NY officials reject federal proposal to buy guns for schools

The nation’s top education officials are mulling whether to use federal money earmarked for academic enrichment and student support to buy guns for schools — a proposal that key New York State officials rejected.

A Trump administration official told The Associated Press on Thursday that the federal Department of Education is reviewing the Every Student Success Act to determine if the legislation allows funding to be spent on procuring firearms. The measure, which passed in 2015, governs Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants and does not explicitly bar weapons purchases.

A New York Times report said the guns would be for educators.

The idea comes six months after the Valentine’s Day killings of 17 students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, a watershed event that sparked national debate over gun violence and school safety.

Since that shooting, some Long Island school districts have stepped up safety measures, including hiring armed guards to patrol school buildings in a bid to thwart an active shooter.

But New York State officials reacted swiftly to say the initiative, if implemented, would recklessly siphon money for education while not improving student safety.

“New York cannot and will not be party to this insanity,” said Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who called it a “mind-boggling, NRA-approved proposal” in a letter to state Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia. “I will do everything in my power to prevent guns from entering our classrooms. I write to you to ask that you join me in this fight and reject any attempt by the federal government to put guns in our schools.”

State education officials echoed the sentiment.

“Putting guns in classrooms with students is misguided and dangerous,” read a statement issued by Elia and Chancellor Betty A. Rosa. “The U.S. Department of Education should not allow our federal education dollars to pay for weapons when that funding is intended for the teaching and learning of our children.”

With AP