As Iowa lawmakers consider a long list of proposals aimed at making the state’s gun laws far less restrictive, 83 percent of Iowans say they want current laws left as they are or strengthened, according to a
Des Moines Register poll.
“The problem we have is that the NRA [National Rifle Association] is the one that has all the money, and their members and people who are gung-ho on more gun availability are most active on this,” Carlos Jayne, a lobbyist for Iowans for Gun Safety, told the Register Wednesday. “That makes it hard for the legislators to simply respond to what they know is right, because they know the NRA is going to come after them in elections.”
But Chris Rager, an NRA spokesman, told the paper the gun bills now under consideration reflect a national movement for fewer restrictions.
“I think there’s a growing population of people who have become increasingly interested in expanding gun rights in Iowa, and I think the proof to that are permit numbers,” Rager said.
The Register noted that at least 100,000 new gun permits have been issued since January, 2011, when a new law making Iowa a “shall-issue state” took effect. The law removed many of the permit restrictions that had been on the books for years.
Now lawmakers are considering a number of bills that go even further. For example, one “stand your ground” measure would allow people to use deadly force whenever they feel a perceived threat of injury of death.
Another would deny local governments the authority to prohibit the carrying of weapons in government offices or other public places.
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