Recently, state Representative Ako Abdul-Samad (D-35) introduced two deeply flawed anti-gun bills. The first, House File 145, would expand background checks to include all transfers and sales of firearms. The second, House File 157, would prohibit the sale or transfer of commonly owned semi-automatic firearms that proponents call “assault weapons.” These misguided bills, much like other anti-gun legislation, are aimed at providing a false sense of safety while infringing upon the rights of law-abiding gun owners and those that wish to lawfully purchase a firearm. Please contact your state Representative today and urge them to OPPOSE these anti-gun measures. Also, please contact Representative Abdul-Samad and tell him that these bills do not represent the views of law-abiding gun owners in Iowa. Please click the “Take Action” button below to contact your state Representative.
HF 145 would require individuals who are selling or transferring firearms to receive verification from a federally licensed firearms dealer (FFL) that the prospective purchaser or transferee has undergone a criminal history background check and that a determination has been received by the department of public safety that the purchaser or transferee is not a prohibited individual under state or federal law. So-called “universal” background checks do nothing to reduce violent crime, and only affect law-abiding gun owners by imposing cumbersome mandates and restrictions on the lawful purchase and possession of firearms. Criminals, by definition, do not follow the law and do not subject themselves to gun control schemes or background checks. According to the Bureau of Justice statistics, 77% of inmates surveyed1 acquired their guns through theft, the black market, from drug dealers, straw purchase or family and friends. It is already illegal to knowingly sell or transfer a firearm to someone classified as a prohibited person, and is a felony for a prohibited person to buy, own or possess a firearm. This is an ineffective and unenforceable piece of legislation that will only impact the law abiding.
HF 157 would prohibit the sale and transfer of semi-automatic “assault weapons.” Additionally, this bill would ban the sale of detachable magazines capable of containing more than 10 rounds of ammunition. “Assault weapons,” as defined in the legislation, would encompass the most commonly-owned semi-automatic rifles and handguns. Semi-automatic rifles, like the AR-15, are the most popular rifles in the United States for home protection, defensive skills-based firearm training and marksmanship competitions. They’re also increasingly popular among hunters. Ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds are standard equipment for many handguns and rifles designed for defensive purposes. They’re commonly used in handguns kept for protection at home and carried for protection away from home. Furthermore, they’re commonly used in defensive skills-based firearm training and competition.
Once again, please contact your state Representative today and urge them to OPPOSE these anti-gun measures. Please stay tuned to www.nraila.org and your email inbox for further updates on these bills as the 2017 legislative session proceeds.
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