Armed Teachers: IL District Wants To Be 1st To Give Teachers Guns

ULLIN, IL — A week after members of Illinois' largest teachers union slammed President Donald Trump's call to explore the option of arming teachers as "insanity," a school district in southern Illinois is hoping to do just that. Century School District 100 near Ullin, Illinois, not far from Carbondale, is having its attorneys investigate whether an existing Illinois law will allow it to arm teachers and other school staff members who've had firearms training.

District 100 board member Keith Clark told WSIL he believes the district is the first in the state to take steps to arm teachers.

"We arm our Brinks trucks because we hold value in it. We appoint security to guard our legislators, to guard our movie stars, but yet our most valuable asset in our society are our children and we do nothing," he told the station.

The district is reportedly exploring whether a law allowing districts to have some armed employees on campus — such as security guards — would extend to teachers and staff. Superintendent Landon Sommer told WSIL that the district already has metal detectors, security cameras and new doors to help keep students safe, adding that all options for protecting students should be on the table.

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The Southern Illinois K-12 school district has about 360 students and is located Pulaski County.

lllinois Education Association President Kathi Griffin last week spoke out against calls to give teachers guns.

"Our teachers and support staff members did not sign up to carry guns," she said. "They are not law enforcement. They became teachers and support staff because they wanted to help students learn and succeed."

The debate over what should be done to prevent school shootings was reignited by the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The attack killed 17 students and teachers. A week later, Trump took to Twitter to advocate for the possibility of arming teachers.

"What I said was to look at the possibility of giving 'concealed guns to gun adept teachers with military or special training experience - only the best. 20% of teachers, a lot, would now be able to immediately fire back if a savage sicko came to a school with bad intentions," the president tweeted. "Highly trained teachers would also serve as a deterrent to the cowards that do this. Far more assets at much less cost than guards. A 'gun free' school is a magnet for bad people." Trump added, "Highly trained, gun adept, teachers/coaches would solve the problem instantly, before police arrive. GREAT DETERRENT!"

Along with Griffin, Illinois Federation of Teachers President Dan Montgomery voiced anger at the idea of adding weapons training — and potentially defending students against an active shooter — to the already heavy load assigned to teachers.

"We're constantly told there are no resources for — you name it — another school band, another school program, school arts funding," he said. "But wait a minute, there's suddenly funding to put weapons of war into the hands of teachers? I think it's insanity."

On Tuesday, Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson spoke out in support of a gun control bill named in honor of slain Cmdr. Paul Bauer and addressed the idea of arming teachers.

"Our teachers should be focused on teaching our children," he said. "They shouldn't be concerned with carrying a loaded firearm in a classroom."

Meanwhile, districts across Illinois are taking steps to beef up school security and improve safety measures in the event of an active school shooter. Several local superintendents have spoken out about what their districts are doing to keep students safe, including implementing active shooter ALICE training to help students and staff know what to do if shots are fired on campus.

Image: A Utah fourth-grade teacher is shown how to handle a 40 cal. Sig Sauer by a firearm instructor. Photo by George Frey/Getty Images