A wide-ranging firearms bill cleared a bipartisan panel in the Republican-controlled Iowa House.
Backers say they also expect debate on a gun rights bill in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
The National Rifle Association and the Iowa Firearms coalition back the bill to keep the names of weapons permit holders private. The bill’s sponsor Matt Windschitl (R-Missouri Valley) says a quarter of a million Iowans have weapons permits.
“That's a lot of people names and home addresses out there that don't need to be made public in the newspaper,” Windschitl says. “I'm sorry it doesn't.”
The Iowa Newspaper Association disagrees.
“That should be subject to public oversight,” says lobbyist Scott Sundstrom.
The bill also lowers the age for weapons possession. It allows supervised children under the age of 14 to possess a pistol or revolver. Nathan Gibson of Johnston wants to teach his pre-teenagers firearms safety.
“Both as a weapon, and also a sport they can participate in,” Gibson says.
The bill also legalizes devices to muffle a firearms sound. Longtime gun control advocates including the Methodist church oppose the bill.