Progress Iowa executive director Matt Sinovic issued the following statement in response to the tragic shooting in Lewistown, Maine, where at least eighteen have been killed:
“Every single one of us deserves to feel safe in our communities. Today we mourn those killed in yet another senseless act of violence. And we call for meaningful action from Congress, Governor Reynolds, and our legislature to keep Iowans safe.”
“Empty gestures like Governor Reynolds flying the flags at half staff doesn’t cut it. Republicans’ refusal to act on sensible gun legislation continues to wreak havoc in communities across the country. Their words mean nothing until real action is taken to protect lives. What Republicans refuse to admit is that most Americans, and most Iowans, support sensible firearm legislation.
“Despite these facts, Republican lawmakers continue to put the corporate interests of the NRA over innocent lives by blocking important gun safety legislation.”
In a statement earlier this afternoon, President Biden urged Republican lawmakers in Congress to “fulfill their duty to protect the American people” by passing legislation that would ban assault weapons and enact universal background checks.
Common sense gun safety legislation has stalled in the Republican-controlled Congress. And Iowa received an F from the latest report card issued by Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, due to the failure of Governor Reynolds and the Republican-controlled legislature to enact meaningful legislation, while rolling back safeguards.
