'We Do Not Need a Militia of Toddlers': Handguns for Kids Law Advances in
Iowa
Published on
Thursday, February 25, 2016
by
Common Dreams
'We Do Not Need a Militia of Toddlers': Handguns for Kids Law Advances in
Iowa
If approved, bill would allow children of all ages to use handguns as long
as they are under adult supervision
by
Nadia Prupis, staff writer
In Iowa, children under 14 may soon be able to handle "a pistol, revolver or
the ammunition" under parental supervision. (Photo: yakiim sem/flickr/cc)
A bill allowing children of all ages to handle real guns passed the Iowa
House of Representatives on Tuesday and is on the way to the state Senate,
where lawmakers will consider making it legal for minors under 14 to have "a
pistol, revolver or the ammunition" under parental supervision.
The bill passed 62-36 in the state House. Rep. Kirsten Running-Marquardt, a
Democrat who voted against the bill, told local media that the bill "allows
for one-year-olds, two-year-olds, three-year-olds, four-year-olds to operate
handguns."
"We do not need a militia of toddlers," Running-Marquardt said.
Currently, children in Iowa can use shotguns and long guns while under adult
supervision, but not handguns. The bill would allow them to do so as long as
the parents are at least 21 years old and maintain "visual and verbal
contact at all times with the supervised person."
Rev. Cheryl Thomas, policy director at Iowans for Gun Safety, said the bill
was designed to weaken the state's gun laws. The advocacy group petitioned
the House on Monday, urging lawmakers to reject the bill.
Last week, the gun control advocacy group Violence Policy Center released a
report that found the firearms industry is advertising to children as young
as grade-school age "for financial and political gain."
"As household gun ownership has steadily declined and the primary gun market
of white males continues to age, the firearms industry has set its sights on
America's children," the report states. "Much like the tobacco industry's
search for replacement smokers, the gun industry is seeking replacement
shooters."
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
License
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'We Do Not Need a Militia of Toddlers': Handguns for Kids Law Advances in
Iowa
Published on
Thursday, February 25, 2016
by
Common Dreams
'We Do Not Need a Militia of Toddlers': Handguns for Kids Law Advances in
Iowa
If approved, bill would allow children of all ages to use handguns as long
as they are under adult supervision
by
Nadia Prupis, staff writer
. 14 Comments
.
. In Iowa, children under 14 may soon be able to handle "a pistol,
revolver or the ammunition" under parental supervision. (Photo: yakiim
sem/flickr/cc)
. A bill allowing children of all ages to handle real guns passed the
Iowa House of Representatives on Tuesday and is on the way to the state
Senate, where lawmakers will consider making it legal for minors under 14 to
have "a pistol, revolver or the ammunition" under parental supervision.
. The bill passed 62-36 in the state House. Rep. Kirsten
Running-Marquardt, a Democrat who voted against the bill, told local media
that the bill "allows for one-year-olds, two-year-olds, three-year-olds,
four-year-olds to operate handguns."
. "We do not need a militia of toddlers," Running-Marquardt said.
. http://www.commondreams.org/donatehttp://www.commondreams.org/donate
Currently, children in Iowa can use shotguns and long guns while under adult
supervision, but not handguns. The bill would allow them to do so as long as
the parents are at least 21 years old and maintain "visual and verbal
contact at all times with the supervised person."
Rev. Cheryl Thomas, policy director at Iowans for Gun Safety, said the bill
was designed to weaken the state's gun laws. The advocacy group petitioned
the House on Monday, urging lawmakers to reject the bill.
Last week, the gun control advocacy group Violence Policy Center released a
report that found the firearms industry is advertising to children as young
as grade-school age "for financial and political gain."
"As household gun ownership has steadily declined and the primary gun market
of white males continues to age, the firearms industry has set its sights on
America's children," the report states. "Much like the tobacco industry's
search for replacement smokers, the gun industry is seeking replacement
shooters."
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
License
