‘Evil exists in this world.’ KY House sends bill arming school officers to governor.

After an extended and emotional debate, the Kentucky House of Representatives on Friday approved a Senate bill that would require school resource officers in the state to be armed with guns.

Senate Bill 8 is sponsored by State Senator Max Wise, R-Campbellsville. With a 78-8 vote, the bill now goes to Gov. Andy Beshear for signing.

Beshear’s spokeswoman Crystal Staley said Friday afternoon that “Gov. Beshear believes every child should be safe at school and he will review the bill once it arrives on his desk.”

“Evil exists in this world. True, true evil,” said State Rep. Matthew Koch, R-Paris, one of several lawmakers who spoke in favor of the bill Friday.

Fayette County Public Schools in Lexington have had armed officers in schools for years. State Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson, D-Lexington, said in a floor speech that they are a vital part of the school community.

State Rep. Steve Riley, R-Glasgow, said that as an educator, he had taken both loaded and unloaded guns from students and it made no sense not to arm school resource officers.

The legislation also requires school districts to provide one school counselor or school-based mental health provider for every 250 students, according to state Rep. C. Ed Massey, R-Florence, who carried Wise’s bill in the House.

Proponents in the House referred to the 2018 school shooting in Marshall County that killed two students and injured several others in advocating for the legislation.

Other legislators spoke against the bill. Some were concerned about how much money the bill cost school districts -- its still uncertain how well a wide-ranging 2019 school safety bill will be funded --and whether students would be safe with officers armed with guns.

State Rep. Attica Scott, D-Louisville, said she voted no for several reasons, including that it did not represent common sense gun safety.

This story was originally published February 7, 2020 at 11:29 AM.