Walker opposes arming teachers, looking at other ideas
by NBC 26
Gov. Scott Walker isn’t providing any specifics on what he’d like to see in the comprehensive school safety plan, but he did say it should be similar to airport security measures put in place after the 9-11 terrorist attacks.
The governor says the key is to prevent shooters from getting into the building.
When it comes to putting guns in the hands of teachers, Attorney General Brad Schimel has said he’s open to it, with the DOJ funding the training. But Gov. Walker doesn’t think that’s the answer.
Today, we spoke with local state Assembly members on both sides of the aisle about what they’d like to see happen to better protect our schools.
“I would really like to see a funding component related to making sure that there’s the ability to offer active shooter training within schools to faculty, to integrate students in the planning for what to do in that sort of situation, beyond the drills that might already be run,” state Rep. André Jacque, R-De Pere, said.
“Other countries have done things like background checks, have implemented, you know, procedures to actually take away certain types of rifles that aren’t used for hunting or for protection – that are simply used to kill people with,” state Rep. Amanda Stuck, D-Appleton, said. “So, that’s something we need to look at too.”
Last week the state Assembly passed a bill for a grant program through the state justice department to help schools pay for armed security guards in schools, with grades five through 12.
Gov. Walker is considering calling the state Assembly back to the Capitol for a special session to take up the school safety plan.