A bill for an act relating to the disposition of firearms and ammunition deposited with the department of public safety through seizure or forfeiture proceedings.(See HF 871.)
Impact
If passed, HF519 will directly influence the existing state laws regarding the procedures for disposing of firearms and ammunition by establishing clear priority for public auction. This could potentially lead to an increase in the availability of legal firearms and ammunition in the market, as more items will be auctioned rather than disposed of. The bill's framework aims at promoting transparency and accountability in the asset disposal processes of law enforcement agencies.
Summary
House File 519 is a legislative proposal concerning the disposal of firearms and ammunition that have been seized or forfeited by the Department of Public Safety in Iowa. The bill mandates that seized legal firearms and ammunition should be sold via public auction, barring specific exceptions such as when the items are needed for law enforcement, uniquely valuable to the department's archive, or required for exchanges under extraordinary circumstances. This shift emphasizes a more organized approach in handling seized assets compared to current practices, which allow for a broader range of disposal methods including destruction.
Contention
The bill may face pushback from various stakeholders concerned about the implications of public auctions on community safety and responsible gun ownership. Detractors might argue that increasing the availability of firearms through auctions could lead to heightened risks of misuse or accidents, especially if appropriate checks are not in place. Conversely, supporters may emphasize that the public auctioning of firearms is a logical and responsible way to manage legally held property, as long as rigorous standards for eligibility and safety are enforced.
Similar To
A bill for an act relating to the disposition of firearms and ammunition deposited with the department of public safety through seizure or forfeiture proceedings.(Formerly HF 519.)
A bill for an act relating to the creation of an extreme risk protective order against a person in possession of a firearm who presents a significant danger to the person's self or others, and providing penalties.
A bill for an act relating to the creation of an extreme risk protective order against a person in possession of a firearm who presents a significant danger to the person's self or others, and providing penalties.
A bill for an act relating to government records of firearms, and payment card transactions involving firearms and ammunition, and providing civil penalties.(See HF 2464.)
A bill for an act relating to the creation of an extreme risk protective order against a person in possession of a firearm who presents a significant danger to the person's self or others, and providing penalties.
A bill for an act relating to motor vehicle enforcement duties of the department of public safety and the department of transportation, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.(See HF 579.)
A bill for an act relating to trigger locks for firearms, including the establishment of a public safety trigger lock fund and requiring trigger locks on certain firearms, and providing penalties.