Ben Carson Supports Arming Kindergarten Teachers Says Mass Shooters Target

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the midst of his 2016 presidential campaign, Republican candidate Ben Carson stirred up controversy on July 21, 2015, by suggesting that arming kindergarten teachers could help prevent mass shootings. The neurosurgeon-turned-politician made the remarks during a TV interview, arguing that shooters often pick easy targets like schools because they know people there are defenseless.

Carson didn’t hold back when he laid out his views on gun control and school safety. He claimed that if teachers were trained and equipped with firearms, it might deter attackers or give them a fighting chance during an assault. “These people are cowards,” he said at the time, pointing to past tragedies as evidence that gun-free zones only invite trouble. His comments came just months after several high-profile shootings had the nation on edge, including one at a Charleston church that same year.

The statement quickly drew fire from gun control advocates, who saw it as an extreme and dangerous idea. Critics argued that putting guns in classrooms could lead to more accidents and escalate violence rather than solve it. Carson, however, stood by his words, framing them as part of a broader call for Americans to take personal responsibility for their safety. As a candidate known for his conservative stances, this wasn’t his first brush with controversy on the issue.

Back in 2015, the debate over guns was heating up, with candidates jockeying for position ahead of the primaries. Carson’s remarks highlighted the deep divide in the country, where some saw arming teachers as a practical solution and others as reckless. While it didn’t derail his campaign right away – he remained a notable figure for a while – it added to the pile of bold opinions that defined his run for the White House. All in all, it was one of those moments that made people stop and think about just how far the conversation on guns had gone.