HomeMy WebLinkAboutRomney says states should have final say on arming teachers - Metro - 02/27/2018 - Metro - 02/27/20182/28/2018 Romney says states should have final say on arming teachers
News/Worl,d
Roilrrniney says states should Ihave final say oin airinrmiiiing teachers
C'IIII....IC:::::: In tlhnlis Feb. ftp, 2018 file, Ip: hoto, forimner IRa,pa.ullmlllicaairnli:.nire.siide ntiiaall cauaindlidaate (Mitt IRormnney sirmniilles as Ihnn greets
students at. L taalin V/. lllley Lhnlveirslty in Oreinn, L tell. Roirniney held closed dooir irmneO.J ngs with L tah Ila w i mna keirs
1Cuiesdaay, Il::elb. 27, 2018, as the forirmner IR(:.l.m..nlhmlliicaanIpre,,,,Jiderafiiaall raournliirnee contiinu es INs::rb Valid fortlhne L.I.S. Senate.
(All::) Il:)hoto/ICRiiclkIC.towir, ner, file)
By: Michelle L. Price The Associated Press, Published on rue IFelb 27 2018
SALT LAKE CITY — Mitt Romney said there are a number of things officials should look at to
prevent school shootings but wouldn't say Tuesday if he thinks more states should let teachers
carry guns, as Utah does.
Romney, who is seeking a U.S. Senate seat in Utah held by retiring Republican Orrin Hatch, told
reporters that he knows some Utah teachers with concealed carry permits are able to provide
security in their classrooms but it should be up to individual states to decide whether they'll
permit that.
Lawmakers in several states and President Donald Trump have suggested arming teachers in
the wake of a school shooting in Parkland, Florida two weeks ago that killed 17.
Utah is among at least eight states that allow, or don't specifically prohibit, concealed weapons in
K-12 schools, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
It's unclear how many Utah teachers carry guns because teachers are not required to disclose
that they are carrying a weapon. School administrators cannot bar concealed permit holders from
http://www. metronews.ca/news/world/2018/02/271rmney-says-states-should-have-final-say-on-arm ing-teachers. pri nt. html 1/2
2/28/2018
Romney says states should have final say on arming teachers
carrying their weapons in schools and are prohibited from asking teachers or other faculty if they
carry a gun.
Romney, who spoke to reporters at the Utah state capitol after meeting privately with Republican
state legislators, said officials need to look at securing school buildings and intervening with
young people who may have done something alarming but haven't committed a crime.
"We really don't have something right now between just kicking them out of school and putting
them in jail," the former Republican presidential candidate said. "We need to find ways to help
these young people in this limbo state. For instance, when they've done something really
frightening but haven't taken action which would be harmful."
Romney also said he'd support beefing up federal background -checks for those buying firearms,
but said most of the solutions should come from states.
One of his Democratic opponents in the race, Salt Lake County Council member Jenny Wilson,
has criticized Romney's comments on the shootings as timid and noted that he signed a ban on
assault weapons in 2004 when he was governor of Massachusetts.
http://www. metronews.ca/news/world/2018/02/271rmney-says-states-should-have-final-say-on-arm ing-teachers. pri nt. html 2/2