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Betsy DeVos: Certain Schools Might Need Guns To Protect From Grizzlies

Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of education, was asked about guns in schools at her Senate confirmation hearing.
Posted at 9:19 AM, Jan 18, 2017
and last updated 2017-01-18 09:19:00-05

Secretary of education nominee Betsy DeVos fielded a question at her Senate confirmation hearing about whether guns have a place in schools. A day later, her answer is making headlines.

"Well, I would refer back to Sen. Enzi and the school that he was talking about in Wapiti, Wyoming. I think probably there, I would imagine that there's probably a gun in the school to protect from potential grizzlies," DeVos said.

DeVos was being questioned by Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut. Murphy has pushed for stricter gun regulation since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012, which happened in his state.

DeVos cited grizzly bears as a reason states should decide if guns should be allowed in schools. Murphy later tweeted he was "shaken to the core" by that answer.

DeVos also said that she'd support President-elect Donald Trump if he decided to ban gun-free school zones.

According to the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, 39 states prohibit concealed carry permit holders from bringing guns to K-12 schools.