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President holds emotional meeting with students, parents in wake of school shooting

President Donald Trump is hosting a "listening session" with students and teachers in the wake of the deadly school shooting in Parkland.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has concluded an emotional meeting with students and parents affected by school shootings.

Trump offered his thanks to the teary-eyed group of about 40 in the State Dining Room, saying "the world is watching."

Trump listened as parents called for arming trained school employees to react to shootings, and as one survivor delivered an impassioned plea to ban the rifle used by the shooter in last week's massacre in Florida.

Trump told them, "There can be nothing worse than what you've gone through."

He says he's exploring strengthening background checks and raising the minimum age for purchasing rifles.

Trump held in his hands a small notecard with a list of key points. Number five, the last one, read: "I hear you."

You can watch the entire "listening session" below:

President Trump Holding Listening Session at White House

President Donald J. Trump is hosting a "listening session" with high school students and teachers at The White House in the wake of the Florida school shooting that left 17 dead. LIVE coverage NOW on Channel 2 Action News.

Posted by WSB-TV on Wednesday, February 21, 2018

The Associated Press contributed to this report.