Lawmakers continue to work on new gun legislation that was recently passed in the Iowa House.

District 24 Senator Jerry Behn says there are 13 proposed changes and additions in the bill. Some of the changes are removing the current law prohibiting short-barrel rifles and shotguns, allows private investigators and security officers to carry their firearm on school property while on the job and an individual can be charged with a serious misdemeanor for carrying a weapon while under the influence or drugs and alcohol. Another change is requiring individuals to go through firearm safety training before they can apply for a new permit to carry a firearm.

“Obviously it’s nice to say, ‘Well you got to have a firearm safety training or whatever. But I have a little more faith I guess in the individual to know that it’s a dangerous weapon, you’re going to have to be careful with it. And I don’t think the training is a bad idea necessarily, I just don’t know if it ought to be a requirement before you can actually get it.”

The senator from Boone is a second amendment advocate  and believes that people should have the right to own a firearm to protect themselves and their families.

Behn encourages anyone to contact him regarding the gun bill before it gets to the Senate floor for debate. You can email him at jerry.behn@legis.iowa.gov. His phone number is 515-432-7327.