President Donald Trump wants to arm teachers — but the principal of his son's middle school begs to differ.
Robert Kosasky, the head of the St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Potomac, Maryland, is one of 133 top educators in the greater Washington D.C., area who have signed a letter calling on Trump to stop advocating for putting weapons in the hands of teachers.
Trump's 11-year-old son, Barron, has attended the Potomac school since last year.
"What we do not need is to arm our teachers with guns, which is dangerous and antithetical to our profession as educators," states the letter, which was obtained by the New York Daily News and published as full-page ads in the Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post on Wednesday.
The letter was published the same day thousands of students across the country walked out of their classrooms to protest gun violence in the wake of last month's shooting at a Florida high school.
RELATED STORIES
» Teacher trained in gun use accidentally fires weapon in class; 1 student hurt
» Trump says he would have rushed in to protect students from gunman at Florida school
» Opinion: Photo captures Trump's notes for listening session
» 'I am not a crisis actor': Florida teens fire back at right-wing conspiracy theorists
» President Trump expresses support for senators' gun bill
» Trump sends memo to DOJ asking for bump stock ban after Parkland massacre
» No, there have not been 18 school shootings this year
» WATCH: Florida school shooting survivors perform emotional song at CNN townhall
» Florida sheriff details proposal to arm teachers, school employees
Echoing talking points from the National Rifle Association, Trump has argued that armed teachers could prevent school shootings.
Gun control advocates have excoriated Trump over the proposal, saying more guns will only lead to more violence.
Advocates have instead urged Trump to push for beefed up background check systems, more mental health resources and a higher sales age for firearms, among other suggestions.
Kosasky, Barron's principal, agrees.
"Students — children — who have experienced this trauma and loss firsthand are showing the way," the letter says of the Parkland, Fla., students who have been vigorously pushing for gun control since 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz stormed into their high school armed with an AR-15 assault rifle and killed 17 people on Feb. 14.
"We need a robust system of registration and background checks, with a particular eye toward weapons capable of rapidly firing a vast number of deadly shots," the letter added.
About the Author
