Doris J. Kelley, Cedar Falls

Letter to the Editor

As a former legislator I am proud that 36 responsible legislators voted against House File 2281 that wants to give children of any age gun privileges. I’m appalled that 62 legislators supported putting guns in the hands of children.

The most conservative research group notes that eight American children are shot by guns every day, resulting in one death every other day. This could be your child, grandchild, nephew, niece or neighbor.

Section 2, Section 724.22, Code 26, New Section 8 of the bill notes that parents are held liable for all damages to any injured party caused by their child using a gun. Our legislators ought to amend House File 2281 and add that the 62 legislators who voted for this bill shall also be held strictly liable for damages caused by a child with a gun.

However, just like legislators have ignored the Iowa Code to establish the public school funding allowable growth within 30 days of the governor announcing his budget, they would also not hold themselves responsible for any deaths or injuries when a child misuses a gun.

Having witnessed first-hand how most legislators are puppets to their party and lobbyists, I know darn well that 62 of them voted for House File 2281 because that is what the party leaders and the NRA told them to do; lemmings, every one of them.

— Doris J. Kelley, Cedar Falls, Iowa House of Representatives, 2006-2010, and vice-chair, Iowa Board of Parole, 2011-2014