Bill Requiring Armed Guards In PA Schools Passes Senate

HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Senate passed legislation Wednesday that would require schools in the state to have at least one armed guard on duty during school hours.

The bill — SB 907 — was sponsored by Sen. Mike Regan, a Republican representing Cumberland and York counties. It passed along party lines in a 30-19 vote and now heads to the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives for consideration.

Gov. Josh Shapiro opposes the measure, a spokesperson for his office told PennLive.com.

If enacted, the bill would require all school entities — defined as a school district, an intermediate unit, an area career and technical school, a charter school or a private residential rehabilitative institution — to have one armed school security personnel on duty.

Schools would be required to comply by the 2024-25 school year, according to the bill.

The proposed legislation would have previously required districts to place an armed guard in every school building over a period of three years. Criticisms about the cost prompted Regan to scale back the measure, PennLive.com reported.

“Compromise is key in the legislature, and in order to take a step forward, rather than remain stagnant and complacent with current security levels, I worked with leadership and members of my caucus to reach an agreement on the final version of the bill," Regan said in a statement posted to the Pennsylvania Senate Republicans website.

Sen. Lindsey Williams of Allegheny County was among the 19 Democrats who opposed the bill.

"I understand why this idea might feel popular. It sounds like an easy solution but easy solutions won’t solve the problem of deadly school shootings," she told PennLive.com. "It will give us the illusion of safety all the while making our kids three times more likely to be killed in a school shooting ... according to the Journal of the American Medical Association."

Meanwhile, Regan urged House members and Shapiro to approve the bill.

“I call on my colleagues in the House to think less about their own security and more about those we are putting at risk every day and to pass this important piece of legislation," Regan said.