If there's one thing I think most of us can agree on, the concept of "rules for thee, but not for me" is the epitome of the worst thing lawmakers can do. That's actually true, more or less, across partisan lines, even. No one likes the so-called elite getting a legal pass whereas we are held to a different standard.
Most only shout about it when it's the other side doing it, but the feeling tends to be pretty universal, even if partisan blinders help people ignore it when it's inconvenient.
I try to be consistent on this, though. I don't like it when anyone does it.
I especially don't like it when lawmakers think the people are just too stupid to see what they're doing, which is what Iowa lawmakers were apparently hoping for this week.
It started with a bill that would allow people to leave their guns secured in their cars and trucks in the parking lot of colleges and universities in the state, as well as some municipal buildings. They couldn't carry them in, mind you, just leave them secured in the car.
Then, everything went to crap.
Before final passage, however, the Senate adopted an amendment stripping the bill of the provisions allowing concealed carry in vehicles on university campuses and in K-12 pick-up and drop-off areas and parking lots. Forcing those who wish to carry for self-defense to first pull over before they reach the school unloaded their firearm and securely store it before entering the school parking lot to drop off or pick up a student then reverse the process after leaving the school grounds.
Immediately following that vote, the Senate passed SF 2280, legislation allowing members of the General Assembly to carry concealed firearms anywhere in the state, including on school grounds. Expanding their ability to legally carry for self-defense immediately after voting to deny Iowa citizens a fraction of that right.
So, before going to a college campus for whatever reason, you would need to plan a stop, unload your gun, have the means to store it securely according to the revamped bill, and then you could enter the parking lot, while state lawmakers voted to allow them to carry a gun anywhere at all.
You can't be trusted with a loaded gun secured in your car, and they can carry a firearm anywhere they want, regardless of what the rules are for pretty much anyone else.
Never mind that concealed carriers are known to be more law-abiding than elected officials, according to actual studies. That doesn't matter because they think their gun rights matter more than yours do.
Rules for thee, but not for me.
It's freaking disgusting to say the least.
Sure, it would be a little odd if they'd voted to give themselves this power even with the original bill in place, but the fact that they gutted it just moments before voting to give it to themselves means not only do they not respect your right to keep and bear arms, they also think you're too stupid to see it.
If Iowa voters don't do something about this starting right now, they deserve to have this happen. They're practically asking to be abused and dismissed by Iowa lawmakers, at least when it comes to gun rights.
Editor’s Note: The radical left will stop at nothing to enact their radical gun control agenda and strip us of our Second Amendment rights, and people like Iowa lawmakers aren't much help in stopping them, apparently.
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