Progress Iowa Executive Director Matt Sinovic issued the following statement in response to Governor Reynolds blaming Iowa’s public schools for the deadly shooting at East High in Des Moines last week:
“Our hearts go out to the families and victims of last week’s senseless shooting at Des Moines’ East High. Tragedies like these have become all too common.
“But today, Governor Kim Reynolds chose to pass the buck onto Iowa educators in her first public comments about the tragic shooting. She could have offered solutions. She could have offered support. Instead she passed the buck, blaming the hard working education professionals of our state’s already underfunded schools. Reynolds has had a decade as Lt. Governor and Governor. During that time we’ve seen weakened gun laws, including lowering the age of handgun use to 14 and removing required permits for purchasing firearms.
“The Governor should be ashamed of herself and apologize immediately for her heartless accusations today. Our public schools aren’t failing our students. If she’s looking for someone to blame, she should look in a mirror.”
