Amid the increasing gun violence across the US, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, signed a bill that allows people to purchase and carry handguns in the state without a permit.
Reynolds released a statement on Friday announcing the signage of the legislation.
“Today I signed legislation that protects the 2nd Amendment rights of Iowa’s law-abiding citizens while still preventing the sale of firearms to criminals and other dangerous individuals,” Reynolds wrote.
“We will never be able to outlaw or prevent every single bad actor from getting a gun, but what we can do is ensure law-abiding citizens have full access to their constitutional rights while keeping Iowans safe,” she added.
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The legislation, which will go into effect on July 1, allows Iowans who do not have a permit or go through safety training will be permitted to carry a gun into public places, including grocery stores and malls, according to The Des Moines Register.
The bill does, however, require courts to report to a state law enforcement database when an individual is deemed ineligible to be in possession of a firearm because of mental health reasons, the Des Moines Register reported.
The bill comes days after a combined 18 people were killed in shootings in Atlanta and Boulder, Colorado.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has called on Congress to pass a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and to close loopholes in the background check system.
