The Iowa Senate approved a scaled-back version of Senate File 2263, legislation addressing where lawful gun owners may store firearms in their vehicles on certain public properties.
An adopted amendment removed the provision allowing permit holders to carry concealed pistols or revolvers in school district driveways and parking lots. It also removed the division of the bill that would have barred the regents from enforcing policies that prohibit firearms stored in locked personal vehicles on campus property.
Democrat State Sen. Mike Zimmer thanked Republican State Sen. Jason Schultz for the amendment, noting he had concerns about firearms during school drop-off and pick-up times.
Zimmer described the often-heated atmosphere that can occur in school pick-up lines. He said he has supervised pick-up lines and seen people get angry when someone else cuts in line.
“The last place I would, quite honestly, prefer not to have people armed is pick-up and drop-off time,” Zimmer said.
Even without the school parking lot provision, the amended bill contains several significant components. The bill allows individuals who may lawfully possess firearms under Iowa law to keep them inside locked personal vehicles in publicly accessible, non-secure parking lots operated by:
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The state
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A county
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A city
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A township
The firearm must remain out of sight and inside a locked vehicle when unattended.
The legislation also prevents the Department of Health and Human Services from adopting rules that would prohibit otherwise lawful firearm possession in vehicles transporting foster children.
The bill passed the Senate 36-11. Democrat State Senators Tony Bisignano, Matt Blake, Izaah Knox, Tom Townsend and Sarah Trone-Garriott voted in support.
