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Today, Iowa’s
84thGeneral Assembly will convene and the NRA, with
support from Iowa Firearms Coalition, the Iowa Rifle and Pistol Association,
Iowa Sportsman’s Federation, and other pro-gun activists, will pursue continued
success with a pro-gun reform agenda to make Iowa a leading pro-Second Amendment
state. The following is a list
ofsomeof the NRA’s top legislative priorities
in theHawkeyeStatein
2012:
Iowa Right to Keep
andBearArmsStateConstitutional
Amendment
This proposed constitutional amendment
would provideIowa – one of only six states without a state
constitutional provision protecting the right to keep and bear arms –
the strongest and most comprehensive firearm rights protection of any
state, guaranteeing our Right to Keep and Bear Arms for future
generations. The process of amending the state constitution with
these protections would require passage of the legislation in two separate
general assemblies followed by ratifications by voters on the
ballot.
“The right of individuals to acquire,
keep, possess, transport, carry, transfer, and use arms for defense of life and
liberty and for all other legitimate purposes is fundamental and shall not be
denied or infringed. Mandatory licensing, registration, or special taxation as
a condition of the exercise of this right is prohibited, and any other
restriction shall be subject to strict
scrutiny.”
Please click the following link for an
overview of states that have state constitutional protections for the Right to
Keep and Bear Arms: www.nraila.org/maps/skba.jpg
“Shall-Issue” Carry
Reform
As of January 1,
2011,Iowabecame a “shall-issue” state and has one of
the strongest shall-issue statutes in the country. The NRA’s shall-issue law
proved to be a great success, the Des Moines Register reported nearly 95,000
Iowans are now exercising their rights – up from approximately 39,000 in
2010.
Please click the following link for the
Des Moines Register story: www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20111223/NEWS/312230040/-Unbelievable-rise-in-weapons-permits
In an effort to continue expanding the rights
of carry permit holders, the NRA is proposing a number of changes including
removing burdensome Department of Natural Resources provisions (e.g. prohibiting
carrying while on recreational vehicles or while archery hunting); making permit
holder information confidential; improving the recognition of Iowa’s permits by
allowing the Department of Public Safety to enter in to reciprocity agreements;
removing the burdensome and unnecessary retraining requirement; and expanding on
the criteria to satisfy the initial training requirement.
“Personal and Family Defense
Act”
The proposed legislation would allow Iowans to
defend themselves and their families—removing a person’s duty to retreat—from
any place they have the legal right to be. It would provide improved
protections for individuals in their home, place of business, or vehicle.
Additionally, any Iowan who used justifiable force could not be held
civilly or criminally liable.
Firearms Preemption
Reform
Upon passage of the new shall-issue law, some
counties inIowasought to ban firearms from public
properties including parks - effectively denying your ability to protect
yourself outside your home. Fortunately, Iowahas a
firearm preemption law that prohibits counties from passing ordinances that are
more restrictive than state law. However, the preemption statute
needs to be strengthened to prevent current and future attempts to circumvent
the law. The proposed legislation, crafted on the NRA’s successful
preemption statute in Florida, rests the sole authority on these matters with
the state legislature and prevents a rights-infringing patchwork of local
ordinances.
Please click the following link for an overview
of the NRA’s position on the firearms preemption violations: www.nraila.org/media/PDFs/IAFirearmPreemptionLtr_Keokuk_.pdf
Emergency Powers
Reform
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, local
authorities inNew
Orleans,Louisianaconfiscated firearms from lawful
owners who had no other means of protection during one ofAmerica’s
worst natural disasters. Since the passage
ofLouisiana’s “emergency powers” legislation, approximately 31
states have passed similar legislation. The NRA’s proposed language would
prevent any state or local authority from confiscating any firearms during a
state of emergency—a necessary safeguard for all Iowans.
Please click the following link for an
overview of state’s that have “emergency powers” statutes: www.nraila.org/maps/ep.jpg
Preventing the Ban on Traditional
Ammunition
Last August, the Administrative Rules Committee
met to review the Natural Resource Commission's (NRC) final rule
forIowa's first dove hunting season in nearly a century. By a 9-1
bipartisan vote, legislators overwhelmingly rejected the NRC's underhanded
attempt – after the lead-issue was resoundingly rejected by the full Iowa House
– to include a statewide traditional ammunition ban in the final dove rule. The
vote allowed for a "session-delay" of the lead ammunition ban, meaning the
legislature will have to act during this legislative session to remove the ban
from the final dove hunting rule.
It is important to note that no
population-level impacts on doves or other species have been shown to result
from the use of traditional ammunition and the NRC seemed to be relying on
emotion and politics rather than sound science. There were reports
of involvement of some national anti-hunting groups that would like nothing more
than to see hunter numbers decline with a traditional ammunition ban. The
NRA will be working with a bipartisan coalition of
legislators and organizations to protect traditional ammunition.
Please continue to
visitwww.nraila.orgfor additional information and updates on the above
legislation.
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