Trump’s Response to the Florida Shooting… Hasn’t Gone Down Well

Graham Pierrepoint

The recent horrific events in Florida have once again brought discussions to the fore regarding gun control and what needs to be done to safeguard children against potential tragedy in future. US President Donald Trump has, of course, been looked to early on in an effort to see how he leads the nation in response to such an event – and while he seemed to have made some concessions with regard to discussing tighter control on certain gun parts, it seems that the way he has handled the aftermath of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School may not be sitting too well with those center and left of field.

Trump’s initial response – on Twitter – in fact angered some of the survivors of the shooting in Parkland. Initially taking to the platform on February 18th to chastise the FBI, the President tweeted: “Very sad that the FBI missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter. This is not acceptable. They are spending too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign – there is no collusion. Get back to the basics and make us all proud!”

Watch: ▶ Trump links Florida school shooting to Mueller probe

Trump’s decision to discuss the FBI’s continuing probe into alleged Russian-Trump collusion during the run-up to the 2016 General Election in the same tweet stream as responding to the tragedy in Florida has been met with disdain from many parties, most notably some of those who actually survived the attack. One student tweeted in response: “17 of my classmates are gone. That’s 17 futures, 17 children, and 17 friends stolen. But you’re right, it always has to be about you. How silly of me to forget.” “You have the audacity to put this on Russia as an excuse. I guess I should expect that from you,” wrote another. And, yet another: “My friends were brutally murdered and you have the nerve to make this about Russia.”

Media outlets have gone on to report that Trump has suggested guns be given to teachers in light of the recent attack, having been quoted as advising “If you had a teacher who was adept at firearms, they could very well end the attack very quickly.” Trump was quick to hit back at claims that he suggested teachers outright be offered guns, however.

Watch: ▶ Trump Calls For Armed Teachers

“I never said ‘give teachers guns’ like was stated on Fake News @CNN & @nbc. What I said was to look at the possibility of giving concealed guns to gun adept teachers with military or special training experience – only the best,” Trump stated. In any case – big discussions continue to rattle across the top of US politics – and, indeed, throughout the world, as gun violence and mass tragedies appear to continue.