In the wake of school shootings in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Colorado over the past two weeks, one Wisconsin state representative devised a plan he thinks will help keep children safe.
Rep. Frank Lasee, R-Bellevue, announced legislation Wednesday that would allow teachers, principals and other school officials to carry concealed weapons on school property.
"This is too important to leave our children in danger," Lasee said in an interview, calling it another useful tool to help keep Wisconsin students safe.
In addition, Lasee said he plans to offer his bill for co-sponsorship early next year when the state Legislature reconvenes.
The proposed bill would not require all school officials to carry concealed weapons but would legally provide the option.
According to Matt Canter, spokesperson for Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle, there would not be widespread support for the bill, particularly from teachers and police. He added Doyle would not support this bill nor sign it, should it ever reach his desk.
"The governor feels that we want our teachers to teach," Canter said. "Police officers become police officers to enforce the law — we don't need our teachers serving as police officers."
But in support of his proposal, Lasee cited similar plans in effect in other countries.
"It's working in Israel and Thailand," Lasee said. "In 25 years, they haven't had any incidents."
Israel allowed teachers to carry weapons after Palestinian terrorists attacked many schools in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Thailand enacted a similar law after Muslim terrorists attacked its schools.
"Heaven forbid that these Muslim extremists and terrorists start targeting more soft targets like schools," Lasee said. "It could happen, and it's unfortunate, but it's the world we live in."
Along with other fatal school shootings around the United States over the past week, one hit rural Wisconsin Friday when a 15-year-old student shot and killed his principal at Weston High School in Cazenovia.
And Canter said the most important steps to school safety and prevention of similar incidents don't involve concealed-carry laws. He said Doyle stresses the importance of making sure schools have specific emergency plans, and that students and teachers feel comfortable informing authorities when there is a possible threat.
"It's worth noting that the staff and students and teachers and administrators at Weston schools did an amazing job, and they were truly heroic," Canter said, noting that the school was on lock-down within seconds of the fatal shooting of Principal John Klang.
Meanwhile, Doyle's gubernatorial challenger, U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Wis., was far less critical of Lasee's suggestion Wednesday.
According to spokesperson Luke Punzenberger, Green has general policies regarding public safety, but has not yet addressed specific policies directed at schools. He did say, however, that Green believes communication needs to be open between schools and police officials.
"Stopping violence in our schools starts with our kids," he said. "We need to be encouraging young people to come forward when they sense potential threats to their fellow students."
Lasee also expressed concern that gun control advocates might use the recent school shootings as a rallying point for stricter gun-control laws and qualified his suggestion by noting additional training would be needed to allow weapons around children in a crowded school environment.
"I want this to be a safe proposal," Lasee said. "There's no reason why we can't do this safely."