The NRA, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

Missouri's neighbor to the north, Iowa, has conceal carry laws that allow the issuing sheriff's broad discretion as to who can be issued a permit. The proposed legislation would move to 'may issue' and the age at which to obtain a permit would be 18.

The group, Iowa Gun Owners has come up with a bill that moves the state toward 'shall issue' Now the NRA wants to come in and change what the local group has worked hard to build.

From an open letter to the NRA


Your bill brings “Iowa’s standards into compliance with federal ‘prohibited persons’ law”. It bars entire classes of peaceable people from getting a carry permit – resident aliens, dishonorably discharged servicemen, et. al. Compliance with federal law in this instance is not necessary or desirable. It addresses a non-existent problem and should be left to Iowans.


Another clause creates a new crime, an aggravated misdemeanor to carry while “under the influence of alcohol”. That arrest standard is very low and open to abuse. In Iowa, an aggravated misdemeanor is punishable by 2 years in prison, making one a prohibited person under the aforementioned federal standard. Call it “Two beers, too bad” – lose your firearms and gun rights forever. Whatever happened to an action not being a crime unless someone is harmed, or are you directing the NRA’s version of Minority Report?

# Your bill raises the age for a permit from 18 to 21 years.

The NRA is taking too pragmatic of a view here. I smell political blood in the air and would like to see some aggressive lobbying on behalf of Iowa gun owners. Also, the NRA should get behind the IGO preferred legislation and work to pass it.