State Senator Kevin Kinney (D) of District 39 weighs in on the recent advancement of the “Second Amendment Preservation Act.”

A Senate subcommittee recently advanced Senate File 2002 on a vote of 2-1.  The bill would prohibit the enforcement of any federal gun restriction, and any law enforcement agency that attempts to enforce or aid infringement on “the people’s right to keep and bear arms” would be subject to a $50,000 civil penalty for each violation. A retired Johnson County Sheriff’s Office investigator who spent 28 years in law enforcement, Senator Kinney believes this is not the right course of action to help protect law enforcement officers, “Even if an officer would do something wrong, the city/county would be liable and it could be very costly to the local law enforcement. I think we need to get into more training for law enforcement. Training law enforcement on what you can and can not do instead of coming in and trying to mandate some of these things.”

This bill comes as several Iowa counties including Washington have passed “Second Amendment Sanctuary County” resolutions stating their opposition to enact any new legislation that would infringe upon gun rights. Iowans 21 and older no longer need to have a permit to carry or purchase a handgun since a law passed last session.The Iowa Firearms Coalition, Iowa State Sheriffs and Deputies Association, and Iowa State Bar Association have registered as undecided on the bill.