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DES MOINES \u2014 A constitutional amendment protecting Iowans\u2019 right to bear arms was approved by a House committee, but it wasn\u2019t the one supporters hoped for. <\/p>\n
Sponsor Rep. Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley, offered House Joint Resolution 2005 \u2014 a constitutional amendment that must be approved by two session of the Legislature and Iowa voters \u2014 that would provide Iowans a fundamental right to \u201cacquire, keep, possess, transport, carry, transfer and use arms to defend life and liberty and for all other legitimate purposes.\u201d It would prohibit mandatory licensing, registration and special taxation of firearms. <\/p>\n
He told the House Public Safety Committee his amendment would be \u201cprecise in protecting\u201d Iowans\u2019 Second Amendment rights. <\/p>\n
However, Rep. Rick Olson, D-Des Moines, offered an amendment that substituted the last 14 words of the Second Amendment: \u201cthe right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.\u201d <\/p>\n
Windschitl called it a dodge that wouldn\u2019t fool backers of Second Amendment rights. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we\u2019re trying to do is not uphold the U.S. Constitution (but) trying to get away from taking a politically tough vote,\u201d he said about Olson\u2019s amendment. <\/p>\n
However, Public Safety Chairman Clel Baudler, R-Adair, argued that gun- rights supporters have used those words to win U.S. Supreme Court victories when they have challenged restrictive gun ordinances in Washington and Chicago. <\/p>\n
\u201cI cannot and will not vote against the U.S. Constitution,\u201d Baudler said. <\/p>\n
He was joined by two other Republican committee members, Reps. Dave Tjepkes of Gowrie and Gary Worthan of Storm Lake, in voting with Democrats to approve the amendment 11-10. <\/p>\n
Windschitl promised to offer his wording when the bill, HJR 2005, comes to the House floor. <\/p>\n
The Senate so far has shown little interest in taking up gun rights bills. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Read more from the original source: DES MOINES \u2014 A constitutional amendment protecting Iowans\u2019 right to bear arms was approved by a House committee, but it wasn\u2019t the one supporters hoped for. Sponsor Rep. Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley, offered House Joint Resolution 2005 \u2014 a constitutional amendment that must be approved by two session of the Legislature and Iowa voters \u2014 that would provide Iowans a fundamental right to \u201cacquire, keep, possess, transport, carry, transfer and use arms to defend life and liberty and for all other legitimate purposes.\u201d It would prohibit mandatory licensing, registration and special taxation of firearms. Continue reading
\nHouse committee adopts 2nd Amendment language<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"