Snyder, state superintendent disagree on guards in schools

Governor Rick Snyder is set to release a gun safety plan for Michigan Schools.
    
It won't include armed guards or armed teachers but not everyone in Lansing is on board.

Snyder spoke to educators Tuesday, not on gun safety in schools but said he is ordering an extensive review on what other states are doing. The move is a reaction to the Parkland, Florida school shooting.

"We need to learn from each one of these horrific incidents," Snyder said. "Of what we could have done better."

The Florida governor recently signed a $500 million measure to place armed guards in every school there. Snyder said he won't go there.

"That is a real challenge," he said. "I don't think that is the answer we should just run to. Florida had guards.

"Create an environment where you can identify problem situations."

Michigan Schools Superintendent Brian Whiston favors guards in schools.

"Very much either law enforcement, or security guards that have been trained to have weapons in all the schools," he said.

But both agree that teachers should not be armed with guns.

"Teacher should not have guns," Whiston said. "I know in some communities that might be a norm that is acceptable and if that's what a local district wants, that is what they can do."

The governor and school superintendent also favor red flag laws that allow the police to confiscate before alleged mass shooters shoot anyone.

"Police should be able to investigate and confiscate guns if they see the threat is real," Whiston said. "We want to protect the gun owner's rights, we want to make sure the person is not just mad at them and makes a false claim. If that is the case, then the person making the false claim should have some consequences."

Snyder does not have a price tag yet on his gun safety proposal.
 

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