Letter: Gun education can prevent accidents

House File 2281, The Youth Safety and Parental Rights Act, has passed the Iowa House and is on its way to the Senate.

Under Iowa law, it is illegal for any parent to teach their child under 14, how to handle and use a handgun safely. HF 2281 would give parents the right to choose when the right time is to teach their children how to use handguns safely in order to prevent accidents and tragedies from happening.

State Rep. Kirsten Running-Marquardt (D) said, 'the bill before us, allows for 1-year-olds, 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds, 4-year-olds to operate handguns,” and 'We do not need a militia of toddlers,” which is wrong and misleading.

This bill would not allow children to possess handguns unless under direct supervision from a parent, guardian, or spouse over 21, and it would not allow children to carry or buy handguns. Iowa law does not prohibit the use of rifles or shotguns by children under 14, only handguns. Education could prevent accidents from occurring and this bill would give responsible, gun-owning parents in Iowa the right to choose when to introduce their children to handguns so that their children do not accidentally hurt themselves or someone else, without the fear of getting in trouble for trying to protect their children.

Mason Hanson

North Liberty