Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed legislation into law April 2, 2021 lifting some restrictions for law-abiding citizens to buy or carry a handgun in the state.
The NRA-backed legislation “House File 756” will take effect on July 1 and eliminates the requirement for law-abiding Iowans to obtain a permit to purchase a handgun from private non-licensed sources. Additionally, people will no longer need a permit to carry a weapon.
Individuals will still have to follow federal law and get an instant background check to buy from licensed sellers each time they purchase a gun. And, it will become a felony when a person sells, rents, or loans a firearm to someone the seller “knows or reasonably should know” isn’t legally allowed to get a gun or is intoxicated.
“Today I signed legislation that protects the 2nd Amendment rights of Iowa’s law-abiding citizens while still preventing the sale of firearms to criminals and other dangerous individuals,” Governor Reynolds said after signing the bill.
“This law also takes greater steps to inform law enforcement about an individual’s mental illness helping to ensure firearms don’t end up in the wrong hands,” she added. “We will never be able to outlaw or prevent every single bad actor from getting a gun, but what we can do is ensure law-abiding citizens have full access to their constitutional rights while keeping Iowans safe.”
Iowa now is one of 19 states in the U.S. that no longer requires law-abiding citizens to get a permit before carrying a gun for self-defense. The 18 other states that eliminated this requirement are: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Mark Olivia, director of public affairs at the National Shooting Sports Foundation, says that laws restricting gun ownership have troubling origins. “The history of gun control laws really has its roots in Jim Crow-era racist laws that are designed to deny people their rights,” he said. “Your permit is your Second Amendment right. The idea of having to get a permit to be able to exercise your Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms is antithetical to what your rights are as an American at birth.”
Gun owners in Yuba-Sutter Counties of Northern California hope to roll back the mandatory concealed weapon permits and eliminate all other gun regulations undermining the 2nd Amendment thereby creating 2nd Amendment Sanctuary Counties.
On March 28, 2021, California State Militia representatives were in Yuba City for an informational meeting to form a Militia Chapter in Yuba-Sutter Counties. More than 150 people attended the meeting.
Those interested in the militia can contact Courtney@churchofgladtidings.com for more information, get involved and for the next scheduled meeting.
(For more of Lou’s articles and podcasts see nohostagesradio.com)
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