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<\/a>In this Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018, file photo, students hold their hands in the air as they are evacuated by police from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., after a shooter opened fire on the campus. (Mike Stocker\/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP, File)<\/p><\/div>\n
By Dave Boyer – The Washington Times<\/p>\n
President Trump said Friday the armed school guard who failed to protect students during a massacre in Florida last week was either a \u201ccoward\u201d or froze under the pressure of the moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe certainly did a poor job. That\u2019s the case where somebody was outside, they are trained, they didn\u2019t react properly under pressure, or they were a coward,\u201d the president said.<\/p>\n
Mr. Trump told reporters that the failure of the sheriff\u2019s deputy to confront the shooter at the high school where 17 were killed doesn\u2019t change his mind about arming more school personnel nationwide.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to have protection\u201d inside schools, the president said.<\/p>\n
Broward County Sheriff\u2019s Deputy Scot Peterson resigned Thursday after he was suspended for failing to enter the school during the shooting. His actions were captured on surveillance video.<\/p>\n
Mr. Trump said the National Rifle Association \u201cwants to do the right thing\u201d to make schools safer.<\/p>\n
The president also said Congress wanted to act on this issue, particularly on background checks and mental illness.<\/p>\n
\u201cI see Congress wanting to act now for the first time. So we certainly have to strengthen background checks. Everybody agrees with that, and we\u2019re going to make background checks very, very strong,\u201d\u00a0Mr. Trump<\/a>\u00a0said.<\/p>\n But he added that another part of the problems is a lack of security at the schools. He said that despite the lack of action by the deputy at Majory Stoneman Douglas High School, there needs to be more security in the schools.<\/p>\n \u201cI also believe that schools have to have some form of protection. They can\u2019t just be open ended and gun-free,\u201d\u00a0Mr. Trump<\/a>\u00a0said.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they\u2019re not gun-free, if there are guns instead, held by the right people, but highly trained professionals, you\u2019re going to see this end,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n