The principal of a school in central Iowa died from his injuries 10 days after the shooting of a high school student that left one student dead and several people injured, his family announced Sunday. “Dan Marburger made the ultimate sacrifice,” the family wrote on the GoFundMe fundraising page. “After ten days he lost his battle and this tragedy took his life.”
On January 4, a 17-year-old high school student opened fire at Perry High School, where Dan Marburger was the principal. “Dan suffered serious injuries while taking risks to ensure that as many students as possible could safely exit the building,” his family said. The shooter, identified as Dylan Butler, committed suicide. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (Republican) praised the “heroics” of Dan Marburger.
The little-discussed topic of firearms
The state of Iowa is preparing to open the Republican Party's primary season on Monday when its voters vote in small neighborhood gatherings called caucuses. However, the issue of weapons did not play a major role in the election campaign.
At a meeting in Iowa City after the Perry tragedy, poll favorite Donald Trump declared, “It's just terrible,” before quickly adding, “We have to move on.” With more guns than people, the United States has the highest firearm death rate of any developed country Countries.
Shootings are a recurring scourge that successive governments have failed to address as many Americans remain attached to their guns.