“I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment,” Iowa State Rep. John Forbes writes in an op-ed at desmoinesregister.com — that somehow neglects to mention his party affiliation (Democrat). “I am longtime member of the NRA. I have a permit to carry a concealed weapon.” Wait for it . . .
I have been victimized twice by gun violence. In one incident, many years ago, a man wanted for murder robbed my pharmacy and put a gun to the back of my head.
So I take a back seat to no one when it comes to the right to defend yourself.
Here we go . . .
However, I voted against the Omnibus Gun Bill, which makes sweeping changes to gun regulations in Iowa. It recently passed in the Iowa House and is now in the Senate.
The bill makes extensive changes to the justified use of reasonable force and deadly force, referred to as “stand your ground.” The bill removes the requirement under current law that someone must retreat at all, no matter where the person is, before using deadly force.
The bill also allows a person to be wrong in the estimation of the danger or force necessary as long as there was a reasonable basis for the estimation.
Iowa’s omnibus gun rights bill, now called House File 517, contains the following provisions [via NRA-ILA]:
– Stand Your Ground – Under HF 517 a law-abiding citizen would have no duty to retreat from any place where the person is lawfully present before using force to defend themselves.
– 4th Amendment protections in regards to “going armed with intent” – HF 517 clarifies that the intent element for the crime of “going armed with a dangerous weapon with intent to use it without justification,” a Class D felony under state law, cannot be presumed or inferred from the mere carrying or concealment of a firearm on or about the person or in a vehicle.
– Capitol Carry – Prevents the Director of the Department of Administrative Services from prohibiting the otherwise lawful carrying, transportation, or possession of any handgun in or on any capitol buildings.
– Restricting State of Emergency Powers – Prevents the Governor, any state official, an official of any political subdivision acting at the direction of the Governor, and other officials from exercising powers during a proclaimed state of emergency to prohibit, regulate, or curtail the otherwise lawful possession, carrying, transportation, transfer or defensive use of firearms or ammunition, or to seize or confiscate legally possessed firearms and ammunition.
– Youth Shooting and Parental Rights – HF 517 would give Iowa youth the ability to learn handgun safety only “under the direct supervision” of a parent or other specified responsible, authorized adult in a safe and responsible way.
– Permit Privacy – The bill restricts the use and disclosure of information acquired about holders of nonprofessional permits to carry weapons and permits to acquire firearms. The Commissioner of Public Safety and any issuing officer (County Sheriff) would be required to keep confidential all personally identifiable information about such individuals, except for expressly authorized disclosures.
Representative Forbes is not happy with the SYG bit of the bill. Or the rest. Because, well, it’s all too much!
I believe the current law covering self-defense is adequate and Iowa does not need an expanded definition. I believe this change will mean more gun deaths in Iowa. That has been the experience in other states . . .
As a gun owner and Second Amendment supporter, I could have supported some of those changes individually, but I believe taken together, this is not a good expansion of gun laws for Iowa.
Notice how Rep. Forbes considering gun rights “restoration” and “simplification” to be “expansion.” When you oppose Americans’ natural, civil and Constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms, Orwellian language manipulation is the order of the day.
The bill is now in the Iowa Senate, where Republicans hold a 29 to 20 majority. Governor Terry Branstad is a Republican. The bill’s chances remain excellent. Watch this space.