William Petroski, Des Moines Register

State Sen. Brad Zaun says he sometimes carries a 9 mm handgun while working in the Senate chamber because he worries about security gaps at the Statehouse.

"Honestly, I have in the past. I don't do it every day. But I will tell you that when I do public events, a lot of times I do carry," Zaun said.

Zaun, an Urbandale Republican running for Congress, told The Des Moines Register editorial board he knows of several of his colleagues in the Iowa House and Senate who also carry firearms in their respective chambers, though he didn't name them.

Administrative code prohibits any member of the public from carrying a dangerous weapon in Capitol complex buildings, according to Secretary of the Senate Michael Marshall. "The General Assembly has not exempted any of its members or its staff from this rule," Marshall said in an email later Wednesday.

In light of Zaun's remarks, Marshall added, "It is clear we need to improve our communication of this rule to legislators and staff. I am not personally aware of any other Senators or staff who are not in compliance with this rule, but concede the possibility others in addition to Senator Zaun might be unaware of it."

Zaun said one of his concerns is to protect himself from the type of assault that occurred in January 2011, when then-Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head at a Tucson supermarket where she was meeting with constituents.

Zaun said of carrying a gun: "I went through all the lawful procedures that were required of me. I am going to defend myself if someone attacks me, and I have a right to do that."

Zaun, who is seeking the Republican nomination in a June 3 primary for the 3rd District congressional seat, said in response to Marshall's statement that he will stop bringing firearms to the Capitol.

But he thinks there should be a policy discussion about Capitol security. While security staff at public entrances do a "fabulous job" of screening visitors using metal detectors, it's not uncommon to see people simply walking into the building through other doors, he said.

State Rep. Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley, a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights, declined to say whether he carries a gun into the Capitol. But he questioned how a no-gun rule could be enforced against legislators if they are not openly displaying a weapon. He also suggested law-abiding Iowans should be able to carry firearms at the Iowa Capitol.

"Mike Marshall can have that interpretation, but it has not caused a problem if legislators are doing it," said Windschitl, a Marine Corps veteran of the Iraq war. "I would like to see members of the public be able to exercise all of their constitutional rights if they so choose. If they are in compliance with other state laws and regulations, I would have no problem with it. Now I don't think that will win legislative approval anytime soon, unfortunately, but it is the people's house. They pay for it. They should be able to exercise all of their constitutional rights."

Windschitl also agreed with Zaun that having metal detectors at public entrances to the Iowa Capitol is no guarantee that violence will be prevented, noting there are other doors for visitors to enter the building.

"Those doors, anybody could push them open. Anybody could get into the Capitol," Windschitl said. "It is a false sense of security having those metal detectors there and prohibiting law-abiding citizens from exercising their constitutional rights. If someone has nefarious plans, or is intent on causing harm at the state Capitol, there are ways they can find to get it done. So restricting peoples' constitutional rights is not helping them."

The Rev. Carlos Jayne of Des Moines, a consultant for Iowans for Gun Safety, disagreed with both Zaun and Windschitl. With armed state troopers providing security at the Capitol, he said, legislators have no need to carry firearms. He also thinks it would be ridiculous to allow the public to attend legislative debates while carrying guns.

"It would be absolutely wrong to bring weapons into legislative bodies," Jayne said. "It would be almost like open season on public officials. It would be almost encouraging it. Man, that would be terrible."

But Rep. Clel Baudler, R-Greenfield, chairman of the Iowa House Public Safety Committee, said he too sees no problem with the public carrying firearms at the Capitol as long as they are trained, have a permit and have no history of crime or drug abuse.

Asked if he personally carries a weapon at the Capitol, Baudler remarked Wednesday, "It is a great rumor. I have laughed about it a lot." In a February 2006 interview with the Register, Baudler said he was aware of a rumor around the Capitol that he carried a gun through the halls. He had a permit but left the gun in his truck, he said at the time.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Centers, a spokesman for Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, said Wednesday that neither Branstad nor Reynolds carries firearms at public events or at the Capitol. The Iowa State Patrol's Executive Protection Unit, which is assigned to Branstad and Reynolds, has armed officers, he noted.

State Sen. Joni Ernst, a Red Oak Republican who has been running a TV commercial for her U.S. Senate campaign showing her firing a handgun at a shooting range, also does not carry a firearm at the Capitol, said Derek Flowers, her campaign spokesman. The narrator in the campaign ad says that Ernst, an Iowa National Guard lieutenant colonel, "carries more than just lipstick in her purse."