Ala. House Democrats: put officer in each school

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-Evans 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.