Donald Trump vows to find long-term solution to end gun violence

Washington: Under pressure to act, President Donald Trump on Thursday vowed to find a long-term solution to stop growing gun violence in America and floated the idea of arming teachers to prevent a repeat of the recent Florida school shooting that killed 17 people, mostly students.

Trump responded to a number of emotional stories from the survivors and parents of victims from the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14 by pledging to act on school shootings "two minutes" after a listening session.

The event, hosted in the White House's State Dining Room, brought Trump face-to-face with angry students and parents who have demanded firmer action on gun violence.

"We want to learn everything we can learn. Starting about two minutes after this meeting, we're going to work. This is a long-term situation that we have to solve. We'll solve it together," Trump said.

"You have gone through extraordinary pain, and we don't want others to go through the kind of pain that you've gone through. Wouldn't be right," said the president.

Trump said that his administration would look strongly into gun purchase ages, as well as the "mental health aspect."

A Pollack, whose daughter died in the school shooting said that it is time for the country to come together.

"We as a country failed our children. This shouldn't happen," he said.

"I can't get on a plane with a bottle of water, but we leave it, some animal could walk into a school and shoot our children. It's just not right, and we need to come together as a country and work on what's important, and that's protecting our children in the schools. That's the only thing that matters right now," Pollack said.

"I want to feel safe at school, you know, senior year and junior year, they were big years for me, when I turned my turned my academics around, started connecting with teachers, and I started actually enjoying school. I don't know how I'm ever going to set foot on that place again, or go to a public park after school, or be walking anywhere.

"Me and my friends, we get scared when a car drives by, anywhere," said Sam Zeif, a student from Marjory Stoneman Douglas in Parkland.

His friend was killed in last week's school shootout. Trump listened to all of the participants.

"Does anybody have an idea for a solution to the school shooting and the school shootings that we've gone through over the years? And we've seen too much of it, and we're going to stop it, and there are a lot of different ideas. I could name 10 of them right now. Does anybody have an idea as to how to stop it? What is your recommendation to stop it?" he asked them.

One of the participants suggested having people in the school - teachers, administrators, who have volunteered to have a firearm safely locked in the classroom, and are given training throughout the year.

"There are plenty of teachers that are already licensed to carry firearms. Have them raise their hands to volunteer for the training, and when something like this starts, the first responders are already on campus," he said.

Trump appeared to be favourable to the idea.

"If the coach had a firearm in his locker... If he had a firearm, he wouldn't have had to run. He would have shot, and that would have been the end of it. And this would only be, obviously, for people that are very adept at handling a gun. It is called concealed carry, where a teacher would have a concealed gun on them," said the president.

Trump said that the background checks are going to be very strong.

"We need that. And then, after we do that, when we see this trouble, we have to nab them," he said.

Trump, who was elected with the support of the National Rifle Association - has so far expressed support for regulating bump-fire stocks, which make it easier to fire rounds more quickly, and strengthening background checks for gun purchases.

Gun-related deaths unfold in tragic circumstances across America daily, with over 1,800 people killed by guns this year alone, according to Gun Violence Archive, a not-for-profit group.

Vice President Mike Pence, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and representatives from advocacy groups also joined Trump at the listening session.