Gun-rights advocates fired the first volley Thursday in a legislative effort to amend the state's constitution to guarantee an individual's right to possess and bear arms in Iowa. House Joint Resolution 2005 would add language to the Iowa Constitution establishing a fundamental right to "acquire, keep, possess, transport, carry, transfer and use arms to defend life and liberty and for all other legitimate purposes'' that cannot be infringed upon or denied. The resolution also provides that mandatory licensing, registration or special taxation as a condition of the exercise of that right would be prohibited and any other restriction would be "subject to strict scrutiny."

Read the article: The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)