An proposed bill with big gun rights implications is now gaining momentum in Iowa. It still must be approved by the Senate and ultimately the governor, but its proposed changes are gaining wide approval around the country.

It focuses on three key issues of gun ownership that could boost sales for gun stores. If the bill passes and becomes law, it could mean big changes for Iowa gun owners.

One of the biggest headlines of the proposed law affects children’s use of firearms. It would allow children under 14 to use pistols and revolvers under a parent’s supervision. Iowa already allows children to use rifles and shotguns under parental supervision. This goes a long way to enforce the need to educate young people about firearms, how to handle them safely, and the need to respect their power.

The sooner a child understands what to do if they see a gun and how to react responsibly, the better. They can either learn from what they see on television or in movies, or they can learn from a responsible supervising adult. Hopefully, this proposed bill will encourage more families to learn about handguns together and prevent accidents in the future.

This bill also proposes the elimination of a mandatory 3-day wait for gun purchases. Currently, the county sheriff’s office runs the required background check and then issues the permit. If this bill is passed it will allow gun stores to run the background check, effectively eliminating the wait.

The last element of this wide-ranging bill gun rights bill is the legalization of the purchase of suppressors by owners who have passed a government BATFE background check (with a typical waiting period of 60-120 days). It would make Iowa the 40th state to legalize suppressor ownership. This proposal is favored by those who own gun shops, since they can benefit from the $200 federal tax that would be added to the purchase.

These proposed changes are definitely big wins for gun shop owners in Iowa and their customers. The increase in revenue that could result from suppressor sales, decreased waiting periods, and more children using firearms with supervision would be a welcome boost.

The landscape of gun rights legislation is always changing, and with those changes come more responsibilities for gun owners. It’s imperative that, if this bill is voted into law, that gun owners act as positive role models and supervise their children’s gun use closely.

Eliminating waiting periods and legalizing silencers open big doors in the name of our individual gun rights, but they also mean that new owners should increase their time spent practicing with equipment and responsible gun use.