MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) Alabama House Democrats want to put an armed police officer in each of the approximately 1,500 public schools in Alabama.
Representative Merika Coleman-Evants of Birmingham says the measure is aimed at preventing incidents like the recent school shootings in Connecticut.
At a news conference Wednesday, House Democrats also proposed creating a statewide lottery. House Minority Leader Craig Ford of Gadsden says proceeds from the lottery would be used to pay the cost of placing a resource officer in every school. Ford says proceeds from the lottery would also be used to pay for scholarships for Alabama high School graduates.
The bills were part of a package of priorities announced by House Democrats.
