A week ago today, both the Iowa House and Senate advanced SJR18, an amendment to our state Constitution affirming and recognizing the right of Iowans’ to keep and bear arms as a fundamental individual right. The Iowa Senate advanced the resolution 33-16, and shortly after, the Iowa House of Representatives voted 53-46 to concur. This is excellent news and a necessary step to add protections of our natural right to self-defense to the Iowa Constitution!

Today, we will see HF716 debated in the Iowa House to benefit hunters in Iowa. HF716 will modernize and clarify which cartridges are legal in Iowa for hunting deer with handguns and rifles. HF716 will also require DNR to define firearms using the federal definitions and stop their tinkering with AR pistols and gas guns. The bill also allows eliminates the prohibition on handgun hunting by those under the age of 17, thus allowing a person 20 years of age or less to hunt using a pistol or revolver if the person is under the direct supervision of a person who is at least 21 years of age who possesses a valid hunting license.

What about the Family Defense Act? 

Iowans shouldn’t be felons for picking up their kid from school while carrying.
Iowans shouldn’t be barred from securing a weapon inside a vehicle while at work.
Iowan’s shouldn’t be restricted from carrying when paying taxes at the courthouse. 

The Family Defense Act lifts the felony charges and ridiculous restrictions on these phony “gun-free zones” and allows Iowans who choose to defend themselves with a concealed weapon to exercise their fundamental right to do so. We don’t see what useful purpose these restrictions have ever served, but we do know that many Iowans will be better off with them removed. This significant legislation has cleared the necessary committee hearings and legislative funnels thus far, but it needs a date on the House floor to advance, and that is where we need YOU!

It’s simple. Our Representatives need to hear from us. All of us.
The best way? Go to a legislative forum and look them in the eye and ask if you can count on their support of the Family Defense Act!
Second best? Call them. Look up your legislator and give them a ring. Ask them if you can count on them to support the Family Defense Act!
The easiest and what we are asking every one of you? Use our advocacy campaign to email them and ask for their support of the Family Defense Act! 

It’s up to us to gain the momentum that the Family Defense Act needs to move forward!

If we don’t get every pro-gun, pro-liberty, pro-freedom Iowan to send a simple message, this common-sense bill may never get a vote, and we will see good people restricted by arbitrary boundaries of gun-free zones and possibly faced with felony charges.


Q: My legislator is solid pro-gun, and I’m not worried about their vote. Should I still send an advocacy message?
A: Yes! The legislators still need to hear from people to know that this change is essential to Iowans! If they understand it is important to Iowans, they may also be able to help persuade others and bring it forward.

Q: My legislator is one of those “gun sense” types that are eager to pass gun control. Should I still send an advocacy message?
A: Yes! Even the not-so-freedom loving legislators need to know what matters to their constituents and you still need to put them on the record.

Q: We’ve had good gun bills pass for years, and this bill should move forward. Do you really need me to send a message to my legislator?
A: No! We don’t only need just you to do it. We need you to forward this email and link to our advocacy campaign to your gun-owning friends and Iowans who need these sensible changes. Please do this today.  We can’t take anything for granted and absolutely must make our voices heard now to get the Family Defense Act passed for Iowans!