MSNBC anchors are claiming that teachers armed with handguns would be unable to stop a school shooter because rifles shoot “three times faster.”

Anchor Lawrence O’Donnell said on his show Thursday night that “a bullet fired from an AR-15 travels 3x faster than one from a handgun…and yet the president and the NRA think giving teachers guns will stop a school shooter.”

Lawrence: A bullet fired from an AR-15 travels 3x faster than one from a handgun. And yet the president and the NRA think giving teachers guns will stop a school shooter https://t.co/heze69kRDU — MSNBC (@MSNBC) February 23, 2018

Stephanie Ruhle similarly asked, “How does the best marksman in the world with a handgun take down a shooter with an AR-15 (bullets travel 3x faster).”

Also remember that Reagan was surrounded by the secret service in 1981…yet, he was shot.

How will teachers with guns protect students?

How does the best marksman in the world with a handgun take down a shooter with an AR-15 (bullets travel 3x faster) https://t.co/SRgoIaqnTl — Stephanie Ruhle (@SRuhle) February 23, 2018

While bullets fired from rifles do travel faster than those fired by handguns, the difference comes down to a matter of milliseconds, which would be negligible in any confrontation with a shooter. In close range situations, the difference in bullet velocity matters even less.

The pair also seemingly failed to consider why handguns are standard issue weapons for police officers.

A number of Twitter users pointed out the stupidity of O’Donnell and Ruhle’s claims.

It would seem that drug-testing isn’t a thing at MSNBC — aThirdOfDuane (@aThirdOfDuane) February 23, 2018

The press and bullets. pic.twitter.com/xyeYnxJO0g — Roster Number 226 (@Bravo_4_2) February 23, 2018

Yeah, and handgun bullets are about 3x the mass of 5.56 (62gr 5.56 vs 180gr .40 S&W), and flower open on impact to deliver the full energy into the target. This is a moronic statement, @Lawrence — OCTɅVIUS (@TripleEighty) February 23, 2018

Do police bullets move faster than a teachers gun? — harrison bergeron (@harrisonberger0) February 23, 2018

For the love of God, can journalists who have never touched a gun please at least watch a couple youtube videos? Take 10 minutes to learn a tiny bit and you won’t come off like a complete imbecile on television. Please. — Truth Bombs (@TRUTHB0MBZ) February 23, 2018

Meaning at 50 ft, it’s the difference between .015 seconds and .046 seconds… — Sommey Days (@JD_Sommey) February 23, 2018

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