Val Demings: “I thank the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin) for the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4627. Mr.…”

“I thank the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin) for the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4627. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. Donovan, for this important legislation, which contains a critical provision to ensure that our antiterrorism funds go to their intended purpose. Three months ago, we heard rumors of plans to use precious homeland security funding to distribute guns to teachers. I introduced language to block this idea, and I am glad to say that this language has, indeed, been included in H.R. 4627. As a former law enforcement commander, I was assigned to Orlando International Airport during the 9/11 attacks. I have seen firsthand the vital need for our antiterrorism funding to be used wisely, carefully, and precisely to prevent terrorist attacks before they occur. It is essential that our students go to school safely. Arming teachers would be both impractical and immoral. Requiring teachers to stop mass shooters not only shifts our responsibilities as lawmakers to them, but it also shifts the hurt, the pain, the guilt, and, potentially, the liability when they find themselves outskilled and outgunned by a shooter with a weapon of war. We already, as you all know, ask our overworked and underpaid teachers to do too much. We must find ways to continue to allow them to teach.…”