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US Education Secretary on preventing gun violence: 'We are going to do as much as we can'

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona was in Charlotte to participate in a roundtable discussion at Eastway Middle School to discuss gun violence prevention.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit to Charlotte Thursday, WCNC Charlotte Anchor Nick Sturdivant sat down with U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona was a wide-ranging interview.

Cardona was in town with Harris to participate in a roundtable discussion at Eastway Middle School highlighting the Biden administration’s efforts in preventing gun violence.

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Charlotte has had a number of deadly incidents involving minors, so Sturdivant asked Cardona what the administration is going to do to address that. 

“When we hear about school shootings., sadly, we hear about them to often, everybody always asks: 'What else could we do?'" Cardona said. "I’m really proud that the Biden-Harris administration is standing behind that call to say we are going to do as much as we can."

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Cardona said the administration is announcing a plan allocating $285 million to help schools prevent violence and create environments that are safe for students.

He also discussed the controversial Parents’ Bill of Rights.

The new North Carolina law includes guidance on children and their use of pronouns, as well as parent involvement in their child’s sex education.

“It’s more of a political stunt," Cardona said. "You want to help parents rights? Let’s give students the right to read by third grade. Let’s give students the right to be who they are in our schools without the fear of state government or local government attacking students for who they are."

RELATED: Frustration grows over controversial Parents' Bill of Rights interpretations

Sturdivant was able to discuss the recent pushback on teaching Black history in North Carolina classrooms. Combined with former governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley recently failing to acknowledge slavery as the reason the Civil War started, it was an important topic for Cardona to address. 

RELATED: Nikki Haley, asked what caused the Civil War, leaves out slavery. It's not the first time

"As a Latino, that’s scary," Cardona shared. "We got the two top candidates in the Republican Party [on Wednesday] in a debate. One, who wouldn’t acknowledge slavery as the cause of the Civil War, and the other one who created a campaign against Black history in Florida. That’s what we are putting up? As a parent, that’s worrisome. We have to do better.”

Watch the full interview with Cardona here.

Contact Nick Sturdivant at nsturdiva1@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Flashpoint is a weekly in-depth look at politics in Charlotte, North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond with host Ben Thompson. Listen to the podcast weekly.
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