatory...

And some things need to be better defined, like who will get
the guns..where will they be located...Proper, secure storage.

Where are the parents? The teachers? What are their opinions?

[Igel]

6. Parents and teachers are in the school districts.

If a district wants to let teachers carry, then the school district deals with the parents.

Some districts in Texas, for instance, allow teachers to carry concealed weapons. They have their requirements, made in collaboration with their parents and teachers. They start with teachers with CWPs, require more training, a psych eval, stipulate the types of weapons allowed, stipulate mandatory annual training requirements, and have requirements on the types of ammo allowed. The training exceeds police training requirements, and the psych training is more extensive than police psych evaluations. The ammo is typically frangible, meaning that if it strikes anything it produces fine shrapnel, immediately reducing its penetrating power. And they require, typically, that if you're carrying nobody be able to tell that you're carrying. In other words, no bulge, no way for the holster to become visible if you lean over or reach up.

The district where I worked with parents and teachers and instead of allowing concealed carry opted to put up more signs to make sure everybody knew that the campus was a weapon-free zone and invest in hand-held metal detectors.

Sometimes the men and women working locally are just as competent as somebody in national office when it comes to being able to think, speak, and deal with locals in making decisions.

[Shoonra]

4. One reason to arm teachers ....

We always hear of teachers improveriching themselves by spending their own money - from their inadequate salaries - for classroom supplies.

But now, thanks to Betsy DeVos, all a teacher needs is the class firearm, and a ski mask, and a trip to the bank or liquor store should pay for a year's classroom needs easily.

[BigmanPigman]

8. I was thinking that maybe the teachers

could make some good contract negotiations now.

[Still In Wisconsin]

5. At least our children will be safe from bear attacks at school.

[bitterross]

7. Next: "DeVos Announces Erik Prince as Dept. of Ed. Chief Security Officer"

It could happen.