Page 2 - ARUBA TODAY

A2 UP FRONT
Friday 23 February 2018

NRA accuses gun-control advocates of exploiting FL shooting

By KEN THOMAS NRA Executive Vice Presi- hate the Second Amend- leaders on gun safety at checks, addressing mental
Associated Press dent Wayne LaPierre, in his ment. They hate individual the White House. illness and banning the sale
WASHINGTON (AP) — first public comments since freedom," LaPierre said at The president said he had of bump stock devices.
Leaders of the National the shooting in Parkland, the Conservative Political spoken to NRA leaders and NRA leaders did not ad-
Rifle Association on Thurs- Florida, said NRA members Action Conference in Oxon expressed optimism that dress whether the federal
day accused gun control mourn for the Florida vic- Hill, Maryland, near the na- the nation's most promi- government should raise
advocates of exploiting tims but at the same time tion's capital. nent gun-owners organiza- the age limit for young
the deadly Florida school issued a searing indictment LaPierre addressed the tion would support his calls adults to buy weapons. A
shooting, striking a defiant of opponents of gun rights conservative activists short- for raising the federal mini- day earlier, the organiza-
tone amid a renewed de- for attempting to "exploit ly before President Donald mum age for buying or pos- tion issued a statement say-
bate over guns and school tragedy for political gain." Trump held a listening ses- sessing certain weapons, ing it opposes raising the
safety. "They hate the NRA. They sion with state and local enhancing background age limit.q

Trump endorses raising minimum age to 21 for more weapons

By CATHERINE LUCEY accusing Democrats and
MATTHEW DALY media outlets of exploiting
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- the Florida shooting. The
dent Donald Trump on NRA on Wednesday an-
Thursday endorsed a high- nounced it opposes raising
er minimum age for buy- the age limit.
ing certain rifles and tighter "Many in legacy media love
background checks for mass shootings, you guys
purchasers, saying "there's love it," said NRA spokes-
nothing more important woman Dana Loesch at
than protecting our chil- CPAC. "Now I'm not say-
dren," amid a public outcry ing that you love the trag-
for action after the Florida edy, but I am saying that
school shooting. you love the ratings. Crying
Trump said he spoke white mothers are ratings
Wednesday night with gold." The current federal
many members of Con- minimum age for buying or
gress and "they're into possessing handguns is 21,
background checks." The but the limit is 18 for rifles in-
president commented as cluding assault-type weap-
he opened a school safe- ons such as the AR-15 used
ty discussion at the White by a former student in last
House with state and local week's attack in Florida that
officials from around the Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, center, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, right, watch as killed 17 students and staff
country. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with state and local officials to discuss school members. “We’re going to
safety, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018, in Washington.
Early Thursday, Trump (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) work on getting the age up
tweeted his strongest to 21 instead of 18,” Trump
stance on gun control age to 21 and end sale of — security at schools. An Executive Vice President said at the White House,
one day after an emo- Bump Stocks!" The presi- armed Broward County and CEO Wayne LaPierre. adding that he thinks the
tional White House session dent did not immediately sheriff's deputy, the regular "The whole idea from some NRA will back it — despite
where students and par- offer more details. school resource officer, was of our opponents that the group’s stated opposi-
ents poured out wrenching Trump's focus on gun vio- on the campus of Marjory armed security makes us tion. “The NRA will back it
tales of lost lives and plead- lence came as leaders of Stoneman Douglas High less safe is completely ri- and so will Congress,” the
ed for action. the National Rifle Associa- School in Parkland, Florida, diculous." president predicted.
Trump said on Twitter, "I will tion offered a vigorous de- at the time of the shooting. The NRA officials didn't ad- In another tweet, Trump re-
be strongly pushing Com- fense of gun rights during "Evil walks among us and dress whether the federal peated his urgent call for
prehensive Background the Conservative Political God help us if we don't government should raise trained teachers or others
Checks with an emphasis Action Conference, urging harden our schools and the age limit for young in schools to carry guns as
on Mental Health. Raise enhanced — and armed protect our kids," said NRA adults to buy weapons, a deterrent to attacks.q

Police advocacy group says it opposes arming teachers

By KEVIN FREKING no firearms be allowed on said Thursday that highly leased a statement that can’t get to it and shoot-
WASHINGTON (AP) — An a school campus except trained teachers who are arming teaches increases ing in simulated, high-stress
advocacy group for police those carried by carefully armed would act as a de- the prospect that officers conditions. Anyone with-
officers assigned to secure selected, specially trained terrent to attackers. He said responding to an incident out such frequent, ongoing
the nation’s schools has police officers. The orga- attackers are not going to may mistake a teacher or practice will likely have dif-
a simple message about nization, which has about walk into a school if 20 per- any other armed person ficulty using a firearm safely
arming teachers: Don’t do 4,500 members, provides cent of the teachers have not in uniform for an assail- and effectively. School re-
it. specialized training for law guns. He then went on to ant. The group also said source officers also prac-
The National Associa- enforcement officers as- say the right number “may that officers receive ex- tice how to quickly evalu-
tion of School Resource signed to work in the na- be 10 percent, it may be 40 tensive training. That train- ate the risks of firing. They
Officers said Thursday it tion’s schools. percent.” ing includes securing their hold their fire when the risks
strongly recommends that President Donald Trump The officials association re- weapon so that others to others are too high.q