5 Ways the Trump Budget Undermines Gun Violence Prevention and School Safety Efforts

The following article by Chelsea Parsons and Scott Sargrad was posted on the Center for American Progress website February 16, 2018:

Thousands gathered for an evening vigil at Pine Trails Park in Parkland, FL, to remember those killed and injured in the February 15, 2018 shooting, in Parkland, FL. Credit: Getty/Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles

In his address to the nation the day after the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 students and teachers and injured another 14, President Donald Trump vowed to take action, stating that he would soon hold meetings with governors and attorneys general in which “making our schools and our children safer will be our top priority.” He continued, “It is not enough to simply take actions that make us feel like we are making a difference. We must actually make that difference.” However, the president’s actions have already spoken louder than these hollow words. Just two days before the shooting, his administration released its fiscal year 2019 budget, which proposed cutting funding to crucial programs that help prevent gun violence and ensure school safety.

Below are five ways that the Trump budget undermines efforts to reduce gun violence and keep our nation’s students safe. Continue reading “5 Ways the Trump Budget Undermines Gun Violence Prevention and School Safety Efforts”