La Crosse asst. police chief: Protecting students maybe not as simple as carrying a gun

The idea of teachers carrying guns in schools has become a hot topic from the White House down.

La Crosse assistant police chief Rob Abraham was in the WIZM studio Wednesday and asked about the idea that is apparently embraced by the Wisconsin state Attorney General Brad Schimel and plenty of others.

For Abraham, however, the key thing to remember is training.

“There’s a lot of training that goes into the responsibility of whether or not you’re going to defend or take someone’s life,” Abraham said.

La Crosse police officers go through ongoing training that goes beyond just the shooting range, Abraham added. He questions whether teachers would have the same training.

He also has concerns about security.

“In my personal opinion, I would want teachers teaching students and I would want my officers, or the school resource officer, protecting the students,” he said.

La Crosse’s school district has assigned school resource officers at both the middle and high school levels.

Watch the full interview below: