This email was sent Friday morning from Representative Windschitl (R) of House District 15.  As House Majority Leader he was the driving force behind HF654.  Below was what he sent out to his constituents and subscribers.  I wanted to share this with you. 

It is one thing for your elected officials to tell you “I support the Second Amendment,” but another to lead on it…  Continually.  In case you’re wondering where your House Representative may fall on this issue, take a look around at the folks who are offering communications about this huge win in the House and take special note of those silent on your civil liberties.  That speaks to what they think about you – the majority law-abiding among Iowans.  If they’re not exceedingly proud about restoring your liberties, eliminating more “Gun Free Zones” (AKA Killing Zones), and the metaphorical handshake associated with increased protection of your human rights, they either need a tune-up from you or shown the door.  -Michael Ware

Take note, unfortunately, no Democrats voted for HF654.  Two Republicans, Gary Mohr (HD 93) and Chad Ingels (HD68) broke with their caucus and ignored their party planks to vote against your civil liberties.  DO NOT VOTE FOR THEIR RE-ELECTIONS.  

From the Iowa House Majority Leader:

2A Freedoms

House Republicans are committed to restoring the freedoms that Iowans once rightfully enjoyed, but have lost over time due to government regulation. One of our priorities is restoring Second Amendment freedoms, which Iowans proved paramount to them at the ballot box last November with their overwhelming support for Proposition 1 which amended our state constitution with strong Second Amendment protections. On Wednesday, House Republicans took steps in expanding Second Amendment rights by passing HF 654, legislation to remove burdensome regulation on law-abiding gun owners.

As the law currently stands, Iowans are not permitted to have firearms in their privately-owned vehicles in many public spaces. Our bill allows firearms in locked vehicles on most publicly-owned property, including K-12 schools, regents universities, and community colleges. In this proposal, Iowans with their permit to carry may have their concealed handgun in their vehicle on K-12 school property while dropping off or picking up a student or staff member at the school without being a potential felon.

At universities and community colleges, all gun owners would be allowed to have their firearms safely stored in their locked vehicles. College students would be able to partake in shooting sports activities off campus, currently impossible with on-campus students having no ability to have their own firearms with them at college. Ultimately, this bill will make it easier for Iowans to enjoy their Second Amendment freedoms while going about their everyday lives.

Another important provision of HF 654 is clean up language to clarify parts of code that have been recently changed to allow more freedom for law-abiding gun owners. First, there is a legal difference between being able to possess a firearm and being able to carry a firearm. This difference has been distinguished in code for years, however when House Republicans eliminated the requirement to have a permit to carry last session phrases “carry” and “possess” were used in wrong areas of code causing confusion. This bill clarifies who can carry a firearm and who can only possess a firearm in the state, providing certainty and freedom for all Iowans moving forward.

Second, there are often times where a person cannot qualify for a permit to carry, but is not prohibited from possession weapons on their own property. HF 654 makes it clear a person can have a weapon on their own property even if they do not qualify for a permit to carry, so long as they are not prohibited from possessing firearms.

Finally, in previous second amendment legislation passed the courts were given power to add people prohibited from possessing firearms to the National Criminal Background Check System (NICS). NICS is administered by the FBI and is heavily regulated. If Iowa courts added a person to NICS they are the only entity that can remove that person. This created a conflict between the Iowa Department of Public Safety and the Iowa courts. HF 654 strikes the Iowa court’s power to add prohibited persons to NICS and returns the power solely to the Department of Public Safety.