Wisconsin AG would help schools if they wanted to arm teachers

Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel says school districts should be able to decide whether or not to arm teachers, but he'd help them make sure it's "done the best way possible."

Action 2 News asked the state's top cop about a

that Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is considering allowing states to use federal funding to purchase guns for teachers.

The report cites "multiple people with knowledge of the plan."

Previous legislation has banned the use of federal money to arm teachers. The New York Times reports the DEA is looking at the Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants that do not outlaw weapons purchases.

DeVos, as education secretary, would then be able to approve or deny school districts who ask to use those grant funds for guns.

Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel appeared at a law enforcement round table in Green Bay Wednesday, Action 2 News asked him whether or not he would support school districts arming teachers in Wisconsin.

"That's the kind of thing that's very much a local school district question. Local school districts should decide what's best for them when it comes to that kind of issue," Schimel said.

Schimel said arming teachers could "make a difference", but his "best bet" is having resource officers in schools.

However, he would help schools with implementing a weapons program and training should they consider arming teachers.

"Here's my involvement in it, I guess, is if a school wanted to pursue arming teachers, I'll help them make sure that that's done the best way possible," Schimel says. "That we'll get those teachers trained in scenario-based training. In sim-munitions training. In live fire exercises so that if the school goes down that path, that we do it the best and the safest way we can."

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin released a statement earlier Thursday saying, “Brad Schimel seems to have forgotten that it’s his job to keep Wisconsinites safe, not force the NRA’s agenda on Wisconsin taxpayers."

The DEA released a statement in response to the New York Times peport, saying the department doesn't issue opinions on "hypothetical scenarios."

Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut has introduced an amendment to a $1 billion education bill that would ban schools from using any federal funds for buying guns.