Letter: Guns do not belong in hands of children

Open letter to the Iowa House of Representatives:

As a former legislator I am proud that 36 legislators voted against HF 2281 that wants to give children of any age gun privileges. I'm appalled that 62 legislators supported putting guns in the hands of children.

The most conservative research group notes that eight American children are shot by guns every day resulting in one death every other day. This could be your child, grandchild, nephew or niece. And now we'll purposely put guns in the hands of children?

Section 2, Section 724.22, Code 26, New Section 8 of the bill notes that parents are held liable for all damages to any injured party caused by a child using a gun. Our legislators ought to amend HF 2281 and add that the 62 legislators who voted for this bill shall also be held strictly liable for damages caused by a child with a gun. The amendment would be called out of order as few legislators want to hold themselves accountable for their actions, not even for this bill.

Having witnessed firsthand how most legislators are puppets to their party and lobbyists, I know that 62 of them voted for HF 2281 as that is what the party leaders and the NRA told them to do; lemmings, every one of them.

Doris J. Kelley

Emeritus Iowa House of Representatives, 2006-10, Cedar Falls, Waterloo & Hudson

Vice-Chair, Iowa Board of Parole, 2011-14

Cedar Falls