White House gun safety plan could include grant money for teacher concealed carry permits

The White House is expected to unveil a plan Sunday that encourages states to raise the age for buying certain firearms and offers incentives for getting concealed weapons permits for school staffers, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Part of the plan may provide federal grant money as a reward for states that start initiatives to get school workers approved for concealed-carry permits. Details on how the grant program would work have not been finalized, sources told the WSJ.

The White House gun control initiative is also expected to include banning so-called bump stocks that allow some firearms to fire as rapidly as machine guns. On Saturday, the U.S. Justice Department announced that it has submitted a regulation to make the devices illegal to sell or own.

Following the mass shooting that killed 17 in Parkland, Florida, President Donald Trump named school safety as the top White House priority.

As mid-term elections approach, Republican leaders also are attempting to address school safety without alienating gun owners and the National Rifle Association.

What does this mean?

Sunday’s announcement is expected to signal Trump’s support for two gun-related bills under review by Congress, the WSJ reported.

One bill seeks to improve background checks for gun purchases, a proposal that has hit roadblocks in Congress. Another bill, known as the STOP School Violence Act, would provide $50 million a year for safety improvements such as violence prevention training for teachers and students.

Additionally, Trump will likely create a task force to study gun violence and school safety. The president has repeatedly said that designating schools as “gun-free zones” makes them less safe.

But the idea of arming staff has been opposed by some gun-control advocates and teachers unions. Trump has considered a wide range of options as he met in recent weeks with lawmakers, school administrators, families who have suffered from gun violence and NRA executives.

What about 'bump stock' devices?

The Justice Department wants to add bump-stock-type devices to the definition of machine guns in the National Firearms and Gun Control Act. The regulation must first be reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.

“President Trump is absolutely committed to ensuring the safety and security of every American, and he has directed us to propose a regulation addressing bump stocks,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement.