Gov. Kay Ivey’s ‘Alabama Sentry Program’ is barely a step forward on school safety

(K. Ivey/Facebook)

Yesterday, days before a primary election,  Governor Kay Ivey announced that she is launching the Alabama Sentry Program. Most of the political media in Alabama took the easy out on this story implying Ivey was arming people at school. The thought is that this is insane and Kay Ivey will lose votes for this crazy plan. She will not. They don’t know what they are talking about.

Ivey’s plan is not arming teachers. It is allowing administrators to be trained and allowing them to place a gun in a safe on school grounds, which is effectively worthless.

On WVNN this morning she expressed that she opposes teachers carrying in the classroom:

“The SAFE Council interviewed a number of stakeholders, including educators from all levels education, and no one recommended that a teacher be armed. A school administrator has access to all classrooms, all rooms, all over the school campus. And unlike teachers, the administrator does not have custodial responsibility for children on a daily bases.”

Why this matters:

This was called a “good first-step” by State Representative Will Ainsworth, who is running for Lieutenant Governor, but it really seems more like an election play. Ainsworth proposed the bill that would allow school systems to allow teachers to carry, but this is not that. This may be a step forward, but it is a baby step.

The idea that a mass-shooter will be stopped by a locked-up gun is almost comical.

Listen to the interview here:


@TheDaleJackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a conservative talk show from 7-11 am weekdays on WVNN

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Yellowhammer Multimedia Executive Board May 31, 2018