A new Rasmussen Reports national phone and online survey finds 76 percent of American adults are concerned about the possibility of mass shootings at schools. And, with that concern, 49 percent believe it is a good idea to have teachers armed and trained to protect students against school shootings.
That’s an eight-point jump from the 41 percent who supported such a policy in 2018.
Thirty-seven percent said it is a bad idea to have trained teachers to carry firearms in an effort to protect students.
Just 21 percent of adults said they are not worried about school shootings.
Seventy-four percent of adults said they believe it is likely there will be a major school shooting in America during the current school year.
Much of the support for arming teachers comes from Republicans. Sixty-nine percent of GOP adults said it is a good idea to have trained teachers with firearms to protect kids. Forty-five percent of unaffiliated voters agree, as do 35 percent of Democrats.
Interestingly, 57 percent of Americans with children at home believe arming teachers is a good idea, compared to 43 percent of those without children.
