Sen. Graham suggests volunteer ex-military members protect schools, following Uvalde massacre

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham says he's working on establishing a certification process for former military members to go through school security training and become available to school districts throughout the country, in the aftermath of the Texas elementary school shooting last month.

The South Carolina lawmaker and military veteran, announced his project this past weekend on Twitter, in a post in which he said the country has "hundreds of thousands of well-trained former military member" who could, should they be willing, assist in strengthening security around U.S. public schools.

"Our schools are soft targets," wrote Graham less than two weeks after the massacre at the Robb Elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, in which 19 childrens and two adults were fatally shot.

Graham argues schools should have security like that seen in "courthouses, banks, capital buildings, etc.

"They contain our most valuable possession – our children, the future of our country – and must be protected," he said.

The Democrat-controlled House is expected to vote on a gun-control measures, which are not expected to pass in the Senate, despite a plea last week from President Biden to Congress to pass strong measures.

In the Senate, Sens. Chris Murphy, a Connecticut Democrat, and John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, are holding negotiations on a more moderate gun control bill they hope can get the required 60 votes for passage.