Recent school shootings have brought with them a call by some to arm teachers. Dozens of educators in the Chicago area are preparing to take school safety into their own hands--literally.
On Target Range in Crystal Lake is now offering free concealed carry classes to teachers. Director Thomas Dorsch says more than 50 teachers signed up within just 24 hours.
"It's a tell tale sign of what the teachers want," he said. "They want to protect themselves and they want to protect their kids."
The two-day course isn't just about shooting guns in the range in fact, only four hours will be spent in here. The rest is spent in a classroom.
"The safety elements of firearms, how they work, how they function, the responsibilities the gun owner has or the permit holder has," are all parts of the lesson plan, Dorsch said.
One teacher, who wished to remain anonymous, told NBC 5 why they got their license to carry a concealed weapon.
"There should be several teachers in there that are armed," the educator said. "They have to be willing to be trained though, thoroughly trained."
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Illinois law doesn't allow the teacher to carry in a classroom, but he says teachers are the last line of defense.
"I'd want more training because it's a lot of liability and extra responsibility," he said.
The reaction from the Villa Park police chief at a student forum earlier this week about about arming teachers was met with an applause from hundreds of high school students.
"I just don't know that if we're at a place where arming teachers is a great answer to this situation right now," Chief Mike Lay said at the time.
Dorsch says while the classes aren't for everyone they're a step in the right direction.
"I don't want people carrying who are not comfortable with it," he said.
