Tenn. GOP Sens’ Bill: $900M for Armed Guards at US Schools

Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., are reintroducing the SAFE School Act to set a $900 million grant to fund armed guards, veterans, or police for U.S. public and private schools.

“I am beyond heartbroken at the shooting that occurred at The Covenant School in Nashville,” Blackburn said in a video this week after a mentally ill transgender shooter shot and killed three 9-year-old kids and three Christian school staff members. “No parent should have to endure what these families are experiencing.

“Schools should be places where children are safe to learn, play, and be children. My legislation with Sen. Hagerty will allow both public and private schools to train and hire veterans and former law enforcement officers to serve as school safety officers as well as increase physical security measures to harden schools. By providing these critical funds, we can help protect our precious children and secure our schools.”

Parkland, Florida, father Andrew Pollack, whose daughter Meadow was shot and killed, noted that mentally ill shooters are only stopped by good guys with guns, so the U.S. should staff them.

“We can’t predict where or when the next school shooting will happen, but we know how it will be stopped: by a security officer with a gun,” said Pollack, now a School Safety Advocate.

“The police reacted bravely in Nashville, but in a shooting every second matters, and the SAFE School Act will save lives by ensuring that more schools are guarded by armed security officers.”

The grant structure will allow states to allocate funds to the security measures of their choosing, whether it’s armed guards, surveillance systems, silent alarms, automatic locking mechanisms, metal detectors, or ballistic film.

“The Covenant School community, the city of Nashville, and our home state of Tennessee have suffered unspeakable, heartbreaking loss this week, and I join the families of the victims and all those affected in mourning this incomprehensible tragedy,” Hagerty said. “The heroic bravery of law enforcement officers and first responders who quickly ran into danger, as well as the actions of teachers, staff, and students who deployed security measures, saved many other lives and underscore the critical role of school-security planning and personnel in the face of depraved, evil acts.

“That’s why I’ve joined Sen. Blackburn in introducing this legislation to provide additional security resources to keep our schools and children safe.”

The SAFE School Act is backed by Tennessee GOP Gov. Bill Lee, who lost two family friends this week who were school staffers.

“Maria and I continue to mourn the loss of precious life and pray for The Covenant School community amid unspeakable tragedy,” Lee said. “Nothing is more important than our students safely returning home from school every day. At the state level, Tennessee is taking significant action to strengthen physical security at schools, support law enforcement, engage parents and boost mental health resources. As Tennessee moves forward, I commend Sens. Blackburn and Hagerty for proposing legislation to secure public and private schools across the nation.”

Law enforcement officials support the funding for school security, despite progressive Democrats – who have backed defunding the police and see gun control as their solution – being unlikely to support the Republican-led effort.

“Any effort to detect, deter, and prevent these kinds of attacks is vitally important,” Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director David B. Rausch said. “Providing specially trained, armed professionals to more schools and more funding to ensure these facilities are as secure as possible are two immediate steps we can take.

“I appreciate Sen. Blackburn’s leadership, in the wake of this week’s tragedy, to champion this legislation, as one part of the broader conversation needed in this country to work toward curbing this kind of senseless violence.”

Hamilton County, Tennessee, Sheriff Austin Garrett called the funding “essential” for protecting children and administrators.

“Our children have the right to a safe educational environment and when it comes to their protection, we as elected officials and community leaders have a duty and obligation to ensure we are doing everything within our power, working together, to support and ensure their safety,” Garrett said.

There is also the added benefit of providing jobs for America’s veterans and law enforcement officers.

“Veterans and former law enforcement officers have unique skills that already allow them to serve as a force multiplier in public spaces, ensuring these trained public safety officers can also maximize school safety will serve to mitigate the tragic, lethal consequences of school shootings,” Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association President Larry Cosme said.

National Police Association spokeswoman Betsy Smith, a retired sergeant, noted Democrats and Hollywood liberal activists are frequently protected by guns and security – while they call for gun control.

“At the recent nationally televised Academy Awards, celebrities were protected with metal detectors, armed guards and other target hardening,” Smith said. “Unfortunately, the majority of our nation’s schools lack the security resources to provide similarly safe environments.

“So many events and venues are staffed with full time or part time security personnel who are often retired law enforcement officers, military veterans or both. These people frequently have decades of special training, and, more importantly, a heart to serve and the mindset to protect.

“The National Police Association encourages the support of the SAFE School Act, a grant program that will allow both public and private schools to hire and train veterans and retired law enforcement personnel as school security officers.”

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