Ives says arming teachers can “harden” schools.
As she vies to unseat Gov. Bruce Rauner for the GOP nomination, state Rep. Jeanne Ives on Tuesday said she would support arming teachers with handguns in an effort to “harden” schools against the threat of amass shooting.
Rauner’s far- right challenger also suggested “panic buttons” to communicate with first responders, and “smoke screens” to distract shooters.
“This should be a district-by-district decision. We can harden schools to some degree,” Ives said. “Southern Illinois folks have no problem with arming teachers. I think if they’re trained, if they regularly go and practice, and if they are comfortable doing it, I have no problem with that.”
Thatwas just one issue Ives used to differentiate herself from Rauner during a candidate’s forum with WTTW’s Amanda Vinicky — a oneonone affair after Rauner’s refusal to participate.
Ives said she supported Rauner’s decision on Tuesday to veto the gun dealer licensing bill, but she dismissed it as a calculated political maneuver.
Ives hammered House Speaker Mike Madigan over his handing of sexual harassment allegations in Springfield, roping in Rauner.
“Rauner said nothing either. He knew all about this too, he never called for the [ legislative inspector general] position to be filled. Madigan never called for it to be filled. They’re basically two sides of the same coin on that.”