Contact:

State Representative Jesse Kremer

(R-Kewaskum) (608) 266-9175 March 1, 2018

Madison, WI – Today the “Private School Carry Act” was officially introduced after circulation last week by author Rep. Jesse Kremer (R-Kewaskum). The bill’s submission comes on the heels of Governor Walker’s reported consideration of a Special Session on School Security and would be an ideal fit for private and parochial schools to guaranty that they are not left out of the discussion by state legislators. In 2016 Rep. Kremer held a lengthy forum at a Southeastern Wisconsin parochial high school to discuss this effort among parents, teachers and law enforcement officials including a Sheriff and local police agency supervisor. The takeaway was unanimous, “Let us decide how best to protect our schools!”

Upon circulation Rep. Kremer issued the following statement, “Private and parochial schools are on private property. It is imperative that these parents, superintendents and school boards have the ability, and authority, to decide how best to protect their children from future terrorist acts. As an airline captain pre and post 9/11, no passenger, or pilot, ever considered arming individuals in the cockpit, however, trained and armed pilots and air marshalls are common-place today and have been a terrorism deterrent in the skies. It is time that we apply this common sense to the classroom.”

Wisconsin state law is currently much more restrictive than the federal “Gun-Free School Zone Act.” Except for an off-duty law enforcement officer, a law abiding concealed carry holder parent, or a competent, lawfully licensed and trained teacher, principal or superintendent does not have the ability to protect themselves or their children who are walking the halls or outside for recess. The Private School Carry Act will finally allow parents, school board members, school administrators and law enforcement officials the ability to collaborate at the local level and decide on the most prudent policy for the security of their facilities.

“Locked doors with cameras, emergency drills, a school resource officer if you’re lucky, windowless doors for the classroom? Sure, some of these efforts may prove effective”, continued Kremer, “however there is an additional tool that state lawmakers have been denying parents and their school administrators – the ability to secure a campus with additional armed security through the use of concealed carry if they so choose – something that Ohio schools realized and have been expanding since Sandy Hook. Secret service historical studies have proven that the majority of attackers do not want the threat of confrontation and it’s time Wisconsin legislators STOP advertising our schools as soft targets and Gun Free Zones.”

Rep. Kremer represents the 59th Assembly District which includes Southern Calumet, Western Sheboygan, Northern Washington and Eastern Fond du Lac Counties. Rep. Kremer’s office can be reached at (608) 266-9175 or by e-mail at Rep.Kremer@legis.wisconsin.gov. His legislative website can be found at www.RepKremer.com.

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