Suppressors, secrecy for permit holders stand to gain ground in Iowa weapons legislation

DES MOINES — Legislation to clean up the permit process for carrying concealed weapons, prohibiting so-called straw man gun purchases, and making the names of permit holders accessible only to law enforcement is moving in both the Iowa House and Senate.

Rep. Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley, is confident House Study Bill 201 will be approved Wednesday in the Judiciary Committee and later by the full House. Senate Judiciary Chairman Steve Sodders, D-State Center, is less confident about his bill, Senate Study Bill 1251.

'It's more of a challenge in the Senate because there are senators from my committee and other Democratic senators who like some pieces but don't like other pieces,' he said Tuesday. 'There are probably some problematic parts in that bill that I like that several of my members don't like.'

In fact, at a House Judiciary subcommittee meeting it appeared Sodders' assessment was accurate on most parts of the bill.

Windschitl's proposal to make noise suppressors legal was opposed by Connie Ryan-Terrell of the Iowa Inter-Faith Alliance Action Fund. She called gun accessories unnecessary and said they would create a public danger.

But Michael Williams of the American Suppressor Association called suppressors that lower the noise of a gun from around 170 decibels to 140 'hearing protection for the 21st century sportsman.' They are legal in 39 states.

Ryan-Terrell also objected to eliminating the requirement that Iowans be at least 14 to own a handgun. However, Nathan Gibson of Johnston said he started teaching his daughters how to handle handguns when they were younger. Also, shooting competitions are open to 12-year-olds.

'This makes me sad because this is a sport to me,' said Meredith Gibson. 'It's like saying you can't play basketball if you're 14 and younger.'

There were no objections to banning third-party purchases of guns for people who cannot legally own guns. The bill would make that a Class D felony.

Windschitl and Sodders called for more secrecy on gun permits to protect permit holders. Each said he had heard of one case of people being 'harassed' after their names were published in print or online.

Sodders, a deputy sheriff, said he's not aware gun thefts — another reason cited for the secrecy — have increased as a result of permit holders' names being part of the public record.

Still, Rep. Mary Wolfe, D-Clinton, said there is 'no compelling public interest' in maintaining the current level of transparency. An individual's right to privacy, she said, should trump the public right to know who has a government-issued permit to carry a concealed weapon.

The proposal to hide permit holders' names from the public baffled Scott Sundstrom, a lobbyist for Iowa newspapers and broadcasters. They're asking lawmakers to maintain openness.

'We haven't seen harm come from it,' he said referring to the current law. 'We think transparency is a good idea.'