Vander Plaats: Death threats 'morally wrong'

DES MOINES - Republican gubernatorial hopeful and critic of the Iowa Supreme Court ruling throwing out Iowa's ban on same-sex

marriage called death threats supporters of the court's decision deplorable.

Sioux City businessman Bob Vander Plaats, who has called for putting the issue on the ballot so voters could decide whether to amend the state constitution to recognize only marriage between one man and one woman, called it "morally wrong" to make death threats against advocates of same-sex marriage.

Vander Plaats was responding to news reports that the Iowa State Patrol has confirmed that Sen. Matt McCoy, D-Des Moines, who is openly gay, has reported being the target of a death threat since the court's April 3 ruling.

"Matt McCoy and I fundamentally disagree on the same-sex marriage issue and other issues, but I deplore anyone who would make a death threat against him or anyone else under any circumstance," Vander Plaats said Tuesday.

While the issue is probably the most emotionally charged public policy issue in the past 40 years, "but threats against any individual or group are absolutely the wrong way to express opposition to it," Vander Plaats said.

"I want to make it clear in the strongest possible language that I will never condone threats of violence against another person," he said. "Anyone make such a threat such be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Legislative leaders said they, too, have received threats or harassing phone calls in the wake the court's ruling.

Vander Plaats has said that if he were governor he would sign an executive order to allow a "time out" until the issue is put before voters on the ballot. He called on Gov. Chet Culver to take that action now.

"I believe Chet Culver can and should take that action to uphold his promise to do whatever it takes to defend the institution of marriage," Vander Plaats said.

Since the decision, Culver said he personally believes marriage is between one man and one woman, but opposes making that part of the constitution.