(Radio Iowa) – Republicans on two Iowa House subcommittees have advanced bills that would loosen restrictions on who can buy and carry handguns. One bill would strike three disqualifying conditions for carrying a gun from state law. As a result, it would allow people addicted to alcohol and people convicted of misdemeanor assault charges to carry a gun. Iowa Firearms Coalition lobbyist Richard Rogers says current law in this area is too subjective.  “There’s nothing in code about who gets to decide that the person is addicted to alcohol or on what basis they’re addicted to alcohol,” he said, “and so that’s quite subjective and problematic.”

Connie Ryan, executive director of the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, testified against the bill. “When someone has violently another person, it shows a propensity to commit violence,” she said. “Allowing the person to then have a gun lacks common sense or commitment to public safety.”

A separate bill would lower the minimum age to buy and carry a handgun from 21 to 18.