Representative Steve Holt (R-Crawford) talked at the NRA/ILA Grassroots dinner Wednesday night. He discussed legislation in the Iowa House involving gun rights.
There was also a handout that highlighted bad bills from Democrats to restrict gun rights.
“If you look at the bottom of this sheet, where it says the bad, the first thing you can know is as long as Republicans are in control, those bills are dead as soon as they are released,” Holt said. “Those bills go nowhere. Red Flag laws go nowhere, none of this crap goes anywhere.”
With Rep. Jarad Klein in charge of the Public Safety committee, and Holt chairing Judiciary, anti-Second Amendment bills will not advance.
“But realize if the other party was in control, just understand, this is the kind of thing they would want to do and they would try to do if they were ever successful in getting the House,” Holt said.
Holt said maintaining control of the House and Senate is key in 2020 if Republicans want to add Second Amendment language to the Iowa Constitution. Should that pass, it will make Second Amendment rights subject to strict scrutiny.
“Iowa will never be able to become Virginia when that gets in the Iowa Constitution,” Holt said.
Holt said when he first ran for office, his two top priorities were to protect innocent unborn life and Second Amendment rights.
“That continues to be my priorities,” he said. “I’m honored to be in a room with folks who understand the importance of the sacred right to keep and bear arms.”