Support right to defend self, carry a gun

Soon our legislators in Des Moines will have the Iowa Right to Carry reform bill in front of them. I am writing to encourage all legislators to support the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and pass this legislation.

Under Chapter 724.7 of the Iowa Code, law-abiding citizens can be denied the right to protect themselves and their loved ones because it leaves the decision solely on the county sheriff. Of the 99 counties in Iowa, 57 are reasonable with their issuance of right-to-carry gun permits, 30 have questionable or varying policies on issuance and 12 either do not issue or it is severely restricted.

I live in one of those severely restricted counties; Jasper. Sheriff Michael Balmer denied my application for a permit to carry because I do not carry large sums of money. That implies that because I am not wealthy, my family and I don't matter and don't have the right to defend ourselves.

The facts that I'm a law-abiding citizen, decorated veteran (with advanced weapons training) and public servant in a neighboring county apparently doesn't matter.

The fact is criminals do not pay attention to the law. They prey on peaceful citizens, regardless of what gun control laws are in place to “prevent” criminals from owning a gun or wielding one. Where people are free to defend themselves, statistics show criminals are less likely to prey upon them.

We are asking for the right to defend ourselves and our loved ones.

Devin L. Juel

Colfax