Democratic Congresswoman Cindy Axne of West Des Moines and Republican Senator Joni Ernst voted for the bipartisan gun bill President Biden signed into law over the weekend.
On the other hand, the rest of Iowa’s congressional delegation opposed it.
Republican Congresswomen Ashley Hinson of Marion and Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa, Congressman Randy Feenstra of Hull, and Senator Chuck Grassley all voted no on the bill. They all had similar concerns regarding that it does not provide adequate due process rights when it came to confiscating a gun from someone considered a threat to themselves or others. Miller-Meeks made an emphasis on not including the access to mental health records during background checks for gun buyers under 21.
Republican Senator Joni Ernst says the law does not place new restrictions on law-abiding gun owners. Congresswoman Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines, says the bill will make schools safer, but doesn’t go far enough. Axne supports restoring the ban on assault weapons.
