By a wide margin, the Iowa House approved a gun rights bill that critics say threatens public safety.
The bill now goes to the Senate and an uncertain future.
The firearms bill in its latest form allows children of any age to handle handguns with adult supervision. Iowa City Democrat Mary Mascher questions Missouri Valley Republican Matt Windschitl.
“Do you believe a child of any age is capable of handling a handgun?” Mascher asks.
“I think that's up to the parents,” Windschitl says.
“That’s what I thought you would say,” Mascher replies. “Ladies and gentlemen, Representative Windschitl is just wrong.”
Des Moines Democrat Marti Anderson says constituents tell her they let their children handle rifles and shotguns.
“This bill isn't about rifles and shotguns,” Anderson says. “It’s about pistols and handguns. And I don't believe it’s prudent to have children who think everything is a toy handling guns.”
Waterloo Democrat Deborah Barry questioned Windschitl on another aspect of the bill that legalizes suppressors.
“I was hoping to get clarification on the suppressor part of this and why that’s important from your perspective,” Barry asks.
“Why shouldn’t Iowans have the same ability to own a suppressor like 39 other states,” Windschitl replies.
Windschitl says gun suppressors are tightly regulated by the federal government. But critics say they give murderers more time to kill.
So far the Senate has only agreed to legalize suppressors.
The House approved the bill by a vote of 73 to 25. The bill no longer gets rid of waiting periods to acquire a handgun. And it carves out exceptions so not all permits to carry weapons would be confidential.
The bill is backed by both gun owners and law enforcement. It includes more stringent firearms training and a statewide database of those with permits to carry a weapon.