I usually stray away from writing about school shootings. It seems to me that, as a country, we aren’t dissatisfied enough with seeing our little ones shot and killed in a place built for learning. It seems that we are more committed to gun rights these days than protecting our young learners.
I was thinking about all of this and more last week when a school shooting happened in Perry, Iowa – about 40 miles from where I live. The Perry shooting happened on the fourth day of the new year, but was already the third school shooting of 2024. A 17-year-old killed a sixth-grade student and wounded seven other people before authorities said he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
When I read the collective responses of the Iowa elected officials, including the Governor, U.S. Senators and Representatives, and the like, I picked up on a common theme from all of them, and one very important point all of them left out. Let’s take a look at their responses, according to a report by The Des Moines Register:
Governor Kim Reynolds: “Our hearts are broken by this senseless tragedy. Our prayers are with the students, teachers and families of the Perry Community.”
Lt. Governor Adam Gregg: “[I’m] sending heartfelt prayers for the entire community of Perry.”
U.S. Representative Zach Nunn: “After today’s tragic attack at Perry High School, I’ve remained in close contact with first-responders who have indicated to me that the school is now secure. As a parent and community member, I’m beyond angry. My heart, and my commitment to holding those accountable, is with the community of Perry. We have a duty to protect our children, families, and educators. I remain in touch with first responders and local leaders in Perry, and I will continue to monitor the situation closely. We will not rest until there is full accountability for this heinous act of violence.”
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley: “The Perry community is strong. Today’s appalling violence at Perry HS is heartbreaking. Barbara [Grassley’s wife] and I are grateful for quick response by school officials and law enforcement to protect students [and] restore safety.”
U.S. Senator Joni Ernst: “My team is in touch with officials in Dallas County about the heartbreaking situation at Perry High School. Join us in praying for the safety and recovery of those involved. Thank you to law enforcement for the swift response.”
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird: “I’m devastated by the senseless and horrific shooting at Perry High School this morning. As a mother, my heart aches for the families of all students and staff impacted.”
U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson: “I am sending my prayers to the Perry community, especially to the families, classmates, and friends of the victims. This is a horrific and senseless tragedy. No parent should have to get that phone call and no child or teacher should be afraid to go to school.”
U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra: “Lynette [Feenstra’s wife] and I are praying for the students, teachers, and families of the Perry community. We are heartbroken by this tragic violence, and appreciate the swift response by law enforcement and emergency personnel. All of Iowa stands behind Perry.”
All of the above are Republicans representing Iowans, but it was the responses of the Democratic leadership in the Hawkeye State that chilled me. Take a look:
Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum: “I want to start by just extending condolences to those in Perry, Iowa. I know that we are still waiting for more details on what happened there, but I think I can speak for all the Democrats and actually everybody in the state of Iowa that our hearts go out to the families, whatever has occurred there. And we will wait for more detail on that as well.”
State Auditor Rob Sand (the only Democrat to hold state-wide office in Iowa): “As a father, I am sickened by today’s horrors in Perry. Thank you to educators and law enforcement for their work to protect kids. Every Iowan can offer thoughts and prayers for the Perry community, but elected officials with the power to reduce senseless violence must do more.”
Based on The Des Moines Register’s reporting last week, only House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst said anything about guns and their role in school shootings, and her response was lukewarm at best: “It’s fair to say that at this point we don’t know what’s happening in Perry and so we don’t know what the impact of legislation in this state or gun policy in this state is on what happened in Perry. So right now we’re focused on monitoring what’s happening there and I’d rather keep the students and the faculty and the families as the focus right now on the Perry incident until we know what happened.”
I wonder if words like “our hearts are broken,” “heartfelt,” “beyond angry,” “appalling violence,” “heartbreaking,” “devastated,” “sending my prayers,” and appreciating “the swift response by law enforcement and emergency personnel” make any difference to the loved ones of Ahmir Jolliff, the 11-year-old who was shot three times and killed at Perry High School last week?
And here’s what is amazing to me, no Republican leader in Iowa is even interested in having a conversation about the role guns play in making schools safer for kids – just a conversation.
Hell, it seems like the Democratic leadership in the state are spooked by the conversation too.
And that is going to make it hard for our little Iowans, those kids who come to these places called schools to learn, not thinking that they might be on the losing end of a pump-action shotgun meant for pheasant hunting.
Til tomorrow. SVB
A Better Path to Learning 
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