On May 5th, the Iowa General Assembly adjourned sine die from the 2018 Legislative Session. During this session, both chambers passed House Joint Resolution 2009 to propose an amendment to the state Constitution affirming and recognizing the right of Iowans’ to keep and bear arms as a fundamental individual right. It now needs to pass again next year before a constitutional amendment is put on the ballot for Iowa voters to decide in 2020.
Authored by Representative Matt Windschitl (R-17), HJR 2009 was passed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 54-42 and the Senate by 34-15. Currently, Iowa is one of six states that do not have a right to keep and bear arms amendment in its state Constitution, including California, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New York.
Thank you to all of the legislators who worked hard this legislative session to protect Second Amendment rights in Iowa.
Your NRA-ILA will be back at the Capitol for the 2019 session, and in the meantime, please stay tuned to your email inbox and www.nraila.org for further updates on Second Amendment issues in the Hawkeye State.