Iowa: Traditional Ammunition Bill and Right to Keep and Bear Arms Constitutional Amendment Progressing in the Hawkeye State!

Today, the Iowa House of Representatives passed HJR 2001, legislation to protect your right to use traditional (lead) ammunition by a 73 to 27 vote.  Also today, the House Public Safety Subcommittee passed, HJR 2005, the Iowa Right to Keep and Bear Arms Constitutional Amendmentby a 2 to 1 vote.  These bills represent two of the NRA’s top legislative priorities this session.

House Joint Resolution 2001 would rescind the Iowa Natural Resources Commission’s unjustified and dangerous regulation banning the use of traditional (lead) ammunition for dove hunting.  This bill will now be sent to the state Senate for its consideration.  Here are four reasons why the use of traditional ammunition should NOT be banned:

• No scientific studies regarding traditional ammunition have been shown to have any population-level impacts on doves or other species. In fact, doves are the most popular and abundant game bird hunted in America with population levels at all-time highs.
• The price of non-traditional ammunition with similar performance characteristics is significantly higher and will keep many hunters from taking part in the dove season, especially in these dire economic times.
• Last year, the seven appointed members of the state Natural Resources Commission (NRC) flagrantly usurped the authority of the state legislature by imposing a traditional (lead) ban for dove hunting.  State legislators had an extensive floor debate on the same traditional ammunition ban and overwhelmingly rejected it during the passage of the dove bill.
• No state in the country - even those where hunting is far less of the state's heritage - has ever imposed a statewide ban on the use of traditional ammunition for hunting doves.

Please contact your state Senator and respectfully urge him to support HJR 2001 and its companion SJR 2001 when they are considered on the Senate floor.  To locate your state Senator and his or her contact information please click here.

House Joint Resolution 2005 is a proposed state constitutional amendment that would provide Iowa – one of only six states without a state constitutional provision protecting the Right to Keep and Bear Arms – the strongest and most comprehensive firearm rights protection of any state, guaranteeing our Right to Keep and Bear Arms for future generations.  The process of amending the state constitution with these protections requires passage of the legislation in two separate general assemblies followed by ratification by voters on the ballot. This legislation will now be heard by the full House Public Safety Committee, most likely sometime next week.

The proposed language is as follows:

“The right of individuals to acquire, keep, possess, transport, carry, transfer, and use arms for defense of life and liberty and for all other legitimate purposes is fundamental and shall not be denied or infringed.  Mandatory licensing, registration, or special taxation as a condition of the exercise of this right is prohibited, and any other restriction shall be subject to strict scrutiny.”

Please contact members of the House Public Safety Committee today and let them know how important a state constitutional amendment to guarantee your Right to Keep and Bear Arms is to you and urge them to pass HJR 2005.  To find contact information for committee members please click here.