Meeting Public Comments

Sandy Wilson [Citizen Engagement]

Citizen Engagement declares IN FAVOR of HF 73.

Chloe Gayer []

In kindergarten I was taught how to stop, drop, and roll. My whole class took a field trip to the fire station we toured the trucks, awed at the gear, and practiced those skills.But even though those words were ingrained into my memory, they didnt mean a thing when my neighbors house burned down. In that instance, my safety came down to the actions of my parents.My parents took on the responsibility of making sure I never had to interact with a fire. My mother carried me across the street and kept me calm as the fire truck sprayed down my neighbor's house. My father always made sure to disconnect the grill from the propane tank, and keep the lighters for my moms candles out of our reach.My name is Chloe Gayer. I am a student at Drake University, the Group Leader of Iowas Students Demand Action chapter, and most importantly I am an Iowan. I have lived the last 19 years of my life in between the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. And in those last 19 years, I have watched as our lawmakers flaunt their allegiance to the gun lobby and ignore their duty to their constituents.The bill we are discussing today would require the children in our public schools to endure a program developed by the National Rifle Association. A program that was deemed ineffective by the American Academy of Pediatrics.Each year, hundreds of children across America gain access to unsecured firearms and unintentionally harm themselves or someone else. And each year we hear story after story of children dying because of these preventable tragedies.With an estimated 4.6 million American children living in homes with guns that are both loaded and unlocked, It doesnt matter how well you have taught children about gun safety and responsible gun ownership. At the end of the day children are curious, and, as Iowans it is our job to make sure that the curious children and vulnerable teens in our neighborhoods cannot get a hold of firearms.Since 2015, over a thousand lives were cut short by unintentional shootings by children. 11 of those lives were stolen right here in Iowa.But research shows that with effective solutions, these tragedies are preventable. Thats why we have to focus on getting the word out about secure firearm storage. A study on storage practices showed that households that locked both firearms and ammunition had an 85 percent lower risk of unintentional firearm injuries among children and teenagers than those that locked neither. On the other hand, multiple studies found that young children who go through gun safety training, like that proposed here, are just as likely as children with no training to play with a handgun when they find one.My message today is simple: if you have a gun in the house, keep it unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition and encourage other people you know to do the same. I urge you to please vote NO on House File 73. We can all do our part to prevent more kids from gaining access to guns.

Susan Jacobi []

I would like to comment in OPPOSITION to HF 73. We should be focusing our gun safety efforts on parents and other adult gun owners to promote safe storage and keep the firearms away from children in the first place. But HF 73 is placing the gun safety responsibility on our children instead. The American Academy of Pediatrics has deemed the NRAs Eddie Eagle program ineffective, and it is the wrong approach for the children of Iowa.

Amy Bruner []

It doesnt matter how well you have taught children about gun safety and responsible gun ownership, at the end of the day children are curious. And, as parents it is our job to make sure that curious children and vulnerable teens cannot get a hold of firearms.The stakes of this issue cant be overstated. Too many childrens lives are cut short by unintentional shootings every year but research shows these tragedies are preventable. Thats why we should focus on getting the word out about secure firearm storage, and advocate for commonsense secure storage laws, and school board notifications.Its simple: if you have a gun in the house, keep it unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition and encourage other people you know to do the same. We can all do our part to prevent more kids from gaining access to guns.Its more important than ever that parents, teachers, and students get the right information to prevent unintentional shootings, as well as school shootings, homicide and assaults, and selfharm. Up to 80% of school shooters under age 18 get their guns from their homes or the homes of relatives or friends.

Karen Greenleaf []

I am opposed to HF73.The American Academy of Pediatrics has deemed the Eddie Eagle program ineffective.I believe in the Be Smart program as the responsibility is on the parents. Safe storage of guns is an adult responsibility.I do not believe that normalizing guns should be in the public schools.

Lenore Holte []

I am in opposition to HF73. Legislators who are trying to push this through just want to show their allegiance to the NRA. The Eddie Eagle program has been shown to be ineffective. The responsibility for gun safety belongs to parents and other adult gun owners, not children.

Liz O'Hara []

I am opposed to HF 73, a bill that continues the pandering to the NRA by saddling educators with the implementation of an ineffective program that does nothing for children's safety. Protecting children from unintended discharge of firearms is the job of parents. This is a ridiculous waste of time.

Lisa Wiebenga []

I am opposed to HR 73.Ultimately gun responsibility is on parents; not schools.

Anne Tabor []

I oppose HR 73A piece of legislation that is not necessary using a program that has been shown to be ineffective. It is madness that the NRA is now pushing children into the gun culture. Instead we as parents should be standing for gun safety and common sense gun laws.