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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

A Liberal's Proposal I Agree With: National Guard Use To Protect Schools

By Susan Duclos

Never let it be said that a conservative cannot get behind an idea just because a liberal proposes it.

One of the most liberal Senators in existence, Barbara Boxer (D-CA), proposes to allow Governors the use of the National Guard, how they see fit, to protect our nation's schools. (H/T @gbmegafan)

Boxer, who said the legislation is modeled after a previous law that had National Guard troops help with border security, would allow governors to decide how troops would be used at schools. While a governor already has the power to send troops to a school, the legislation would allow for the governors to access federal funds for those troops, she said.

While not ruling out the possibility of military-clad National Guard troops at school entrances, Boxer also said those troops could be used to help improve infrastructure at schools or relieve police officers from desk work that would allow the police departments to assign more cops to schools.
Boxer pointed to the $640 billion national defense bill and argued that some of those funds should be used to protect schools.

“Is it not part of the national defense to make sure our children are safe?” Boxer said.

Boxer said she has not spoken with any of her colleagues or with the White House, which today is announcing a task force to look at gun control.

Boxer said her proposed legislation is in response to recent calls that teachers and school officials be allowed to carry weapons in order to protect schools.

“I believe in protecting our schools with trained law enforcement,” Boxer said. “This proposal is an answer to that proposal.”

An idea every conservative should be able to get behind, for true bipartisanship, to protect school children.

We send troops overseas, some of which are used to protect schools in other countries, from violence, why wouldn't we offer the same protection to our own nation's children?