Twice this year, the House has sent legislation supporting firearms rights to the Senate for consideration.
Both times, the Senate has failed to act. Recently, the House gave the Senate another chance. Senate File 510 was amended to include language the House has previously approved. This will be the third time the Senate will be given the opportunity to support firearms rights for Iowans.
Just like the previous bill, the amendment to SF 510 will increase firearms rights for law-abiding Iowans. The goal of this amendment is to ensure Iowans can practice their 2nd amendment rights without unnecessary interference or red tape.
In 2010, Iowa law was changed to make it easier for law abiding citizens to receive a permit to carry a firearm. While this change was helpful, several problems still exist in current law. The amendment attempts to address those issues. If the amendment passes, Iowans will still have to renew their carry permit every five years, but will only be required to retrain every 10 years.
Firearms suppressors are legal in a majority of states, currently they are not legal in Iowa. The amendment would legalize suppressors and create a process for a chief law enforcement officer to approve the paperwork necessary for the purchase of a suppressor. Federal law governs the purchase and possession of suppressors, this change would allow Iowans to have suppressors in accordance with federal law.
In Iowa, parents are prohibited from teaching a child, under 14, how to safely shoot a pistol or revolver. This amendment would eliminate that ban and allow parents the right to teach their children about firearms safety at any age.
Under current law, the sheriff’s department can provide a wide variety of information about weapons permit holders, and permit to carry holders, including their names and addresses.
The proposed amendment would require the person searching for the information to provide the permit holders name and another identifiable piece of information before the Sheriff could confirm or deny if the person has ever had a permit to purchase or a permit to carry. The Sheriff’s department would not be allowed to release the address or other information about the permit holder.
Finally, this amendment creates a Department of Public Safety controlled, private database. This database makes it easier for both law enforcement and permits holders to verify the validity of a permit.
Currently, permit information is spread out among sheriff’s offices and it is difficult for peace officers in other counties to verify permits. The new database would allow officers to verify permits while keeping permit information safe.