Kline to hold hearings on school shootings

WASHINGTON - Most of the congressional reaction to the December massacre of 26 students and teachers at the Sandy Hook Elementary School has focused on the Democratic-controlled Senate. On Thursday, House Republicans announced that the Education Committee, led by Minnesota U.S. Rep. John Kline, would hold hearings on school safety later this month.

The hearing is scheduled for Feb. 27 in Washington and, according a committee press release, will focus on "how schools prepare and recover from threats of violence." No witnesses have yet been announced.

"We have a responsibility to examine what is and is not working when it comes to school safety," said Kline in a statement.

By making the hearings about school safety rather than gun control, House Republicans are signaling that they are not interested in pursing the more ambitious agenda laid out in the Senate, which could include universal background checks for gun purchasers and limitations on large ammunition magazines.

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