(CNN) President Donald Trump's suggestion that teachers should be armed and trained to combat school shooters was widely criticized Wednesday. Meeting with students and parents affected by school shootings at the White House, Trump listened to emotional stories and pleas to enhance school safety. He suggested that armed teachers might be able to neutralize shooters like the former student who fatally shot 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, last week. "If you had a teacher who was adept the firearm, they could end the attack very quickly," he said Wednesday, stating that schools could arm up to 20% of their teachers to stop "maniacs" who may try and attack them. "I'm not here to debate, but I lost my sister," said Hunter Pollack, whose sister Meadow was killed in last week's shooting.

Source: CNN February 22, 2018 02:15 UTC