GOP Sen. Proposes Having Armed 'Grandparents' Guard Schools—And It's Not Going Over Well

Tennessee Republican Representative Marsha Blackburn was criticized after she proposed enlisting the help of armed military veterans, retired police officers, and even grandparents to prevent school shootings.

Blackburn's vision was centered around her SAFE Schools Act, a $900 million initiative aimed at fortifying educational institutions with enhanced security measures. However, critics argue that her plan fails to address the underlying issue of unrestricted access to powerful firearms.

Speaking to host Kayleigh McEnany during her appearance on Fox News, Blackburn expressed disappointment in the rejection of her proposal—which includes installing “bulletproof doors and the film on windows"—by Democrats, deeming their response "unseemly."

You can hear what Blackburn said in the video below.

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Blackburn said:

“To have this grant pool and to allow local school systems and local law enforcement to work together to bring in veterans and retired law enforcement to serve as a security officer at a school — they know how to use weapons."

"They know to de-escalate situations. I’ve talked to a lot of them. They like this idea."

"They are grandparents like we are — my husband and I are grandparents — and they want to be there to help protect children.”

Despite the undeniable public support for stricter gun control measures, even within conservative circles, Blackburn remains steadfast in her defense of the Second Amendment.

While her proposed solution focuses on enhancing school security, critics argue that it sidesteps the pressing issue of gun control reform.

Blackburn was called out by critics who said that simply fortifying schools without addressing the root cause of gun violence will only yield limited results.

Blackburn is ranked 13th on the list of senators who have received the most money from the National Rifle Association (NRA), having accepted over $1.3 million in donations.

In March, she was called out for her inaction on the matter of gun violence after she asked her Twitter followers to "join" her and her husband "in prayer for those affected" by the shooting at Nashville's Covenant School, which left three children and three adults dead.