"Those aren't controversial. Everyone supports them," Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) said of a number of gun control policies, including banning bump stocks and instituting universal background checks. | Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo Florida lawmaker calls debate to arm teachers 'a distraction'

Rep. Ted Deutch on Sunday called President Donald Trump's proposal to arm teachers a "distraction" in the wake of the mass shooting at a Florida high school that killed 17 people.

The Democratic congressman from Florida and fellow Florida Rep. Brian Mast, a Republican, appeared on CBS's "Face the Nation," where host Margaret Brennan asked both men whether they supported arming teachers in the classroom.


"I don't," Deutch said, whose district includes Parkland, Fla., where the shooting occurred. "The shift to arming teachers is a distraction."

"It's a distraction from the important discussion about all of the things that can be done right now this week when we go back to Washington on mental health, banning bump stocks, universal background checks, preventing people on the terror watch list from getting guns," Deutch said. "Those aren't controversial. Everyone supports them."

Trump floated the idea last week in a listening session on gun violence at the White House. "If you had a teacher who was adept at firearms, that could very well end the attack very quickly,” he said.

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Mast said Sunday he believed there was "room" for the conversation.

"There are great candidates in terms of former Marines, former law enforcement people that already have concealed carry permits," Mast said. "We have to be careful with it undoubtedly, because teachers are people, too." Some teachers, he said, would be "the right candidates" to carry guns.

After a gunman killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the president tweeted support for changes to the gun laws.

"I will be strongly pushing Comprehensive Background Checks with an emphasis on Mental Health. Raise age to 21 and end sale of Bump Stocks! Congress is in a mood to finally do something on this issue - I hope!" Trump tweeted.

Deutch said Congress will soon get a briefing from the FBI on the red flags missed that led to the shooting.