A bill that passed the Iowa House would allow firearms on certain areas of school property.

House File 654 would prohibit public and private schools, as well as universities and colleges from enforcing “gun free zones” on campus, specifically on public access parking lots. House District 47 Representative Carter Nordman (R-Panora) says the bill also allows for parents who have a permit to carry a firearm the right to bear arms when picking up and dropping off their child to school.

“This bill is actually more restrictive than what the federal law says. Federal law says if you have a permit to carry you would be allowed to carry in a school. This is just addressing that pick up line, dropping off (and) picking up your kids.”  

Nordman points out another aspect this bill includes is allowing firearms to be in locked vehicles on public property. He explains whether or not he thinks this bill makes schools less safer.

“Do I have any concerns regarding the safety of the schools? No, I don’t. Again, and I might sound like a broken record, I believe in law abiding citizens and I believe in a law abiding citizen’s right to bear arms. So no, I do not have any concerns over the safety of schools.”       

Nordman says he campaigned on Iowan’s second amendment rights and he voted in favor of this bill. He adds that there hasn’t been any major concerns brought up by law enforcement that he’s discussed the legislation with. The bill is now in the Senate for consideration. Click the link below to see the full bill.

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=90&ba=H-1206