Now, the Kentucky Senate says schools should be able to hire armed guards to protect kids.

Senate Bill two would let school districts hire retired law enforcement and military veterans to carry a gun and respond to potential school shootings.

In 2019, the General Assembly required schools to hire a school resource officers, which are police officers.

But since then, not every school has been able to recruit and pay for those scenarios.

Proponents say this bill fills a gap, while opponents question the liabilities guards and school districts might face.

And what it came down to to for me, Mr. President, is would I rather have a trained armed veteran on site ready to act, or would I rather have a highly trained SRO or law enforcement officer 5 minutes away?

That's the choice we have.

We do not have we do not have perfect choices in this situation.

And so it comes down to that.

I would rather I have to have someone there protecting my kids who are in the school.

I want a trained veteran.

If they are, those are 5 minutes away.

He it doesn't work.

There's a live shooter at a school.

Who's in charge?

And is there a requirement that that guardian interact with local law enforcement to establish that protocol?

The bill is silent as to that.

I have concerns about that, not because I question the qualifications of the Guardian, but because I'm not sure how they interact with the system we know exists and know how exists.

And so while I want to give these districts, that option is one of my districts reached out and said, I'm concerned that this leaves some questions unanswered.

And it again delays our investment in the sorrows the school districts need.

And we've said that they're supposed to have.

Senate Republicans carried the bill in a 28 to 10 vote.

Three Republicans joined Democrats to oppose the measure.