Md. bill would put armed police officer in every school

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- A former police officer turned Maryland lawmaker says it's a matter of when, not if, a mass shooting happens in one of the state's schools.

Delegate John Cluster, a Baltimore County Republican, is hoping his bill to put an armed officer in every public school will prevent a shooting like the ones at Columbine or Sandy Hook. A House committee held a hearing on the bill on Wednesday.

Cluster is a former Baltimore County police officer. He says there are about 600 school resource officers throughout the state. His bill would pay for an additional 900 officers to be assigned to schools before the next school year.

The proposal would cost the state nearly $100 million this fiscal year.