“The Iowa House approved two gun-rights measures Wednesday night that sparked Democrats to stage a walkout earlier in the day, stalling action for six hours,” w2cox.com reports. “One bill would allow people to use deadly force to protect themselves and the other called for writing gun rights protections into the Iowa Constitution . . . House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Des Moines [above] said the chamber’s 40 Democrats decided to return after deciding they’d made their displeasure clear regarding a lack of notice about the bills and concerns the proposals would gut the state’s gun laws. He said he feared the votes would turn Iowa into the Wild, Wild West . . .
“It would eliminate all gun laws,” he said. “This issue is very, very extreme. This proposal is not a mainstream proposal . . .
The future of the measures is unclear as they move to a Senate where Democrats have a 26-24 margin. Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, says he has no plans to bring the issue up for debate.
And while we’re at it, here’s some news from sj-r.com regarding the Illinois handgun registration bill championed by former White House Chief of Staff and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel:
Handguns would have to be registered and a new tax would be imposed on ammunition sales under bills approved Wednesday by the Illinois House Executive Committee.
With Democrats voting “yes” and Republicans “no,” the committee approved House Bill 5831, which requires handgun owners to register their weapons with the state. The bill is an initiative of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanual . . .
The bill carries a $65 registration fee for each gun. Davis said that might be changed to $20.
Todd Vandermyde, representing the National Rifle Association, said the bill is simply a tax on gun owners . . . Republican lawmakers said the bill won’t do anything to deter criminals.
“Criminals don’t care if they register guns,” said Rep. Mike Tyron, R-Crystal Lake.
Republicans also opposed House Bill 5167, which would place a 2 percent surtax on ammunition sales in the Illinois. Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, said the tax would raise $800,000 to $1.2 million, which would go to hospitals that treat gunshot victims. Cassidy said the tax would amount to one penny a bullet.
Vandermyde said a tax on ammunition sales is the same as taxing the right to vote.
“The courts say we have a right to own guns and ammunition,” Vandermyde said.