It’s been a week of back-to-back committee meetings, as lawmakers try to vote as many bills out of committee as they can before the first funnel deadline Friday. I serve on the following standing committees: Appropriations, Education, Natural Resources, Public Safety and the Health and Human Services Budget subcommittee.
Republicans introduced a bill this week to re-write Iowa’s gun laws. The bill would allow guns on college campuses and in county courthouses; expand Stand Your Ground provisions; institute lifetime permits to carry, handgun use by minors and pre-empt local ordinances that limit firearms use. Both chambers will likely advance the legislation simultaneously, hastening the process and limiting time for public input.
This bill raises concerns. The current version of the bill says that a law-abiding person does not have a duty to retreat from “any place where the person is lawfully present” before defending themselves with deadly force. Another provision states that a person may be wrong about in their estimation of danger or about how much force is necessary “as long as there is a reasonable basis for the belief … and the person acts reasonably in response to that belief.”
I fear that with such a broad scope to the bill, and with this language, the proposed legislation might end up giving people a “get out of jail free” card. We want individuals to be able to protect themselves and chapter 704 of the Iowa Code does this well. This bill could be construed as giving immunity to individuals involved in shootings if they claim self-defense and no other witnesses are available.
The bill also prevents cities, counties and the Board of Regents from enacting restrictions on the use of firearms. The bill keeps current wording that prevents guns at public and private K-12 schools.
It was a pleasure to have lunch with members of the Jasper County League of Women Voters this week where we discussed many issues of importance. We are fortunate to have an active League in our community that offers legislative coffees during the Legislative session at Hy-Vee (third Saturday of January, February and March), facilitates candidate forums and does studies on local, state and national issues. They are non-partisan and work for the betterment of our communities.
I was happy to meet with Newton resident Denice Fischer. She is Program Coordinator at Iowa State Extension on the Newton DMACC campus. She was at the Capitol with RSVP (Retired & Senior Volunteer Program). RSVP is the largest volunteer organization in Iowa for people 55 or older. She oversees 95 RSVP volunteers, who serve a combination of more than 6,100 hours. The programs these volunteers participate with include education, economic opportunity (including income tax assistance), environmental stewardship, disaster services and veterans.
A bill catching notice is HSB 130 which addresses bike safety on our roadways. This bill amends current code relating to the passing of bicycles on our roadways. This legislation directs vehicles to pass bicycles going the same direction to the left in the adjacent travel lane. It also requires a headlamp and taillight to be used during all times, day and night when the bicycle is on a roadway. Some concerns have been expressed with the lighting requirements and the cost associated with this.
Contact Rep. Wes Breckenridge
at 641-521-6714
or wes.breckenridge@legis.iowa.gov