IFC meets with Governor Reynolds to discuss school safety strategies and training.

(DES MOINES, Iowa) — Iowa Firearms Coalition (IFC) Chair John McLaughlin and volunteer lobbyist Richard Rogers met this week with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds to discuss strategies for keeping school children safe in the classroom and how best to harden soft targets. The meeting focused on the sobering statistics compiled by active-shooter researcher Ed Monk, which show that on average, one person is shot every ten seconds while waiting for 911 response to an armed attack on a school.

To address this issue, McLaughlin proposed that IFC lead the way with a private sector program that would test and evaluate the ability of school staff members to react appropriately after receiving firearms, tactical, and trauma medical training. McLaughlin noted that, “The Iowa Firearms Coalition is uniquely positioned to assist through our relationship with the nation’s top experts in all aspects of the active shooter threat.”

Iowa code allows schools to approve certain staff members to carry a concealed firearm. To date, however, only two public schools in northwest Iowa are developing plans to arm select staff members.

“Governor Reynolds clearly is passionate about school safety and was impacted by the data we provided,” said Rogers.

The proposal put forward by IFC has the potential to significantly improve the safety of Iowa’s school children. It remains to be seen whether IFC’s proposed program will be implemented statewide, but it is clear that the issue of school safety is being taken seriously by Governor Reynolds and other state officials.