Colorado lawmaker supports armed guards in every public school

A Colorado lawmaker spoke out Monday with an idea to curb what he called an “epidemic” of school shootings: he wants legislation to put armed security guards in every public school.

State Sen. Larry Crowder, a Republican from Alamosa, said he’ll sponsor the legislation to put the idea on a ballot once the cost is determined, according to our partners at the Pueblo Chieftain.

Crowder said he wants a task force to examine how the state can provide more security to Colorado’s 173 public school districts. He said it’s unlikely the task force would look at any gun restrictions.

“We need the same kind of security at schools that we have at our airports and the State Capitol,” Crowder said Monday. “Many districts couldn’t afford to do this for every school, which is why I want to put it to voters.”

Many school districts in Colorado already have school resource officers; it’s not clear how Crowder plans to supplement those officers.