Illinois teachers flocking to firearms training courses

Though their state law prohibits guns on campus, Illinois teachers are privately training with firearms, the New York Times reported Tuesday.

“Across the state, businesses have begun offering free concealed-carry training sessions to teachers and school staff members,” the Times reported. One class reached capacity within two hours of posting it, and there is now a waiting list of approximately 40 more educators.  “None of us ever want to have to use our guns,” said teacher and firearms student Julie Smith. “All of us want to protect our kids.”

Despite pushback from the National Gun Victims Action Council, retired police officer Rick Noble, owner of Adventure Tactical Training, said that the educators “all really want this training.”

Gun rights group IllinoisCarry is advocating for a resolution known as the Student Safety and Protection resolution, which would allow teachers who have gone through substantial background checks and have 83 percent shooting accuracy to carry concealed on school property.

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