NRA to Pursue Aggressive Agenda During Iowa’s 2011 Legislative Session!

Thanks to your support in the November 2010 elections, over 80% of NRA-PVF’s endorsed candidates were elected to the Iowa legislature.  The gain in pro-gun legislators will greatly improve Iowans’ ability to continue to support a pro-gun agenda and build on the momentum from last session when Iowa joined the vast majority of the states with passage of its shall-issue Right-to-Carry law in 2010.

On Monday, January 10, 2011, Iowa’s 84^th General Assembly will convene and NRA, with support from Iowa Firearms Coalition, Iowa Sportsman’s Federation, and other pro-gun activists, will pursue an aggressive agenda to make Iowa a leading pro-Second Amendment state.  The following is a listing of some of NRA’s top priorities in the Hawkeye State in 2011:

Iowa’s Right to Keep and Bear Arms State Constitutional Amendment

This proposed constitutional amendment would provide Iowa 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 would require passage of the legislation in two separate general assemblies and a ballot vote.  http://www.nraila.org/pdfs/iowarkba.pdf

Permitless/“Constitutional Carry”

Building on NRA’s “Constitutional Carry” successes in Alaska and Arizona, NRA is making a strong push for more permitless carry/“Constitutional Carry” states around the country, including Iowa.  The proposed legislation would allow individuals who lawfully possess firearms—meaning individuals who are not federally prohibited from shipping, transporting, possessing, or receiving a firearm—to either open or conceal carry without a permit. The new shall-issue permit system would remain in place, for those who wish to carry concealed in states that recognize Iowa’s permit, but residents who legally qualify would no longer be subject to the permit process to carry concealed in state.

“Shall-Issue” Carry Reform

As of January 1, 2011, Iowa will become a “shall-issue” state and have one of the strongest shall-issue statutes in the country.  In an effort to continue expanding the rights of permit holders, NRA is proposing a number of changes including removing the burdensome and unnecessary retraining requirement while also expanding on the criteria to satisfy the initial training requirement. Read more about Iowa’s new carry law.  http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?id=5646

The proposed legislation would allow Iowans to defend themselves and their families—removing a person’s duty to retreat—from any place they have the legal right to be.  Additionally, any Iowan who used justifiable force could not be held civilly or criminally liable. 

Preemption Reform

Upon the passage of the new shall-issue law, some counties in Iowa sought to ban firearms from public properties including parks—effectively denying your ability to protect yourself outside your home.  Fortunately, Iowa has a firearm preemption law that prohibits counties from passing ordinances that are more restrictive than state law.  However, the preemption statute needs to be strengthened to prevent current and future attempts to circumvent the law.  The proposed legislation rests the sole authority on these matters with the state legislature and prevents a rights-infringing patchwork of local ordinances.

Emergency Powers Reform

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, local authorities in New Orleans, Louisiana confiscated firearms from lawful owners who had no other means of protection during one of America’s worst natural disasters.  Since the passage of Louisiana’s “emergency powers” legislation, approximately 28 states have passed similar legislation.  NRA’s proposed language would prevent any state or local authority from confiscating any firearms during a state of emergency—a necessary safeguard for all Iowans.

Please continue to visit www.nraila.org for additional information and updates on the above legislation.