*SUNDAY: March for Our Lives in Des Moines*
Speakers & march scheduled for 1:30 PM at state capitol
Des Moines, Iowa — Led by local students, Iowans of all backgrounds will march together on Sunday at the state capitol for an end to the epidemic of gun violence in our country. This year’s
March for Our Lives in Des Moines is being coordinated by Progress Iowa, Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, March for Our Lives Iowa, and a planning committee of student and community leaders.
It has been more than a year since the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. In that time nearly one mass shooting has occurred every day.
Attendees for the Des Moines march are asked to register at www.progressiowa.org. Media covering the event are asked to RSVP to press@progressiowa.org.
Details about the 2019 March for Our Lives:
WHO:
Students and Iowans of all backgrounds
WHAT:
March for Our Lives – Des Moines
WHEN:
Sunday, March 24 at 1:30 PM
WHERE:
Iowa State Capitol, 1007 E Grant Ave, Des Moines, on the west capitol steps
SPEAKERS:
Melissa Zapata, Des Moines University medical student from Parkland, Florida
Isabella O’Connor, student at Roosevelt High School
Ellie Miglin, student at Roosevelt High School
Kyle Kopf, student at University of Iowa
Jace Baker and Jill Caranci, students at Valley High School
Gbomi Kayode, 5th grade student performing a spoken word piece
Latif Behroz, student at Scattergood school
Ako Abdul-Samad, State Representative from Des Moines
Connie Ryan, Executive Director, Interfaith Alliance of Iowa
Matt Sinovic, Executive Director, Progress Iowa
As this is happening, Republicans in the Iowa legislature are pushing hard for a constitutional amendment to make guns even more sacrosanct in Iowa. From a weekly newsletter from my local rep, Dave Kerr:
“While most bills that come through the House are noncontroversial, there are times when the votes are sharply divided by party. This week the House and Senate restarted the process to ensure Iowans’ Second Amendment freedoms are enshrined in the state Constitution for future generations.
Iowa is one of only six states that doesn’t already have Second Amendment protections in its Constitution. House Republicans believe it is long overdue that Iowa joins the 44 other states with this language in the Constitution. The proposed amendment is simple and easy to understand. It reads:
“The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The sovereign state of Iowa affirms and recognizes this right to be a fundamental individual right. Any and all restrictions of this right shall be subject to strict scrutiny.”
This amendment recognizes that Iowans have a fundamental, individual right to protect themselves, their families, and their liberty. It requires that the highest level of judicial review be applied to any government restriction on that right, just like other fundamental rights.”
I see nothing in there about my rights to live. I see nothing about responsibility.
Guns, when used as intended, kill. That is their purpose. As such they should be engineered with safety in mind much as cars, which have other purposes but can kill when used irresponsibly, are. As many, I am old enough to remember when the auto industry fought any safety features such as seat belts and air bags.
As with all gun talk these days the leading preamble of the second amendment is conveniently omitted. “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State,” Where is that clause?
This is being played out with a background of Americans watch as New Zealand responds to a horrible slaughter of innocents with laws that will allow people to continue to own guns, but not to turn themselves into a small army. Sensible laws.
As usual in America we are only days from the next mass murder.
