A gun proposal bill in Iowa would allow children under the age of 14 to carry and use handguns.

Iowa's House of Representatives voted 62-36 in favor of the bill that would allow children under 14 years old to carry a pistol, revolver or the ammunition under direct parental supervision. The bill is now passed to the State Senate.

The bill defines supervision as "supervision provided by another person who maintains visual and verbal contact at all times with the supervised person." The bill, however, protects children from purchasing guns on their own.

There were multiple reactions regarding allowing young children to carry handguns. Some say that it will create "child militia" in Iowa while others say that it "brings the code in line with long guns and shotguns."

"We do not need a militia of toddlers," Iowa Rep. Kirsten Running-Marquardt said and added that the bill "allows for 1-year-olds, 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds, 4-year-olds to operate handguns."

Meanwhile, Republican Reps. Matt Windschitl and Jake Highfill were in favor of the bill being passed as Iowa already allows any child of any age to handle a shotgun and long-run barrels.

"These are folks that are the NRA. This is the Iowa Firearms Coalition. These are Iowans that want us to be passing these bills, so let's not shroud it with some 'Big bad NRA is out there, trying to put guns in everybody's hands,'" said Windschitl. "No, we're out there advancing Second Amendment rights and allowing Iowans to have the freedoms that they rightfully deserve."

Highfill, who was the one who proposed the bill, adds that it will also give children early knowledge on how to handle guns and how to use them.

"We want to make sure we turn power back to parents, allow them to make the decision if their children are ready or not. If they don't want to shoot or teach them gun safety that's also their choice," Highfill said. He added. "Allowing people to learn at a young age the respect that a gun commands is one of the most important things you can do," he said and adds that those who don't, allegedly "turn[ing] 18 with no experience."

Sisters Natalie and Meredith Gibson, who are 10 and 12 respectively, are those who are in favor of the bill. The two have been handling and shooting guns since they were 5 under the supervision of their father. Natalie says that guns should never be pointed at somebody and are only dangerous if they are handled wrongly.

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