Gun bill stalls in Senate, but some legislators hopeful

A scaled-back version of a bill that would make several changes to Iowa's gun laws has stalled in the Senate.

The legislation now also has some detractors in the firearms community who say the changes, made to appease Democratic lawmakers and ensure the bill's passage, have gone too far.

"The new omnibus bill that many gun owners supported in the past is now almost unrecognizable," Aaron Dorr, executive director of the group Iowa Gun Owners, wrote in an email to supporters.

Republican legislators agreed to remove some of the more controversial components of the bill to ensure its passage in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

They agreed to take out a provision that would have made a permit to purchase a firearm optional, thereby removing the requirement for some background checks. They also agreed to maintain language that would make a permit valid three days after the date of application.

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Dorr took issue with a provision that would allow individuals to make requests to law enforcement about whether other individuals hold valid gun permits.

That piece of the bill would require individuals to know the phone number, address or date of birth for the person about whom they're requesting information. It also would require law enforcement to keep a log of who is requesting that information and for what reason.

"Imagine a dangerous predator who is stalking your daughter as he decides whether or not to attack and rape her — if this bill passes he'll know that he faces an unarmed victim, making him that much more likely to attack!" Dorr wrote. "Or imagine what a criminal gang could do, armed with this information, as they decide which houses in a neighborhood to break into."

Dorr now is encouraging his followers to actively oppose the bill by calling senators and urging them to vote against it.

But Rep. Matt Windschitl, a Republican from Missouri Valley who helped craft the bill, said Dorr was spreading "mischaracterizations and lies" about the legislation.

"That man is a charlatan," he said. "He's repeatedly gone out and done things in a way that is not moving things forward for 3 million Iowans. He does things in a fashion to create calamity and to help him to raise money."

Dorr could not be reached for comment.

Still in the bill are the provisions allowing children under the age of 14 to use handguns under adult supervision, allowing individuals to purchase suppressors and creating a law enforcement database of permit-holders. A provision also would keep the names of some permit-holders confidential.

Other organizations, such as the Iowa Firearms Coalition, say they understand some compromises were necessary to move the bill forward, and they still support its passage.

"SF427 needs to be passed," said coalition President Barry Snell. "It was crafted with the input of every credible, respectable gun rights organization in the state and nation, as well as Iowa law enforcement."

The legislation, Senate File 427, passed through the House on a 73-25 vote. Now, it has stalled in the Senate, where Democratic leadership has been unwilling to say whether it will bring the bill up for debate.

"It remains to be seen," said Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, when asked whether the Senate would debate the bill. "I would say this: We made a very concerted, good-faith effort to work with people on both sides of this issue. … I think (Republicans) are people who want to play politics with the issue."

Sen. Steve Sodders, D-State Center, who is managing the bill in the Senate, said after the House vote that he is optimistic both chambers will ultimately reach a consensus on the issue.

Windschitl echoed those sentiments.

"I've had numerous conversations with members of both the majority and minority in the Senate," Windschitl said. "I believe there is enough votes to pass this overwhelmingly in the Senate."