We need a deeper discussion on gun violence in Iowa

Last weekend, while appearing on Iowa PBS’ “Iowa Press” program, Gov. Kim Reynolds was asked whether changes to state gun laws should be on the table in the wake of a deadly school shooting in Perry on Jan. Jan. 4.

The governor couldn’t discard the idea fast enough.

“No additional gun laws would have prevented what happened,” Reynolds said. “There’s just evil out there.”

It was a shallow, thoughtless and dismissive answer. And one that should give all Iowans pause.

While investigators continue their work piecing together what led to the shooting at Perry High School, there are many unknowns. And likely no single solution. Authorities have yet to say how the 17-year-old shooter obtained the guns he used to kill a sixth-grader and the high school principal while wounding four others. That would seem to be a piece of information necessary to draw a conclusion on whether gun regulations could help avert another tragedy in the future.

How does “evil” obtain weaponry? It’s a question the governor isn’t asking.

A governor who is more than willing to protect children from contrived threats -- transgender students in bathrooms, “pornographic” books in school libraries, curriculum that includes our history and girls and the invasion of transgender athletes in women’s sports -- has nothing to say about guns.

Guns have killed students in classrooms and on campuses across the country. It’s a real threat to children. Instead of conceding guns play any role, GOP lawmakers are looking for ways to further loosen restrictions. They may revisit a bill allowing gun owners to store secured guns in vehicles parked in public lots, including schools and colleges.

We urge the governor to pause and provide a deeper response. Convene an expert panel to review the complete investigative file, examine policy and programming innovations and design something intended to prevent further incidents.

Reynolds is right when she points to mental illness as a key ingredient in youth violence and mass shootings. But although the governor has increased funding for mental health care in certain areas, the overall system, including the children’s mental health system, are woefully underfunded with unequal access to services. Families face agonizing wait lists for care and some are forced to send kids out of state for help.

If Statehouse Republicans can afford to hand out billions of dollars in tax cuts, and sock away billions more in a budget surplus, there are funds available to vastly improve access to mental health care.

This is a deadly serious issue that deserves more than photo ops and easy platitudes. Having a deeper discussion could be a worthwhile process finding solutions beyond simply surrendering to evil.

(319) 398-8262; editorial@thegazette.com