Leading Republicans in the state of Kansas are calling for the University of Kansas to fire David Guth, the journalism professor who wrote a series of tweets calling for National Rifle Association members’ children to be the next victims of a mass shooting.
Guth was recently placed on paid leave following tweets he sent in the wake of the Navy Yard shooting. Blaming supporters of gun rights for causing mass shootings, Guth wrote, “The blood is on the hands of the #NRA. Next time, let it be YOUR sons and daughters. Shame on you. May God damn you.” His teaching duties were reassigned, though he will still be paid. (Hateful prof says NRA members’ children should be next to die in mass shooting)
That’s not good enough, said Republican state Sen. Greg Smith.
“As long as Professor Guth remains employed by the University of Kansas I will no longer recommend the university as an institution worthy of attendance by any of my students nor, as a state senator, will I support any budget proposals or recommendations for the University of Kansas,” he said in a statement.
Several other Republican state legislators issued statements calling for KU to fire Guth.
“He went after the children of NRA members, and some of those children could be students in one of his classes,” said Republican state Rep. Brett Hildebrand in an interview with The Huffington Post. “That sets up a hostile environment for the students.”
Some of the legislators made it clear that the university’s funding would be at risk if administrators did not undertake efforts to remove Guth, a tenured professor and former associate dean of the journalism school.
Guth attempted to spin his mandatory leave of absence as something he agreed to do in order to protect himself and the university.
“I have had conversations with the university and have agreed to this action in light of the abusive email threats I and others have received,” he told The Daily Caller previously. (Update: Prof who called for deaths of NRA members’ children will get a paid vacation)
