Iowa Could Get It’s First “2nd Amendment Sanctuary’ County
Jasper County, Iowa could soon add a new title to its name. That title is that of a '2nd Amendment Sanctuary City.' Under a provision being considered by the county's Board of Supervisors, the county is hoping the title will give them the right not to enforce any gun laws that they deem to be unconstitutional, according to KCCI.
At it's meeting last week, supervisors discussed a measure that declares opposition to laws that violate the 2nd amendment to the United States Constitution. KCCI reports that supervisors also decided to continue discussions on the issue in order to allow for more feedback from the public. Jasper County Supervisor Brandon Talsma said that he believes the resolution is necessary because "we cannot rely solely on the federal and state government to protect our citizens' natural rights."
As you might imagine, this sort of thing isn't just happening in Iowa. The Associated Press reports that over 1200 local governments across the country have proclaimed themselves '2nd Amendment Sanctuaries', but many still face legal challenges. Supporters of such sanctuaries point to the current Biden administration and Congressional Democrats' support for gun control legislation. But there are also many who disagree with the move.
Scott Peterson, with Iowans for Gun Safety, told KCCI that the proposal is worrisome, and that would violate a state law preventing Iowa localities from regulating guns. Supervisor Talsma stated that the resolution would still require residents to obtain a background check prior to purchasing a weapon, and would still not allow felons to have a gun.
I guess my question is, do we really need this in Iowa at all? A new law that went into effect as of July 1st already made it easier to get a gun in our state. The new state law no longer requires Iowans a permit to purchase or carry a handgun. It also makes it legal to for Iowans to conduct private gun sales without permits or background checks, according to RadioIowa. Iowans still must undergo a background check when buying from a federally licensed gun dealer.