With the 2019 legislative session nearing the end, I have to tell you, I’m more nervous than ever that we may see a last minute move on ‘Red Flag Gun Seizure’ legislation in Des Moines.
As you’ll see below, Iowa’s House and Senate leaders have totally buckled under the pressure from both radical anti-gun activists and moderates in their own caucuses all session –- and anti-gunners are sensing an opportunity.
And that’s why it’s absolutely urgent that you sign your petition opposing ‘Red Flag Gun Seizures’ petition that we’ve prepared for you. More on that below.
You see, the legislature hasn’t passed the ‘Standings Bill’ yet, one of the final end-of-session bills that must be passed before lawmakers can adjourn.
Because it has to be passed, the ‘Standings Bill’ is the go-to bill for lawmakers who are looking to advance their legislation via a last minute amendment.
And there is no one more desperate to pass ‘Red Flag Gun Seizure’ legislation in Iowa than Rep. Bruce Hunter, one of the nastiest anti-gun lawmakers in the state!
Putting ‘Red Flag Gun Seizure’ legislation (H.F. 123) onto the ‘Standings Bill’ is exactly the kind of move that Rep. Hunter and his allies would make to move this bill.
Now, ordinarily I wouldn’t be very concerned about a move like this, as House and Senate leaders have the ability to stop an amendment like this from coming up for a vote.
But given the repeated betrayals that we’ve seen from these ‘leaders’ since the legislature convened in January, we can’t take anything for granted!
First, Senate leaders killed our Constitutional Carry legislation (S.F. 165) in the Judiciary Committee. This bill had massive grassroots support, passed the sub-committee, and had almost 20 cosponsors!
Then House leadership killed our Constitutional Carry legislation in the House (H.F. 118) without even granting it a sub-committee hearing, after they worked to keep the caucus from cosponsoring it.
But they didn’t stop there.
Both House AND Senate leaders also killed legislation (S.F. 116 and H.F. 636) that would allow gun owners to carry firearms while dropping off or picking up their kids at school.
Senate leaders also killed S.F. 459, legislation that would protect gun owners who secure their firearms in their vehicles if their employers prohibit firearms on company property.
I could go on and on, as these were just some of the pro-gun bills that were killed by our ‘friends’ in leadership in the House and Senate.
But it’s worse than that.
You see, it’s not just leadership who are working to kill gun bills these days.
Rank and file Republican lawmakers — in both chambers — are openly attacking pro-gun bills in a way that I’ve not seen in my eleven years fighting for gun rights.
First it was Republican State Representative Norlin Mommsen (R-97) who came out attacking Constitutional Carry, inspiring a growing number of his colleagues to do the same.
Then we saw freshman Republican Senator Chris Cournoyer (R-49) do the same thing, attacking Constitutional Carry while forgetting to mention that she’s a firearms instructor who has a financial interest in maintaining the current system.
Sadly, there are many more names that I could mention, where Republican lawmakers have betrayed gun owners to maintain their committee assignment with legislative leadership.
Everyone in Des Moines is talking about this unprecedented level of betrayal that gun owners have experienced at the hands of Republicans in Des Moines — the Republicans who won their majority thanks to the work of gun owners!
I’m sure you know what an outright disaster that would be.
Far worse than a ban on a specific firearm like the AR-15 or a ban on accessories like your 30-round magazine, ‘Red Flag Gun Seizure’ legislation would allow ALL of your firearms to be seized before you’ve ever set foot in a courtroom!
Specifically, this legislation would:
- Allow a gun seizure order to be issued before you have been convicted, or even charged, with anything!
- Allow the hearing that determines whether or not to strip you of your firearms to happen in secret!
- Allow virtually anyone to make up one of these bogus complaints including an ex-spouse, embittered ex-girlfriend, maybe even your anti-gun neighbor!
And since most of the ‘Red Flag Gun Seizure’ bill drafts that we have seen allow for an automatic renewal process — one that can often be initiated solely by a judge –- in many cases this will amount to a lifetime gun ban.
Remember this can happen to you without you ever being charged, much less convicted, of a crime.
Between the repeated betrayals we’ve experience this session, not to mention Republican Speaker Pro-Tem Matt Windshitl having already told Iowa Press that he is open to advancing this legislation, we can’t rest until lawmakers leave Des Moines for the year!
From direct mail to mass emails, targeted social media and internet ads, we’re doing everything we can to keep gun owners involved in this fight — but the costs are adding up.
But we can’t relent now, as these final days are when our gun rights are in the most danger!
We’re down to the wire.
The next few days will likely decide whether ‘Red Flag Gun Seizures’ become law here in Iowa, or not.
Please take action TODAY!
For Iowa,
Aaron Dorr
Executive Director
Iowa Gun Owners
P.S. With the end of the session nearing, anti-gun lawmakers are very likely going to try to advance ‘Red Flag Gun Seizure’ legislation via an amendment on the ‘Standings Bill.’
And given the repeated betrayals that gun owners have experienced this session from our ‘friends’ in the legislature, we have to be ready for anything.
I also hope that you will consider a donation of $100, $50 or at least $25 — so that we can mobilize gun owners right up to the very end of the 2019 session!
