GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) -The idea of teachers with guns is not getting much support in Green Bay.
Green Bay Police Chief Andrew Smith says he has had discussions about it.
“The ones that I have spoken to do not feel comfortable. One retired teacher told me no matter what someone was doing, I could not point a gun and shoot somebody.”
Superintendent Michelle Langenfeld says she has not had a teacher ask her to be allowed to carry a gun, and said the thought brings up concerns, including a lack of training.
“I would offer that they did not sign up to be law enforcement, or they would have gone into law enforcement” Langenfeld says.
Langenfeld says one other big concern weighs on her mind.
“If a weapon would get into the wrong hands, perhaps a child could access it.”
Chief Smith and school safety expert Ed Dorff says to them, the big concern has to do with the uncertainity of proper training.
“A trained officer who has demonstrated the ability to handle a firearm for a couple of decades, would get my vote over just about anybody” Smith says.
“Before we talk about arming teachers and school staff, we really wonder what kind of training and background they have and would need to know that their training or background at least matches, if not exceeds what SWAT has” said Dorff.
For the time being, Green Bay Police have increased their presence at Green Bay District Schools ever since the shooting in Florida.
