Iowa GOP chairman takes swipe at gun rights group

Iowa Republican Party Chairman Jeff Kaufmann said Wednesday he is urging the Iowa Senate to pass a gun rights bill approved this week by the Iowa House. But he also took a swipe at a pro-gun group, accusing its leaders of consistently opposing good legislation.

Kaufmann, a former state lawmaker from Wilton, said the House passage of the sweeping gun legislation shows the Iowa Legislature is serious about expanding and protecting Second Amendment rights in Iowa.

The bill includes provisions that block the public from accessing the names of Iowans who hold permits to carry guns and purchase some weapons. It would also permit children to possess handguns under adult supervision, allow average Iowans to acquire gun suppressors, and streamline the process for administration of gun permits.

Kaufmann thanked the bill's bipartisan supporters in the Iowa House; bill manager Rep. Matt Windshitl, R-Missouri Valley, the National Rifle Association, the Iowa Firearms Coalition and other groups.

"I also want to address the Iowa Gun Owners, an organization whose leadership has consistently stood in the way of good gun legislation in the name of unattainable purity," Kaufmann said. "It appears they are attempting to take some credit for this bill's passage through the House, but I assure you that this couldn't be further from the truth. The leadership of the Iowa Gun Owners, and their Director Aaron Dorr, have little standing in the State House, have marginalized themselves with all but a few supporters, and have no right to claim any part of future victories for the Second Amendment."

Dorr issued a statement in response to Kaufkmann's comments: "Chairman Kaufmann has long defended his former colleagues like Public Safety Chairman (Clel) Baudler and Judiciary Chairman (Chip) Baltimore who have killed pro-gun bills for years. While other organizations may choose to protect politicians, we exist to protect the 2nd Amendment and will continue to expose anti-gun or moderate legislators at every turn. If that makes us unpopular in the legislature, that's a price we'll happily pay."