http://mycn2.com/politics/conway-says-arming-teachers-isn-t-the-answer-but-that-schools-need-to-ask-for-security-help

Publication Date: January 24, 2013

Author: Nick Storm

Conway says arming teachers isn't the answer but that schools need to ask for security help

01/24/2013 05:48 PM

Attorney General Jack Conway said the answer to school shootings is not to arm teachers but to ask educators and school systems what they need to keep students safe.

Conway spoke with Pure Politics reporter Don Weber on Wednesday.

U.S. Senator Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, told the Frankfort Rotary Club last week that he would be in favor of allowing teachers and principals who were trained to use firearms to carry those weapons into schools, which are currently gun-free zones by federal law.

Conway, who lost the 2010 Senate race to Paul, disagrees with his former opponent.

“This notion that were just going to arm everybody I don’t think it makes a lot of sense when a lot of our teachers are saying, we don’t want the guns to begin with,” Conway said.

Conway, a Democrat in his second term as attorney general, prefaced his answer to the school safety question by mentioning his strong support of the 2nd Amendment and that he has “always been well rated by the NRA.” Conway, of course, has further political ambitions and has publicly talked about taking, “a good hard look at the governor’s race in 2015.”

But Conway said officials’ first obligation in the debate is to listen to the school district leaders. Conway said a school safety plan and the Center for School Safety was created after the 1997 shooting at Heath High School where three students were killed during a morning prayer circle meeting.

“The problem has been, like many things in the state, the funding has been slashed and we haven’t really followed through,” Conway said of the school safety plan. “I think the answer is let’s go back to that model – let’s let each district each school each superintendent come to us and say what they need. If they need school resource officers than that’s the best way to go.”

House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D- Prestonsburg, created a new subcommittee to explore safety precautions among Kentucky schools. The next meeting of that subcommittee is planned for Friday.

About Nick Storm

Nick Storm joined cn|2 in December 2011 as a reporter for Pure Politics. Throughout his career, Nick has covered several big political stories up close, including interviewing President Barack Obama on the campaign trail back in 2008. Nick says he loves being at the forefront of Kentucky politics and working with the brightest journalists in the commonwealth. Follow Nick on Twitter @Nick_Storm. Nick can be reached at 502-792-1107 or nicholas.storm@twcable.com.

Comments

  • Paul Hosse wrote on January 25, 2013 08:30 PM :

    For once, Conway is correct. Arming the teachers is not the answer. They’d most likely either shoot themselves or lock their gun in a desk drawer!

    However,sadly, we do need an armed presence in school. The best way is hiring trained security guards (like ex-military). I have to wonder though, is that the solution in general? Are we going to have to have armed security in malls, theaters, sporting events, restraunts, and anywhere else the public gathers? Are we going to to go through metal detectors at Wendys or McDonalds?

    Taking away guns only makes it easier for the criminals and crazies. We all know that they will find a way to have guns (or long magazines) and we become unarmed sitting ducks. No thank you.

  • viewer wrote on January 26, 2013 09:44 AM :

    Good post Paul. I say what Paul wrote.

  • windage wrote on March 12, 2013 08:58 AM :

    Why is it that when liberals consider the “arming of teachers” that it is always that the “giving of guns to every teacher” is bad idea? First of all, the school would not “give” guns to teachers whether they want them or not, it would be voluntary, only those comfortable with carry concealed already would volunteer.
    Next, I hear that “they have enough to do already, it’s not their responsibility”…really? not their responsibility to try to protect themselves and their kids in the face of certain death from a bad guy with a gun?
    How far from the basics we have some in our attempt to be politically correct. It is our basic duty to protect ourselves, we can’t put that off on laws, signs or policemen.
    To bad that the liberal media is focused on what the nay-sayers spout and not pay attention to the rest of us who want our kids safe. Teachers with guns? Heck yeah. It’s up to our county’s school board, not the state anyway.

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