In its short five-year history, the shooting sports program at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, has been a success. So much so that the program is looking to hire a full-time coach. That move, however, has some alumni up in arms.
Rev. Rebecca Bentzinger, a 1977 graduate of the liberal arts college, created a “Petition for a Weapons-Free Simpson.” In it, she decried a $10,000 grant from the National Shooting Sports Foundation, stated that “gun-related activities have no place in our curriculum,” and called for the “immediate dissolution” of the program altogether. The petition has received fewer than 200 signatures.
In response, a petition of support was created. It currently has 2,324 signatures.
Last Friday, the school’s board of trustees voted to move forward with the hiring. “We’re hopeful this might be one factor that makes Simpson a more attractive option in the future,” said Simpson College President Jay Simmons.
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