Vote no on gun amendment

As a longtime lobbyist for Iowans for Gun Safety, I think Iowans would be safer if we vote “no” on the proposed Public Measure 1, the reckless gun amendment. Year after year, I have declared against gun bills that have lowered the threshold for gaining access to guns. I join with lobbyists representing Methodists, Episcopalians, Catholics, the Domestic Violence Coalition, the Interfaith Alliance and sometimes others, but it doesn’t seem to make much difference to Republican legislators, who routinely vote for such bills. Bills to require background checks or limiting guns on school property go nowhere.

Turn your ballot over and vote “no” on Public Measure 1. It is not the Second Amendment. It would add the legal hurdle of “strict scrutiny” usually applied to human rights concerns. Having a gun is not free speech. A gun is a lethal weapon. The privilege of having one should require a background check and safety training, at least. Guns should be banned in certain locations, such as schools, churches, voting places, courthouses, and the Capitol.

Voting “no” will not make us safer, but keeps open the chance that legislators can take action to improve safety.

Jeremy Brigham

Cedar Rapids