Gun suppressor legislation advances

DES MOINES - The Iowa Supreme Court would have autonomy over salaries and personnel matters, such as the number of judges and where they are assigned, under legislation approved 95-4 on Tuesday by the Iowa House.

The House also voted 78-21 to send a bill to the governor to allow Iowa gun owners to legally possess or transfer noise suppressors - silencers - that now are prohibited under state law.

'Is this the best thing we can do? No,” said Rep. Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley. 'But is it where we're at right now today? Absolutely. Are we're fighting on every front to advance every possible piece of legislation to enhance Iowans' Second Amendment rights? Absolutely.”

The House originally passed HF 2279 by a 74-24 margin in February. The Senate amended it to make it illegal to possess a suppressor in violation of federal law rather than if it is 'knowingly” in violation of federal law.

If Gov. Terry Branstad signs the bill, Iowa will join 39 other states that have legalized suppressors.

The House also voted 95-4 to approve HF 2432 to transfer the ability to set salaries for Judicial System employees from magistrate up to the Supreme Court from an action of Legislature to a committee within the Judicial Branch.

'It only makes sense,” said Rep. Gary Worthan. R-Storm Lake. 'They should be able to manage their own affairs.”

Worthan responded to concerns that judges might 'cannibalize” the system by reducing the number of magistrates to raise their salaries.

'I don't believe that,” he said. 'Tinker too much and the wheels start to come off.”

HF 2432 goes to the Senate.

The House also approved Senate File 503 99-0 to call for a study of the costs of serving civil papers in six urban counties and six rural counties. According to the Iowa State Sheriffs' and Deputies' Association, the fees set by Iowa law don't cover the cost, so property taxpayers get stuck with the bill. The Legislature has not adjusted the fees in at least 14 years, the association said.