Lasee's Bad Idea

Wisconsin state Representative Frank Lasee has done what few, if any, before him have done.

He actually got gubernatorial canidates Jim Doyle and Mark Green to agree on something.

Lasee is looking for an immediate solution to school violence.

That's a noble endeavor.

Unfortunately, Lasee has come up with a really bad plan.

MADISON -- Following three violent school shootings that struck the nation in the past two weeks, including one in a small rural town in Wisconsin, state Rep. Frank Lasee, R-Bellevue, on Wednesday announced his plans to introduce legislation that will allow teachers, principals, administrators and other school personnel to carry concealed weapons.

The lawmaker said that while his idea may not be politically correct, it has worked effectively in other countries.

"To make our schools safe for our students to learn, all options should be on the table," said Lasee. "Israel and Thailand have well-trained teachers carrying weapons and keeping their children safe from harm. It can work in Wisconsin."

What a waste of time!

There is no way that such a measure would pass. Absolutely no chance.

Doyle and Green disagree on concealed carry, but they have found common ground in their opposition to Lasee's idea.

Both Doyle, who opposes a broader Republican effort to legalize carrying concealed weapons, and Green, who supports that bill, said they oppose Lasee's idea.

Doyle said the whole notion of allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons "would take away a tremendous tool the police have on the streets right now to keep us safe."

"Imagine a scene where somebody walks into a crowded room with a gun in his pocket and the police can't do anything about it because it's not a crime," Doyle said.

Doyle has vetoed Republican efforts to pass concealed carry legislation; Wisconsin is one of only two states that do not allow any form of concealed carry.

Doyle has vetoed concealed carry legislation THREE TIMES. The vetoes have been upheld.

It is ridiculous for Lasee to entertain even the remote possibility that his legislation would stand a chance of passing.

I think that even staunch supporters of concealed carry would get a little squeamish about making guns a common school supply.

In an interview, Green noted that schools are already gun-free zones under both state and federal law.

"I support those laws," he said. "I helped create those laws. I don't think we should have guns in the schools."

Although there has been success in other countries with Lasee's plan, those instances are extreme situaions where the threat of violence is extremely high.

Yes, there has been a series of recent school shootings in the United States, horrible executions and tremendous acts of heroism. But for the most part, American schools are free of gun violence, overwhelmingly.

If it's already a challenge to find well-trained, competent teachers to educate our kids, can you imagine trying to find educators well-trained in carrying and using weapons?

Liberals are aghast at the thought of allowing prayer in the classroom. How can Lasee think that they would accept gun-toting teachers?

I don't think WEAC would be too happy with that plan.

I'm sure Lasee means well, but arming teachers is not the answer to the horrors of school gun violence.

In spite of the high profile, tragic cases of murder in American schools, putting a gun in every classroom is unnecessary to protect students.

The entrances can be fortresses and kids can be searched before entering school buildings. That would help take care of the problem.

This is not to say that object to concealed carry. I don't. (Forty-eight states have it!)

Personally, I wouldn't carry a gun, but I like the idea of would-be criminals and attackers not knowing if I did have a gun. Actually, I'd feel safer if we had concealed carry in Wisconsin.

However, I don't think that sort of protection applies within schools.

Teachers having guns INSIDE the classroom is not a surefire solution to school violence because most of the shooters succeeded or planned to kill themselves.

There's no deterrent in terms of having a full-blown shoot out in the classroom.

It's like fighting the War on Terror. When the enemy wants to be dead, it's a different brand of warfare.

It's important to remember that millions and millions of American kids do go to school every day without incident.

Lasee seems to be forgetting that.

His solution is akin to razing the homes in an entire neighborhood because one house has a mouse infestation.

Not a good idea.