Lawmakers ignore Iowa’s gun violence epidemic

According to the CDC, in an average year, over 250 people die by guns in Iowa and 80 percent of those deaths are by suicide. We would hope that our Iowa Legislature is addressing the issue of gun violence in an attempt to reduce such incidents.

These are some of the bills that our Republican Legislators have introduced instead:

A bill that would allow a person with a gun permit to carry that weapon in the buildings and on the grounds of a public college or university.

A bill that would allow employees to have a gun in a locked car in their employer's employee parking lot.

A bill that would allow for the possession of guns on school property if an individual is delivering a person or an item.

Do we want to send our children off to college knowing that guns are considered acceptable on campus?

Do we want to know that a disgruntled or terminated employee in our workplace can go to their car and get their gun?

Do we want to know that the car in front or behind us in the school pickup lane could have a gun in it?

As Iowans, do we really want this? If not, contact your Republican legislators and tell them 'no.”

Marcia Swift

Cedar Rapids