This morning a 17-year-old, male student in Santa Fe, Texas armed with pipe bombs was armed with his father’s Remington 870 short-barreled shotgun and a .38-caliber Rossi revolver, a law enforcement official told NBC. shot and killed 8 students and 2 teachers at his high school. Earlier this week, a 19-year-old male former student opened fire at a public high school in Dixon, Illinois which fortunately no one was injured by, but was shot by a School Resource Officer. Last Friday, a 14-year-old boy in Palmdale, California with an SKS-style carbine fired about 10 shots and injured another student who was later operated on and is recovering.
In two of the cases, the suspects surrendered themselves to police and were taken into custody. The third was treated and remanded into police custody. With these incidents, 22 school shootings have taken place in 2018, so far or 1 per week. President Trump issued the following statement: "My administration is determined to do everything in our power to protect our students, secure our schools, and keep weapons out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves and to others. Everyone must work together at every level of government to keep our children safe. May God heal the injured and may God comfort the wounded, and may God be with the victims and with the victims’ families. A very sad day, very, very sad." VP Mike Pence said, "We're with you. You are in our prayers and I know you are in the prayers of the American people." Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas released this statement, "Once again, our Nation grieves another mass murder. Heidi and I are keeping the students and faculty of Santa Fe High School in our fervent prayers."
So far, the President, Vice-President and Senator's words and actions have been in direct opposition of what they have said. So far, Trump's administration has paid lip service to the lives lost. In fact, the President has walked back most every hopeful word he has offered to students and families of students, teachers, and staff who have sought action resulting in sensible gun laws being taken up by Congress.
But how about a proactive approach in Iowa? Will our acting Governor and future leaders have to offer up such statements to the parents of students, teachers, and staff? Or will we bide our time until such event happens here and then offer "thoughts and prayers" when better laws would have been more effective?
It won't likely happen with acting Governor Kim Reynolds at the helm. Radio Iowa reported that she has said "the Republican-led legislature has already passed a bill that requires all Iowa school districts to have a safety plan and conduct yearly active shooter drills. As for new gun regulations, Reynolds is opposed. She said the priority should be enforcing the laws already on the books and updating the existing federal background check system."
Senate President Charles Schneider, again according to Radio Iowa "said the Iowa legislature is setting aside $35 million in grant money to help schools pay for safety upgrades to buildings, like lock down systems or stronger classroom doors. But Schneider, like the governor, suggested new gun regulations are not on this year’s agenda. “We always have to take into consideration the balance of school safety and the balance of constitutional rights as well,”"
In two of the cases, the suspects surrendered themselves to police and were taken into custody. The third was treated and remanded into police custody. With these incidents, 22 school shootings have taken place in 2018, so far or 1 per week. President Trump issued the following statement: "My administration is determined to do everything in our power to protect our students, secure our schools, and keep weapons out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves and to others. Everyone must work together at every level of government to keep our children safe. May God heal the injured and may God comfort the wounded, and may God be with the victims and with the victims’ families. A very sad day, very, very sad." VP Mike Pence said, "We're with you. You are in our prayers and I know you are in the prayers of the American people." Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas released this statement, "Once again, our Nation grieves another mass murder. Heidi and I are keeping the students and faculty of Santa Fe High School in our fervent prayers."
So far, the President, Vice-President and Senator's words and actions have been in direct opposition of what they have said. So far, Trump's administration has paid lip service to the lives lost. In fact, the President has walked back most every hopeful word he has offered to students and families of students, teachers, and staff who have sought action resulting in sensible gun laws being taken up by Congress.
But how about a proactive approach in Iowa? Will our acting Governor and future leaders have to offer up such statements to the parents of students, teachers, and staff? Or will we bide our time until such event happens here and then offer "thoughts and prayers" when better laws would have been more effective?
It won't likely happen with acting Governor Kim Reynolds at the helm. Radio Iowa reported that she has said "the Republican-led legislature has already passed a bill that requires all Iowa school districts to have a safety plan and conduct yearly active shooter drills. As for new gun regulations, Reynolds is opposed. She said the priority should be enforcing the laws already on the books and updating the existing federal background check system."
Senate President Charles Schneider, again according to Radio Iowa "said the Iowa legislature is setting aside $35 million in grant money to help schools pay for safety upgrades to buildings, like lock down systems or stronger classroom doors. But Schneider, like the governor, suggested new gun regulations are not on this year’s agenda. “We always have to take into consideration the balance of school safety and the balance of constitutional rights as well,”"
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