Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump spoke to the NRA last Friday and received their endorsement. As part of his remarks, he said he'd like to abolish gun-free zones. The Hillary Clinton camp predictably sprang to attention and said that this would mean allowing guns in schools.
Trump went on the FoxNews on Sunday to clarify his remarks, saying, "I don't want to have guns in classrooms. Although, in some cases, teachers should have guns in classrooms... Things that are going on in our schools are unbelievable. You look at some of our schools, unbelievable what's going on. But I'm not advocating guns in classrooms. But remember, in some cases, and a lot of people have made this case, teachers should be able to have guns. Trained teachers should be able to have guns."
Let's unpack this, shall we?
When Trumps "in some cases teachers should have guns in classrooms”, I'm hearing "in some cases kids deserve to get shot".
Ok, maybe not get shot. Perhaps what I'm hearing is, "In some cases kids are so beyond traditional teaching methods that they deserve to be placed under martial law, where teachers act as mercenaries, forcing them to learn at gunpoint."
Is that what anyone else heard?
And then when Trumpy gets going on "some of our schools" and the "unbelievable" things happening there, I'm pretty sure he's NOT talking about the private schools his kids go to. It's a safe bet to say that "some of our schools" is code for "schools where kids of color go." If Trump's argument is that guns will create a safer environment for learning, wouldn't he be advocating for them to be in all schools?
Trump is masterfully dog-whistling the schools into his Us v Them view of America. He’s telling his supporters that their kids are good kids, and their teachers don't need guns. But kids in "some of our schools," well, they aren't like their kids, are they? Those kids are doing “unbelievable” things. Their teachers need guns.
Since I'm not interested in ANY schools turning into fortresses patrolled by armed staff, and I certainly don’t want our schools to be the front lines on a dystopian race war dreamed up by the NRA, I hope Trump never gets a say in the matter.
