WIth some of the larger legislator drafted bills, some smaller bills that were brought forward as an idea from outside the legislative body haven’t been in the spotlight.

Iowa Senator for District 13 Amy Sinclair says that one such bill came from the Iowa Department of Corrections. She tells Raccoon Valley Radio that House File 625 changes penalties for convicted felons that possess firearms.

“It does modify the penalties and applies mandatory minimum sentencing to the controlled possession, receipt or transportation of a firearm or offensive weapon by a felon. So it’s all related to the post conviction. It’s not just average Joe Schmo having a gun offense, it is related to felons who have gun offenses.”

According to legislative documents, the bill would make “convict in possession of, or transporting a firearm or offensive weapon” a class D felony for the first and second offenses, and a class C felony for the third and fourth or subsequent offenses. Each offense would also come with minimum mandatory prison time. For the first offense it would be two years, the second offense would be four years, then seven years for the third offense, and for the fourth and subsequent offenses, the mandatory punishment would be ten years. Currently all offenses are a class D felony. The bill has been passed by the House, and has been recommended for passage by subcommittee and committee in the Senate.