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Will Wisconsin Follow Utah's Lead?
Updated: 6:22 PM Oct 11, 2006
Brock Bergey
Lasee Revises Plans
State Representative Frank Lasee is tweaking his original proposal a bit, but it still allows teachers to have guns on the job. NBC 15 has learned similar plans are already on the books in other states.
Three years ago, Utah lawmakers amended the state's conceal–carry law. The change made it legal for teachers, who pass a state–mandated test, to carry guns.
"The word is out that maybe one or more teachers in a school is carrying firearms, " says Clark Aposhian.
He's a Utah gun lobbyist and founder of a firearms training organization in Salt Lake City. Representative Lasee is turning to Aposhian for help.
"They have guns in their schools and it hasn't cause problems or difficulties for them," says Lasee.
The Republican from the Green Bay area wants to give teachers the option of keeping a gun at school in a locked box or safe. Lasee introduced his plan following a rash of school shootings, including the one in Cazenovia, that killed Weston Principal John Klang.
"We've been sold on this concept that guns equal violence, when it actuality it's the people who use guns, and not the guns themselves. Guns can be used for good or bad. And, when a bad person has a gun we need to have someone who can stop them," adds Lasee.
Aposhian has trained around 350 teachers, principals and even custodians. He estimates around 3–percent of Utah's school employees are armed. Aposhian says teachers are not being trained to become police officers.
"The main premise when you're getting that permit doesn't have anything to do with protecting the school or stopping intruders from killing everyone in the school. The main premise is something much more simple--it's about self defense," says Aposhian.
To carry a concealed gun in Utah, you must be 21, pass background checks, and be trained by a state certified instructor.
The Utah State Board of Education is against guns in schools. There is no research to show if the change has made schools safer in Utah. But, Aposhian think it has, and Lasee says it can do the same for Wisconsin schools.
"Those who don't like this proposal, I challenge them--put your ideas on the table and let's discuss them, too," says Lasee.
Oregon state law also allows teachers to carry guns. However, this law doesn't apply across the board, like Utah's. Individual school districts in Oregon can prohibit employees from carrying guns as a condition of their work agreements.
Lasee plans to introduce his proposal to the legislature in January.
From: http://nbc15.madison.com/news/headlines/4376081.html
Updated: 6:22 PM Oct 11, 2006
Brock Bergey
Lasee Revises Plans
State Representative Frank Lasee is tweaking his original proposal a bit, but it still allows teachers to have guns on the job. NBC 15 has learned similar plans are already on the books in other states.
Three years ago, Utah lawmakers amended the state's conceal–carry law. The change made it legal for teachers, who pass a state–mandated test, to carry guns.
"The word is out that maybe one or more teachers in a school is carrying firearms, " says Clark Aposhian.
He's a Utah gun lobbyist and founder of a firearms training organization in Salt Lake City. Representative Lasee is turning to Aposhian for help.
"They have guns in their schools and it hasn't cause problems or difficulties for them," says Lasee.
The Republican from the Green Bay area wants to give teachers the option of keeping a gun at school in a locked box or safe. Lasee introduced his plan following a rash of school shootings, including the one in Cazenovia, that killed Weston Principal John Klang.
"We've been sold on this concept that guns equal violence, when it actuality it's the people who use guns, and not the guns themselves. Guns can be used for good or bad. And, when a bad person has a gun we need to have someone who can stop them," adds Lasee.
Aposhian has trained around 350 teachers, principals and even custodians. He estimates around 3–percent of Utah's school employees are armed. Aposhian says teachers are not being trained to become police officers.
"The main premise when you're getting that permit doesn't have anything to do with protecting the school or stopping intruders from killing everyone in the school. The main premise is something much more simple--it's about self defense," says Aposhian.
To carry a concealed gun in Utah, you must be 21, pass background checks, and be trained by a state certified instructor.
The Utah State Board of Education is against guns in schools. There is no research to show if the change has made schools safer in Utah. But, Aposhian think it has, and Lasee says it can do the same for Wisconsin schools.
"Those who don't like this proposal, I challenge them--put your ideas on the table and let's discuss them, too," says Lasee.
Oregon state law also allows teachers to carry guns. However, this law doesn't apply across the board, like Utah's. Individual school districts in Oregon can prohibit employees from carrying guns as a condition of their work agreements.
Lasee plans to introduce his proposal to the legislature in January.
From: http://nbc15.madison.com/news/headlines/4376081.html