Gun rights bills moving in Iowa Senate, House

Sweeping gun rights legislation was advanced in the Iowa Senate and House on Wednesday, although victims' advocates and news media lobbyists raised questions about the proposals.

A Senate subcommittee voted 3-0 in support of Senate Study Bill 1251, which includes provisions that would block the public from accessing the names of people who hold permits to carry guns and purchase some weapons. Later on Wednesday, the Iowa House Judiciary Committee approved House Study Bill 201 on a 19-2 vote and sent it to the House floor.

Both bills are intended to make confidential any personally identifiable information on gun permits, such as names, addresses, and dates of birth. Under current law, permits to carry weapons for more than 220,000 Iowans are open records that can be requested and disclosed to the public.

The bills would also: allow average Iowans to acquire gun suppressors; permit children to possess handguns under adult supervision; clarify some other Iowa gun laws, including when professionals like law officers and private security officers can carry guns on school property; and streamline the process for the administration of gun permits.

Rep. Mary Wolfe, D-Clinton, praised the House bill, saying she was comfortable voting yes.

"I think this bill is a good balance between protecting Iowans and allowing folks to exercise their 2nd Amendment rights with a minimum of restrictions from the state," she said

In a Senate subcommittee hearing on Wednesday, strong support was voiced for the legislation by lobbyists for the National Rifle Association, Iowa Firearms Coalition, Iowa State Sheriffs and Deputies Association, and Iowa Peace Officers Association. But lobbyists representing victims' groups, the news media, the Iowa Interfaith Allliance, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill and others were opposed.

Amy Campbell of the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault expressed concerns about making gun permits secret, saying it could affect safety planning by victims of sexual assault. In particular, there is sometimes an escalation between a victim and an assailant after charges are filed, and she wants to make sure lawmakers aren't jeopardizing anyone's safety.

Campbell also recounted the story of a man with mental illness whose wife found out he had a gun permit and was concerned he would commit suicide. That information allowed a mobile crisis team to get involved, she said.

Scott Sundstrom, representing the Iowa Newspaper Association and the Iowa Broadcasters Association, said there are good reasons why gun permits are currently public records. The public access allows reporters to find out who is getting guns and who isn't, and allows investigative reporting of the system. He suggested letting news organizations make "targeted requests" for gun permit information that would not involve so-called data mining of public records.

But Heather Calio, a Virginia-based lobbyist for the National Rifle Association, said the NRA won't support a compromise with the news media. She said her organization is concerned that people who are identified as having gun permits could face discrimination.

Those voting for the Senate bill included Sens. Steve Sodders, D-State Center, Tony Bisignano, D-Des Moines, and Charles Schneider, R-West Des Moines.

Schneider remarked, "I really don't see any public interest in knowing everyone who has a permit to carry," adding that a person's right to privacy trumps any public interest in knowing who holds gun permits.

Bisignano spoke enthusiastically in favor of the gun bill, saying, "It is America. Guns are legal." He said that in the past he had heard "misrepresentations" about gun issues, but he visited a shooting range and has had his views broadened by talking with gun owners. He also suggested it's a good idea for young Iowans to learn about gun safety, just as it's a good idea for young people to learn about sex education.

Sodders said he was willing to talk with media lobbyist Sundstrom about a "very limited records check" involving gun permit holders. But he would oppose broad access to the identities of people holding gun permits.