DES MOINES, Iowa — An Iowa Senate judiciary subcommittee voted to unanimously move a bill that lowers the age to own and purchase a handgun to the full committee level on Tuesday morning.

The bill was voted through the full Iowa House chamber last week by a vote of 79 to 18. The wording in the legislation changes the age from 21 to 18-years-old to purchase, acquire or carry a pistol or a revolver in the state.

All three state senators signed off on moving the bill forward, with the one democrat on the subcommittee wrestling with his vote.

“What’s fair is if we set the adult age of 18 and you become 18, then you get adult rights. That’s hard to swallow in some cases,” said State Senator Tony Bisignano (D), District 15 from Des Moines. Sen. Bisignano weighed not wanting to put more guns on the streets with what is constitutionally fair. He added at the end that he is reluctant to sign off on it, but deemed it appropriate.

The chair of the subcommittee, State Senator Scott Webster (R), District 47 shared that his daughter had just turned 18 and is a real estate agent. He signed off on the bill saying that this gives him more comfort that she will be able to properly defend herself.

Two members of the public shared their thoughts on if the bill should advance or not, the Iowa Firearms Coalition argued that at 18 you are considered an adult, so this law change is necessary.

“Iowa law provides that when you reach 18, you’re an adult, you may marry, vote, join the military,” said Richard Rogers with the Iowa Firearms Coalition.

The second speaker cited the high rates of violence amongst the younger population, and also added that someone is not fully matured, and the brain not developed at age 18.

“18 to 20-year-olds comprise of 4% of the U.S. population, but account for 17% of known gun homicide offenders,” said Connie Ryan, the executive director at the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa.

Ryan also noted the high suicide rates and these weapons being a large contributing factor to those causes of death.

Federal law does not allow someone to purchase a handgun under the age of 18 from a federally licensed dealer, but the state is able to change Iowa code to allow for an 18-year-old to purchase a gun from a private dealer, or have a parent or guardian purchase it and gift it to the individual; along with allowing the person to carry the handgun as well.

The bill must be passed through the Iowa Senate Judiciary committee before Friday, April 4 to be considered ‘funnel-proof.’

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