Iowa: Pro-Gun Legislation Continues to Advance Despite Many Obstacles

As previously reported, the NRA-supported pro-gun omnibus bill, Senate File 425, sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Steve Sodders (D-36), and House File 527, sponsored by the House Judiciary Committee and Representative Matt Windschitl (R-17), have been stalled awaiting a floor vote in the Senate since the beginning of March.  This legislation, despite overwhelming bipartisan support from legislators in the House and Senate, has faced an uphill battle as anti-gun groups sought to misrepresent its content and purpose. 

Last Tuesday, the Senate brought up Senate File 427, a bill to legalize possession and ownership of firearm sound suppressors (also sponsored by Senator Sodders) on the eve of critical legislative deadlines that would have killed the bill for the year.  Floor amendments were filed by both Senate Democrats and Republicans that would have restored all or part of the provisions of the omnibus bill, but all amendments failed and SF 427 was passed as-is by a 46 to 4 vote and sent to the House for consideration.

On Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee prioritized pro-Second Amendment issues and worked around the clock to create an amendment to SF 427 to include some of the original provisions from NRA-backed pro-gun omnibus SF 425 in an attempt to give the Senate another opportunity to consider advancing pro-gun legislation this year.  SF 427 received strong bipartisan support and was passed by the House Judiciary Committee by a 19 to 2 vote in advance of a critical deadline at the end of last week.  This bill will be eligible for consideration on the House floor this week, and a vote could happen as soon as tomorrow! 

The NRA strongly supports and commends this move by the House to advance pro-gun legislation – a move that was led by Representative Windschitl and Chairman Chip Baltimore (R-47).  The NRA, along with law enforcement groups, supports the measures included in the newly-amended SF 427.  We are extremely disappointed that some misguided Senators have once again neglected to take up and pass more meaningful reforms.  Thank you to Senator Sodders for his efforts to move pro-gun legislation forward this session.  Please continue to contact your Legislators and politely urge them to Support SF 427.  Contact information for your legislators can be found here.

Your support has made the difference in Des Moines this year!  NRA-ILA will continue to work with the House and Senate to send meaningful pro-gun legislation to the Governor's desk this session and will keep you updated as legislation advances.