Workers at the Iowa Capitol will soon be trained on how to respond to armed attackers. According to a document distributed to staff members ahead of the two-hour training course, "Participants will learn strategies for identifying and handling concerning behavior in colleagues as well as response options to increase survivability of active armed encounters." The training program was developed by the Iowa Department of Public Safety. Staff leaders from both chambers requested the training program about a month ago, although discussion regarding active shooter training has been ongoing for several months. Ed Failor, a Senate Republican spokesperson, says a new law allowing concealed handguns inside the Capitol is not the motivation for the training program, and "there is no downside in being prepared." Capt. Mark Logsdon, who oversees Capitol security, says the training will help employees respond to potentially violent situations. "I think if nothing else, it might have maybe spurred people to say, 'Hey, you know what? We live in a whole different age,'" he said. "We need to do what we can to make sure that we safeguard ourselves."