Bill Would Have National Guard Protect Schools

Would you feel safer sending your kids to school if the National Guard was outside? Well, that could be a possibility if Barbara Boxer has her way. The California senator has introduced a bill that would allow local governments to use the Guard to enhance school security, Politico reports. That could mean Guard troops literally standing outside school entrances, or it could mean putting them to work improving school infrastructure, or even helping police with desk work, so that more cops could guard schools.

The bill is modeled on legislation that allowed states to use the Guard to help with border security. She said some of the $640 billion spent on national defense should be used to protect schools—"Is it not part of the national defense to make sure our children are safe?" Meanwhile, some states are considering the idea of arming teachers. (More National Guard stories.)