NRA recommends arming school staff as Senate bill stalls

President Obama urged lawmakers to pass his gun-control agenda in an emotional and forceful speech at the White House on Thursday.

Earlier Tuesday, a group sponsored by the National Rifle Association issued a report calling for at least one armed security guard to be present in every school in the country. Former Rep. Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark.) directed the report, according to the Associated Press:

“The presence of an armed security personnel in a school adds a layer of security and diminishes the response time that is beneficial to the overall security,” said Hutchinson.

Asked if every school would be better off with an armed security officer, Hutchinson replied, “Yes,” but acknowledged the decision would be made locally.

Meanwhile, despite the pressure for reform that has accumulated since the massacre of 26 students and teachers at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn. led to a public outcry, advocates for gun-control legislation in Congress are encountering opposition.

Despite months of negotiations, key senators have been unable to find a workable plan for near-universal background checks on gun purchases — an idea that polls show nine in 10 Americans support.

Another provision that garnered bipartisan support — making gun trafficking a federal crime — could be gutted if Republican lawmakers accept new language being circulated by the National Rifle Association. . . .

There has been virtually no progress since senators left Washington on March 23 for a two-week spring recess. And now, back home, senators are assessing the raw politics of their constituencies to determine which could cost them more in the next election: voting for expanding background checks or doing nothing.

President Obama has argued forcefully for the proposed measures, to the point, Glenn Kessler complains, of distorting statistics. For a list of gun-control initiatives in various states, visit The Fix.

Meanwhile, the United Nations passed an unprecedented global treaty today with the goal of preventing criminals, terrorists and repressive governments from acquiring weapons:

The treaty covers a wide range of conventional weapons, including battle tanks, armored combat vehicles, large-caliber artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, missiles and small arms. These items could not be transferred to countries under U.N. arms embargoes or to states that promote genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes.