SUMMARY
SAPA legislation is based on a constitutional principle that has been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court multiple times, called anti-commandeering. It is the idea that the feds can’t commandeer the resources of our state to enforce federal law. SAPA law is designed to protect law abiding Iowans from federal tyrants, by asserting the state’s right to not allow our cops to enforce federal gun laws. It is not a Supremacy Clause violation because SAPA doesn’t limit what the federal government can do in Iowa. It simply says that Iowa cops won’t help them do it. SAPA has passed in Missouri (2021) and has survived court challenges.
DETAILS ON THIS LEGISLATION
- Based on the constitutional Anti-Commandeering Doctrine
- Prevents local law enforcement from enforcing federal gun laws – allowing Iowa’s law enforcement agencies to enforce Iowa’s gun laws
- Prevents the feds from enticing local law enforcement into ignoring SAPA law and enforcing federal gun laws that are more restrictive than state law
- Contains ‘teeth’ which include civil penalties and protections for citizens whose rights are violated
- Does not violate the Supremacy Clause, as it limits the state, not the feds
- Protects law abiding Iowans – it does not apply to violent criminals
WHAT GUN OWNERS WANT
With Joe Biden declaring war on the Second Amendment through tyrannical Executive Orders, gun owners want protections from these at the state level. They don’t want Iowa cops becoming an appendage of the federal government. Iowa cops work for Iowans, not Joe Biden.
Iowa Gun Owners SUPPORTS this legislation on behalf of our members. Our members are active, having propelled the ‘Freedom Amendment’ to pass with over 65% of the vote in 2022 and defeating anti-gun candidates at the state and federal level going back to 2010.
QUESTIONS
AARON DORR, CHAIRMAN (CELL 712-461-1401)
JERED TAYLOR, LEGISLATIVE LIASON (CELL 417-317-4291)
OR [email protected]