Locate Insanity: Look No Further Than Iowa and Guns for Kids Law

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The Wild Bunch

Want a headlines to scare the crap out of you … try this one on for size – Dateline Iowa (Washington Post):

“We do not need a militia of toddlers – But if Iowa law passes, children can use handguns”

Specifics: A bill that allows children of all ages to handle guns passed through Iowa’s House of Representatives (February 23, 2016) by a vote of 62-36 vote.

The bill permits children under the age of 14 to have “a pistol, revolver, or the ammunition while under parental supervision.”

The bill now heads to the Iowa state senate.

One voice, state representative Kirsten Running-Marquardt, who opposes the bill, summarized the bill this way: “It allows for one-year-olds, two-year-olds, three-year-olds, and four-year-olds to operate handguns.” (According to CBS-affiliate KCCI, where in Ms. Running-Marquardt also said: “We do not need a militia of toddlers.”

(I interject at this point of the story: Who in their right mind could ever subscribe to this kind of law passing, let alone one even being introduced into government at any level).

Now the story continues:

Right now in Iowa, children can legally use long guns and shotguns under adult supervision, but not handguns. This bill would change all that, thus allowing the use of handguns as long as parents are 21 years old and maintain (and I love this part): “visual and verbal contact at all times with the supervised person.”

(I interject another note: Try keeping an eye on any child constantly, with or without one toting a gun).

The good news (ha ha): Children would still not be able to purchase firearms on their own.

Ironically, state representative Jake Highfill told the Washington Post that the new law “gives the power back to parents.”

(I call this one huge WTF moment in Iowa history).

Highfill continued: “Allowing people to learn at a young age the respect that a gun commands is one of the most important things you can do. The alternative, is waiting to turn 18 with no experience.”  

Thus stupidity is redefined at least in Iowa, or as Albert Einstein quote is modified by this asinine, crazy, foolish, insane gun law:

Thanks for stopping and for sure, don't visit Iowa anytime soon.