During a White House meeting with US governors, President Donald Trump said that he would have taken action during the school shooting in Parkland, Florida earlier in February. President Trump’s claims that he would “run in” to the school during the event that left 17 dead and many others wounded come after a massive outburst of criticism from the public regarding law enforcement missing warning signs about the shooter.
During the meeting, the president discussed school safety, gun policies, and bump stocks (attachments to make semiautomatic rifles fire faster) with meeting attendees.
“You know I really believe, you don’t know until you’re tested, but I really believe I’d run in there even if I didn’t have a weapon and I think most of the people in this room would’ve done that too,” said President Trump.
He continued by criticizing of the law enforcement officials involved with the Parkland shooting – singling out a school security guard, Scot Peterson. During the shooting, Peterson reportedly did not initially enter the building.
And although Peterson’s lawyer, Joseph DiRuzzo, says that Peterson did not fail to meet proper police officer standards, President Trump said that “The way that they performed was really a disgrace.”
President Trump continued with his speech, arguing in favor of mental institutions and banning bump stocks in an effort to decrease the likelihood of more mass shootings. According to ABC News, Parkland authorities do not believe bump stocks — a piece of plastic or metal molded to fit the back end of a rifle that works to harness the rifle’s recoil to fire dozens of rounds in a short period of time —were used in the Parkland school shooting.
The bump stock ban is still part of the steps the White House administration tried to take after the Las Vegas concert shooting in October.
During a ceremony for Medal of Valor recipients, Trump claimed, “I expect that these critical regulations will be finalized, Jeff, very soon.” This was four months after the concert shooting.
Unfortunately, with many other politicians keeping silent, there seems to be little action done by the government in an effort to stop school shootings – with the exception of Trump’s hypothetical heroic actions. Because really, there is no way to predict anyone’s reactions to being faced with a gun.