Keep the rules consistent

Iowans inherently understand the freedom and liberty we all enjoy exists alongside risk.

We drive without knowing if the car in the next lane is piloted by someone under the influence of alcohol or drugs. We enter work places and schools to temporarily co-habitat with others we hope are in good mental health. There is no big net to prevent a distracted driver from running a stop sign, or a steel cage to separate us from the easily available products that can negatively impact our health.

In order to cope with uncertainty, we've developed rules aimed toward greater public safety. We trust law enforcement will detect and remove intoxicated drivers from the road. We encourage people-watching in our worksites and schools in an effort both to stymie violence and care for those around us. When we speak with our children, we discuss good and bad choices, emphasizing how one split-second decision can change everything.

Underlying all of this is a firmly held belief - or at least the strong expectation - that the rules will be enforced equally and fairly.

When we see a sign on a building announcing weapons are not allowed, we expect the policy applies to everyone outside of the sphere of on-site security. This is why recent revelations by two Iowa lawmakers that they've secretly carried handguns into the Statehouse and their knowledge that others have as well is appalling.

There is no provision within the Iowa Code exempting elected officials from a weapon ban. Their admissions fly in the face of public trust, injure society's sense of fair play and hinder the want of citizens to fully and openly participate in public policy processes.

If security threats exist in the Capitol or in other state facilities, they should be openly addressed and ended. Unsecured entrances, if they exist, should be closed. Lawmakers who require excess fire power in order to work with fellow co-workers or constituents don't deserve them.

All members of the public, including public servants, need to operate and exist under the same laws.

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