Meeting Public Comments

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HF 924

A bill for an act relating to the minimum age for acquiring or carrying weapons. (Formerly HSB 262.) Effective date: 07/01/2025.

Agenda

Subcommittee members: Webster-CH, Bisignano, Schultz

Date: Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Time: 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Location: Room G15

Comments Submitted:

The purpose of comments is to provide information to members of the subcommittee.

Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.

03-31-2025

Temple Hiatt [NA]

I am a veteran who served in the Persian Gulf War with the Army Military Police. I understand the training it takes to become and continue to be proficient with a firearm. This law concerns me primarily because it will lead to more Iowa gun deaths and injuries.I support our 2nd amendment rights. However, even constitutional rights come with public safety restrictions and keeping the age to purchase handguns at 21 in Iowa is one. Iowans 18 and older can purchase long guns. However, those cannot be so easily concealed when carried. I understand some legislators simply perceive this law as an "age of majority" issue. It is not. The age of majority to gain access to custodial funds in Iowa is 21. If we can restrict access to funds specifically designated for you until age 21, we can certainly keep the age for purchasing and carrying a handgun at age 21 as well.In Iowa, firearms are the second leading cause of death for children and teens, behind motor vehicle deaths. Allowing 1820 year olds to purchase and carry handguns will not save Iowa lives. Nationally, firearms are the leading cause of death for young people ages 18 to 20, and the firearm suicide rate among this group has increased 31% in the last decade. Eighteen to 20yearolds commit gun homicides at over triple the rate of adults 21 years and older.Putting guns in the hands of Iowa's 1820 year olds will lead to more suicides and homicides. In Iowa, nearly 80% of all gun deaths are suicide. Unfortunately, when a gun is used in a suicide, we rarely get the opportunity to get our loved ones the help they need. I understand this tragedy personally as my nephew died by gun suicide. Please vote NO on HF 924.Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

03-31-2025

Stella Herzig

Please do not lower the age for acquiring or carrying a gun!!! Teenagers brains are not developed enough for the grave responsibility of buying a deadly weaponalso if you care at all for children in school shootings you would never ever consider that an 18 year old needs to be able to buy and carry a gun! Where are your hearts? As a parent this bill is frightening and irresponsible!Thank you for voting no.

03-31-2025

Kaleigh Rogers

This bill does nothing to make Iowans safer and in fact does the opposite by putting handguns in the hands of more young people. Guns are the 2nd leading cause of death among Iowa children and teens. An average of 30 children/teens are killed by guns per year and 52% of them are gun suicides. Restricting access to firearms is the best way to prevent suicide. This bill does the opposite.

03-31-2025

Ashley Partee

As a survivor of gun violence, I strongly oppose House File 924. This bill recklessly lowers the minimum age for acquiring and carrying pistols and revolvers from 21 to 18putting more young people and communities in danger at a time when gun violence in Iowa is already on the rise.The data is clear: In an average year, 343 people die and 553 are wounded by guns in Iowa. Over the past decade, the states rate of gun deaths has surged by 42%, surpassing the national increase of 34%. Gun homicides in Iowa have skyrocketed 84%, while gun suicides have increased 35%. Guns are now the secondleading cause of death for children and teens in Iowa, with an average of 30 young lives lost every yearmost of them by suicide or homicide.Rather than prioritizing public safety, this bill makes it easier for more young people to access deadly weapons. Research and reallife tragedies show that 18 to 20yearolds are at higher risk of gun violence, both as perpetrators and as victims. It is no coincidence that federal law restricts handgun purchases from licensed dealers to those 21 and oldera safeguard this bill seeks to undermine.Beyond the human cost, gun violence in Iowa carries a massive financial burden: $4.2 billion annually, with $53 million directly paid by taxpayers. The societal and economic costs of firearm deaths, injuries, and trauma should be a wakeup call for lawmakers to strengthen, not weaken, gun safety laws.Lowering the age limit for gun access is not responsible governanceit is a dangerous decision that will cost lives. I urge legislators to reject HF 924 and focus on policies that prevent gun violence, not facilitate it. Iowas families, law enforcement, and communities deserve better.