Legislative update week 5

Iowans-

It’s been another busy week on the Second Amendment front. While there’s been little movement in the legislature the Iowa Firearms Coalition has been working hard behind the scenes to further our cause.

Monday we partnered with the National Rifle Association, the American Suppressor Association, SilencerCo, and CrossRoads Shooting Sports to hold a suppressor education day for Iowa’s legislators and media. We had lawmakers from both sides of the aisle from both the House and the Senate in attendance. All of our guests walked away with a new-found appreciation for these devices. This video of WHO-TV’s Jannay Towne shooting a suppressed .22 pretty much sums up everyone’s response from the day.

This week we also finally got the tally of who voted for and against the pro-gun bills advancing through the House of Representatives. We’ve posted the list for each bill, including the contact information for each legislator. If you haven’t already please take a moment to thank those who voted to advance these bills. If you wish to contact those who opposed these bills we ask that you do so in a respectful manner. We’ve already received word that some of those who opposed the bills initially have gotten more information and may end up voting in favor of them when this legislation is brought before the entire House.

Also, don’t forget, February 23rd is our Second Amendment Day in the Iowa legislature. The day begins at 8AM. The House of Representatives gavels in at 8:30AM and the Senate begins their day at 9:00AM. There’s a chance we could see votes on the pro-gun bills in House as early as 10AM.

The Iowa Firearms Coalition will be providing t-shirts, talking points, and valuable information to those who join us. We’ll also be joined by the National Rifle Association and the American Suppressor Association. Please make plans to attend, and bring a friend or two as well!

Finally, we must address a recent post of ours that has collected a remarkable amount of attention. Late last week KWWL ran a heavily promoted and heavily edited story titled “The Gun Test.” In it a KWWL anchor brings in several young children, their parents and a Lieutenant from the Waterloo Police Department. The officer makes it clear the gun is unloaded, but repeatedly reminds the viewer this is still “an actual weapon.” The gun is placed next to a pile of toys and the children are left unsupervised. Just as the anchor intended the kids quickly found the gun and began pointing it at one another EXCEPT for the two who come from families that own guns.

It’s a powerful story that dramatically drives home the importance of talking to your kids about what to do if they come across a gun. But “The Gun Test” was also illegal under the Iowa law that blocks family’s right to teach their kids to shoot handguns. This law seriously hinders a parent’s ability to address a child’s natural curiosity. The Iowa Firearms Coalition believes Iowa families should be able to exercise their rights without fear of committing a crime. We also believe gun owning families should not have to wait until their children are 14 to teach them proper respect for firearms.

In the strongest possible way the Iowa Firearms Coalition encourages families everywhere, whether they own guns or not, to talk to your kids about what to do if you find a gun. The National Rifle Association’s Eddie Eagle program is an outstanding resource for all families. It teaches kids to:

KWWL’s Gun Test story was intended to scare parents into talking to their kids about guns. But it also highlights the rediculousness of Iowa’s youth shooting law. With your help we’re working to change that. The Youth Safety & Parental Rights Act recently passed a House committee vote 17 to 4 with major bipartisan support.

If you believe you have the right to teach your kids to shoot when they prove they’re ready, not when a handful of lawmakers think so, please contact your legislators and urge them to support the Youth Safety & Parental Rights Act.

More updates to come. Thank you for your ongoing support of the Iowa Firearms Coalition!

Iowa Firearms Coalition is an entirely volunteer, grassroots, Second Amendment advocacy group. Responsible for bringing uniformity to Iowa’s Permit to Carry process, IFC’s members work to protect and enhance Second Amendment rights in Iowa. An affiliate of the National Rifle Association, the IFC actively seeks to foster and promote the shooting sports. Sign up for our email list for the latest on Second Amendment issues in Iowa. You can support our work by becoming a member, or making a donation.