Republican Governor Terry Branstad is faulting President Obama for failing to outline a new approach to fighting terrorism. But Branstad himself is expressing opposition to one idea some of his fellow Republicans have proposed: allowing guns in schools. “That’s a very controversial issue and I’m not going to wade into it because it just divides the country,” Branstad says. “Instead, we need to focus on constructive things we can do that focuses on the real threat.”

Iowa schools are currently “gun-free” zones. Critics say that makes them a target for mass shootings.  “I’m a supporter of the Second Amendment, but I don’t want to try to divide people on an issue that people have real strong opinions on,” Branstad says. The governor says he is “satisfied” with the law as it currently stands. In 2013, Republicans in the the Iowa Senate tried to let teachers, administrators and other school staff who have a permit to carry a gun to be allowed to bring a gun to school.

Their proposal was not adopted in the Democratic-led Senate. That debate came in the wake of a mass shooting at a Connecticut school that killed 26. Last night, President Obama addressed the nation after a mass shooting at a government facility in California and Governor Branstad says Obama has made a “big mistake” by bringing up gun control rather than seeking to unite the country against a common enemy.

“I think people are concerned about the safety of our country and the threat we have from ISIS and this Islamic terrorism,” Branstad says. “We know that gun control is a very divisive issue and people have very different views on it.” Branstad made his comments to reporters after speaking to at an elementary school assembly in West Des Moines.

(Radio Iowa)