School shootings and the Baby Olivia bill

 

In light of the tragic shooting at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, a question resounds from coast to coast: Why do so many school shootings take place?

One side, the abortion party, presents a singular explanation: guns. But this rings hollow as a stand-alone explanation. 

Minneapolis has fairly strict gun laws. It appears the shooter purchased his weapons legally. He said he targeted this school because it was a ‘gun-free zone.’

But even more, the percentage of households that own guns is pretty consistent with historical benchmarks according to Gallup polls: 

• 49% of households owned guns in 1959
• 51% of households owned guns in 1993
• 48% of households owned guns in 2025

If guns were the root cause of the problem, why have shootings spiked the past dozen years compared to these earlier periods?

Consider:

• 444 school shootings occurred from 1999 thru 2012,
• but 1954 school shootings occurred from 2013 thru 2025 (which doesn’t even include the Minneapolis shootings), more than quadrupling the number of the preceding 13 years.

[Source: Statista.]

The role of guns certainly can’t be discounted, but something else is clearly at work here.

The pro-life side of the aisle’s position

The pro-life side of the aisle sees the problem as more complex than guns alone. Ultimately, we’re concerned that a growing number of young people don’t find any meaning in their lives.

Why? Not sure, but it seems like we would do our children and communities a big favor if we did find out, the sooner the better. Researchers are at work on it.

For example, the Forge Men’s conference brought in author, pediatrician, and national speaker, Dr. Leonard Sax, earlier this year. He provided persuasive evidence that smart phones and social media are toxic to our kids, warping their very sexuality while cultivating anxiety and depression. Many in the medical community suggest the cure is to just find your child the right pill to take, something Dr. Sax warns against.

[For a deeper dive into the five factors driving the growing epidemic of unmotivated boys, check out his book, “Boys Adrift.”]

But there’s more to it than that.

Parents don’t take their kids to church like they used to. Forty-two percent of U.S. adults attended church on a weekly basis in 2000, compared to 38% in 2011, compared to 30% by 2023. [Per Gallup.]

Does Godlessness matter?

Could a lack of God in kid’s lives have anything to do with their rudderless lives? How could it not? If we are made in God’s image, we are special. Life has meaning. St. John Henry Newman expressed it well:

“God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next.”

If one doesn’t believe in God, life’s meaning and mission melts away. If life has no meaning, self-harm spikes at the same time that barriers to hurting others erodes.

The Roe v Wade decision in 1973 institutionalized the belief that life has no intrinsic meaning, because your life was contingent on someone else, a denial of the doctrine of fundamental rights espoused in the Declaration of Independence.

In other words, if your conception was inconvenient, your life hung in the balance, dependent upon whether your parents were willing to allow you to live … or not. 

A culture adrift

Sixty-five million abortions later, we’ve formed a culture adrift. Young people are desperate to find some meaning in their lives. They’re confused by a culture that suggests abortion is a moral good, and that in fact women should joyfully “shout their abortion.”

Pulse believes that the mysterious miracle taking place in a women’s womb over a span of 40 weeks gives us a glimpse into the meaning of life. If only young people could get a closer look at the amazing journey each human being undertakes at the beginning of their life! Thanks to the Iowa Legislature, now our kids will have a chance to learn more about the adventure of life in the womb with the passage of the ‘Baby Olivia’ bill.

If you’re not familiar with the details, Pulse Executive Director, Maggie DeWitte, answers questions posed to us by concerned parents:

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A closer look at the Baby Olivia Bill

What is the Baby Olivia bill?

Senate File 175 was signed into law by Governor Reynolds on June 6, 2025.  This law incorporates provisions related to pregnancy and fetal development into the human growth and development and health curricula provided by school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to students enrolled in grades five through twelve.

This law states that students in grades 5th through 12th receive age-appropriate and researched-based human growth and development instruction.

This instruction includes showing a high-definition ultrasound video showing the presence of the brain, heart, and other vital organs in early fetal development.  They are also required to show a high-quality, computer-generated rendering or animation, or an ultrasound or other real image, that depicts the humanity of the unborn child by showing prenatal human development, starting at fertilization, noting significant markers in cell growth and organ development throughout every stage of pregnancy.

The law also stipulates that this instruction shall not be provided by an entity that performs abortions, promotes abortions, contracts or subcontracts with an entity that performs or promotes abortion, becomes or continues to be an affiliate of any entity that performs or promotes abortions, regularly makes referrals to an entity that provides or promotes abortions.

When will it be implemented?

This bill becomes the law when signed by the Governor.  Governor Reynolds signed this bill into law on June 6, 2025.

The bill states that the state board of education shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer and interpret this law.  To date, the rule-making process has not been implemented by the Department of Education.

Does it apply to public and private schools?

This bill applies to school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to students enrolled in grades five through twelve.

Criticism

Many in the pro-life movement have had a chance to view the wonderful film produced by Live Action (above). What is the criticism of the film by Planned Parenthood, and does the pro-abortion side have a point?

The criticism of the Baby Olivia video produced by Live Action is that it is not medically or scientifically accurate.  The video was produced with the instruction of medical doctors.

Baby Olivia was reviewed and certified to be accurate by licensed OB/GYNs, and it has been endorsed by experts in the field.

Are there other films available for schools to use? Are we able to find them online somewhere?

There are other videos that can be used in addition to the Baby Olivia video; but this video is by far the most accurate.  There is another video called Baby Steps produced by American Life League that can be used as well.

Accountability

Can schools just ignore the law? Or is there a process of accountability in place?

Schools that ignore this will be breaking the law.  The accountability comes from every Iowan checking with their school district to ensure this law is being enforced.  I encourage everyone to contact their local school district and ask what materials and videos they will be using to comply with this newly passed law.

Should pro-lifers be doing anything to support the law? Like, should we be reaching out to our schools?

Yes, everyone should be checking in with their school district to ensure the law is being followed!

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Thoughts and prayers?

The abortion side of the aisle has descended into excoriating those who express “thoughts and prayers” when a tragedy like the Minneapolis shooting occurs. They demand unspecified action of some sort. 

Pulse believes in the power of prayer. We believe the Baby Olivia bill is an answer to one of our prayers. It offers a reasonable starting point to rebuilding a culture of life torn down by the abortion culture.

In the meantime, let us continue to pray on behalf of the victims of gun violence.  May God show us the way to  peace.