Permitting guns in schools isn’t a new debate, but it’s receiving more national attention now than ever as it has become a focus of the upcoming 2016 presidential election.

Over the weekend, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton both had a lot to say when it came to the issue. On Friday, Trump was officially endorsed by the NRA. The next day, Clinton attended the Trayvon Martin Foundation's Circle of Mothers dinner, where guns and gun control was a big focus.  

"Parents, teachers, and schools should have the right to keep guns out of classrooms, just like Donald Trump does at many of his hotels, by the way," she said during her speech.

"This is someone running to be president of the United States of America, a country facing a gun violence epidemic, and he's talking about more guns in our schools.”

In January, Trump said he would abolish gun-free zones in schools on his first day in office and would support armed teachers so long as they were “hopefully” adequately trained.

His tune changed slightly when confronted with the issue again yesterday during a Fox & Friends interview after he was asked to respond to Clinton’s comments.

“I don’t want to have guns in classrooms, although in some cases teachers should have guns in classrooms, frankly. Because . . . things that are going on in our schools are unbelievable,” he said.

He went on to say he doesn’t advocate guns in classrooms unless teachers are properly trained, leaving many people confused as to where he actually stands. Certainly, his recent comments detract from his promise to abolish gun-free zones on his very first day in office.

In some states, teachers are already permitted by law to carry guns in classrooms. Oklahoma, for instance, passed such a measure last year.

In November, Fox News said there are at least 40 districts in Ohio alone that allow teachers to carry guns so long as they receive combat training as well.

Such measures greatly divide critics who say that more guns doesn’t mean less violence.

Readers, we ask you: Would you feel safer if your school was a gun-free zone? Take our poll below. 

Nicole Gorman, Education World Contributor

5/23/2016