The Iowa Senate

State of Iowa

Eighty-Second General Assembly

STATEHOUSE

Des Moines, Iowa 50319

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Contact: Kimberly Steenhoek, 515-281-6571

Senate Democrats Vote Down Proposal to

Require Campus Police to Carry Firearms

DES MOINES -- Republican senators today supported a proposal to require campus police at Iowa’s three public universities to carry guns.

“As we learned from the tragedy in Virginia, things can happen fast, and officers need to have the ability to intervene just as quickly, said Sen. Pat Ward (R-West Des Moines), who offered the proposal. “These officers need the proper tools to ensure they can effectively protect our young people.”

Ward offered her proposal as an amendment to the education appropriations bill (SF 588). The amendment was defeated by a 25-25 vote, with all 20 members of the Republican caucus voting for the measure.

Currently, the University of Iowa and Iowa State University are the only schools in the Big 10 and Big 12 conferences that do not arm their campus police with guns. Similarly, officers at the University of Northern Iowa also are not allowed to carry firearms.

“It’s unfortunate that Democratic Senators voted against the proposal, preferring instead to pass the buck to the Iowa board of Regents,” said Ward. “The massacre at Virginia Tech was a tragic wake-up call. It’s our number one responsibility as legislators to ensure the safety of our citizens. It’s our job to take action and take it now.”

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