Letter: Reader dismayed by legislators’ actions

There are three things that caused me dismay about Iowa State Legislators and bills they passed, which are likely to cause more problems.

1. That anyone who wants to can go anywhere he wants to while he's wearing a gun on his hip. A couple of years ago, my husband, daughter and I were at a local bar and grill for lunch. Sitting nearby were two men in a booth and one of them had a pistol in a holster on his hip, drinking beer. It made me feel some anxiety - that anything goes, anywhere. Alcohol and guns can be a deadly combo. If someone is so disposed, how does having a permit to carry make people feel any safer?

2. That the governor and the state legislators passed a bill to add more paperwork for voters. Now people have to have a picture ID, which most of us have on our driver's license. People who don't have ID will be turned away from the polls, which seems an infringement of their rights. They're already registered and have provided documentation. What more is needed?

3. That the governor wants to do away with unions for teachers, etc. The only tool that teachers have to get the pay increases they need to care for their families is through collective bargaining. That is beyond sad. How else will these professionals will be able to negotiate for higher pay?

We're beginning to look more like Wisconsin every day.

Bobbie Paxton

Iowa City