Another Entry In The Annals Of Dumb Gun Laws
BY Herschel Smith
8 years, 10 months ago
Apparently, some members of the Iowa Legislature have far too much time on their hands.
Despite all of the pressing issues facing lawmakers, including school funding and water quality, some of them are pursuing legislation that would make it legal for Iowans to carry loaded firearms while driving or riding on all-terrain vehicles or snowmobiles.
Currently, Iowa law prohibits firearms on ATVs and snowmobiles unless the weapons are unloaded and enclosed in a carrying case.
The law exists not only to protect people from bullets accidentally fired as these vehicles bounce over rough terrain, but to discourage hunting from moving vehicles. Under a separate Iowa law, one can use a snowmobile or ATV to go hunting in Iowa, but it is illegal for hunters to use the vehicles to chase game, or to assist in taking the animals.
Amazingly, some Republican lawmakers think — or claim to think — that this restriction infringes on people’s constitutional right to defend themselves. Last week, a House subcommittee chaired by Rep. Brian Best, a Republican lawmaker from Glidden, approved a bill that would eliminate the law.
“I see this as a personal-protection measure, and (want) to make sure that Iowans can freely exercise their Second Amendment rights,” Best said.
It isn’t good enough to prohibit hunting from a moving vehicle. They want to prohibit the carrying of weapons with which one would hunt from a moving vehicle. Brought straight to you from the minds of The Minority Report.
The second reason – ah, this one is sweet. To “protect people from bullets accidentally fired as these vehicles bounce over rough terrain.” So tell us, engineers and gunsmiths in the Iowa State legislature, how would this happen? Give a blow by blow account of the sequence of events, including actions taken by the mechanical parts of various guns, that might explain how going over bumps would discharge a round? We all await your response with eager anticipation.
On February 9, 2016 at 3:23 pm, Mitch Rapp said:
This type of ‘lite assault vehicle’ would be invaluable in an armed civil conflict. Ah HA! There it is! That word. ‘Assault’!
On February 9, 2016 at 3:28 pm, Phil Ossiferz Stone said:
We passed the point of well-intentioned ignorance a long, long time ago. We are dealing with orchestrated, ideologically-motivated malice from both press and party. Remember that.
On February 9, 2016 at 4:33 pm, Fred said:
The current law is a clear example of it not being about the object, guns in this case, but it being about the control.
On February 10, 2016 at 11:40 am, Michael Schlechter said:
“might explain how going over bumps would discharge a round?”
It’s probably because of the shoulder thingy that goes up
https://youtu.be/ospNRk2uM3U
On February 10, 2016 at 8:47 pm, Justsomeguy said:
I’m guessing it’s such a danger that their Game Wardens, Park Rangers and Police unload and case their guns before getting on snowmobiles and ATVs’. They do don’t they?
On February 11, 2016 at 6:01 pm, Berzerk said:
However you can carry a loaded pistol or rifle in your vehicle if you have a permit. You just cannot carry them on your own property on an atv. In case you needed it to defend yourself from the Mt. Lions they have been relaesing. Real smart.