Boxer proposes letting governors use National Guard troops to increase school security

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) is proposing allowing governors to use National Guard troops to increase security at schools in the wake of the Newtown, Conn. shooting.

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.”

While Boxer’s proposal doesn’t directly deal with gun control, she said she’s hopeful a “sea change” is coming with more conservative members of her caucus to allow for more gun restrictions. She pointed to Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), recalling he had aired a commercial that showed him using a rifle to shoot a hole in her cap-and-trade legislation “to make a point.”

“I don’t know where they will line up,” Boxer said, also referring to the NRA. “In the meantime, let’s make sure our kids are protected in our schools.”