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Inslee addresses Trump in governors meeting about gun violence

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with the members of the National Governors Association in the State Dining Room of the White House, Monday, Feb. 26, 2018, in Washington. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press)
By Darlene Superville and Ken Thomas Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Washington Gov. Jay Inslee scolded President Donald Trump Monday over his push to arm some school teachers.

Trump addressed the nation’s governors at an event at the White House and said he would have rushed in unarmed to aid students and teachers during the deadly mass shooting at a Florida high school.

“You don’t know until you’re tested but I think 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 have done that, too,” Trump said at the meeting.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, one of two Democrats to address Trump publicly, told Trump that teachers he’s talked to about the issue don’t want to be armed.

“I’ve listened to the first-grade teachers that don’t want to be pistol-packing first-grade teachers,” Inslee said.

Trump responded by stressing that he didn’t believe all teachers should be armed, but just “a small portion that are very gun-adept.”

“If you have a gun-free zone, it’s like an invitation for these very sick people to go there,” Trump said.

Inslee said “educators should educate” and not be given the responsibility of “packing heat.”

“We need a little less tweeting, a little more listening,” Inslee told Trump.

In his comments to governors, Trump again found fault with the officers who didn’t stop the gunman who carried out the massacre. “They really weren’t exactly Medal of Honor winners,” he added.

Under pressure to act to stem gun violence on school grounds, Trump solicited input from the state chief executives during meetings Monday at the White House. The governors are in Washington for their annual winter meeting.

Trump defended the proposal, saying he believes “retribution” is the only way to prevent more school shootings.

Seventeen students and teachers were killed in a Valentine’s Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, sparking a public outcry for new gun-control measures as well as action to improve school safety.

“Our nation is heartbroken. We continue to mourn the loss of so many precious and innocent young lives,” Trump said during a meeting with 39 governors. “But we’ll turn our grief into action. We have to have action.”

Conferring with governors, Trump said his calls for the arming of teachers wasn’t a universal one, instead likening it to taking advantage of educators with athletic talents to provide additional protection within schools.

“The headline was Trump wants all teachers to have guns. Trump wants teachers to have guns. I don’t want teachers to have guns,” the president said. “I want highly-trained people that have a natural talent, like hitting a baseball or hitting a golf ball or putting.”

The president pointed to a number of ideas that he has floated since the shooting, including improving background checks for gun purchases, arming educators, re-opening mental institutions and banning “bump-stock” devices like the one used during the shooting at a Las Vegas music festival.

He has also suggested raising the minimum age for the purchase of assault-style weapons along with paying teachers bonuses for carrying concealed weapons as a way of warding off potential shooters.

During the 75-minute event, Trump called on Florida Gov. Rick Scott to outline the steps he is taking to respond to the shooting in South Florida. Scott said he plans to increase funding to protect schools and to tighten gun restrictions on those with mental health issues.

The president renewed his criticism of former Broward County Sheriff’s deputy Scot Peterson as the officer’s lawyer said in Florida the accusations are untrue that he acted unprofessionally and cowardly during the shooting. Lawyer Joseph DiRuzzo said Monday that the school resource officer didn’t enter the high school because it sounded like the shooting was happening outside the building.

The president told the governors, “Look at Peterson. Look what he did in Broward where he thought he was probably a brave guy, but he wasn’t a brave guy under pressure. He choked and other people choked.”

Trump said he had lunch during the weekend with key leaders of the National Rifle Association, including Wayne LaPierre and Chris Cox, and said the NRA officials “want to do something” to address the issue.

Trump said there is “no bigger fan of the Second Amendment than me,” but there’s a need to boost background checks and ensure that a “sicko” is unable to get a gun.

“Don’t worry about the NRA,” Trump said. “They’re on our side.”

Trump’s session with the governors was the latest in which he solicits ideas for stopping gun violence at schools as the White House works to finalize an expected legislative proposal. Trump spent several days last week hearing emotional pleas from parents and students, including some who survived the Parkland shooting, and others who suffered through school shootings in Connecticut and Colorado. He also solicited input from state and local officials.

Trump’s daughter and senior adviser, Ivanka Trump, expressed uncertainty when asked whether arming teachers would make children safer.

“To be honest, I don’t know,” the mother of three said in an interview with NBC News from South Korea, where she attended the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics. “Obviously, there would have to be an incredibly high standard for who would be able to bear arms in our school. But I think there is no one solution for creating safety.”

The NRA, which backed Trump for president, opposes increasing the minimum age for assault-style weapons purchases but favors arming teachers.