Stand your ground with clarity

To the editor:

Regarding Gail Coleman's Feb. 12 letter 'Stand Your Ground law not necessary”:

I'm not a lawyer and I could not care less about Stand Your Ground laws, but was interested in the parts implying that it would allow mentally unstable, domestic abusers and felons to purchase and own guns legally.

I went to the Iowa Legislature page and found the proposed bill, SF137. There's nothing about changing Iowa Laws: 724.31 (covers firearms and mental health issues) or 724.26 (deals with felons and convicted domestic abusers). It only deals with 704.1 (Reasonable Force).

In short, the proposed Stand Your Ground law has nothing to do with current prohibited people. With another Internet search I found on the Iowa Department of Public Safety's website that it's perfectly legal in Iowa to open carry a pistol as long as you have a permit and it's been that way for years.

At this point the letter writer lost me and I started believing the letter was nothing but propaganda. To make a point on a hot button topic, please use facts and don't mislead and make things up. Opinion is fine, but obfuscation hurts the argument.

My only take away from the letter was that the writer believes in increased gun control, doesn't like Stand Your Ground laws and doesn't like the National Rifle Association, which are all perfectly legitimate opinions. Learning is fun.

Den Henrickson

Cedar Rapids