Education secretary Betsy DeVos
Credit: Mark Wilson

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos told members of Congress that her school safety commission will not focus on guns specifically in their role in school shootings.

DeVos appeared before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies on Tuesday. She said the role of guns will not be considered in her work as chair of a school safety commission that was created after the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida in February that left 17 people dead.

DeVos was asked by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) whether her commission would look at the “role of firearms as it relates to gun violence in our schools.”

DeVos began to answer, but Leahy interrupted and asked the question again.

“That is not part of the commission’s charge per se,” DeVos answered.

DeVos said the commission is focused on a “culture of violence.” The White House said the commission’s work has included the consideration of video games and how it affects violence from young people, press coverage […]