PRESS RELEASE (March 21, 2019) — Under current Iowa law, guns are generally prohibited from being carried on school grounds.
But House File 636, a bill in the Iowa House, would create an exception in the law that would let concealed-carry permit-holders carry guns on school-driveways, sidewalks, and in school parking-lots. In effect, this would let almost anyone carry a gun right up to the schoolhouse door.
This would create clear new risks for parents, teachers, staff members, and students.
As if this weren’t concerning enough, HF636 would also:
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Punish local governments and taxpayers by expanding Iowa’s firearm-preemption law, which largely prevents local cities from acting to prevent gun violence. By allowing trial lawyers for the NRA and other out-of-state special-interest groups to sue cities that enact or enforce common-sense gun-safety strategies and recover damages and attorneys’ fees, these laws seek to dissuade localities from taking even the most basic steps to protect their communities from gun violence.
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Encroach on the property rights of business owners by forcing every employer in the state to allow guns to be brought onto their property by employees in their motor vehicles.
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Strips courts and judges of their authority to keep courthouses safe by limiting the authority of judges to prohibit guns to only cover courtrooms and court offices — meaning people will be able to carry guns right up to the courtroom door.
For additional information on HF636, or to arrange an interview, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
