Iowa Firearm Coalition Supports Kaufmann Despite Comment on Gun Bill

By Jillian Petrus, Reporter

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By Kelli Sutterman

Story Created: Mar 11, 2011 at 6:47 PM CDT

Story Updated: Mar 11, 2011 at 11:21 PM CDT

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - An embarrassing moment for Iowa Republicans came during a delay in debate Thursday.

A group of GOP lawmakers began discussing House Study Bill 219, or their so-called Alaska Bill.

It would copy Alaska’s gun laws, allowing anyone to carry a gun without a permit, background checks, or training. Iowa Democrats posted the video and transcripts on Friday, in which Representative Jeff Kaufmann from Cedar County, calls the Alaska Bill “the crazy, give-a-handgun-to-a-schizophrenic bill.”

Iowa Representatives Dave Deyoe from Nevada and Steve Lukan from New Vienna were also involved in the candid discussion. The lawmakers did not know a live microphone was recording the banter.

Democrats say the tape catches Republicans in a frank and honest conversation about the bill.

“This is a bill that some Republicans have been pushing very hard,” said Sam Roecker, Communication Director for the Iowa Democratic Party. “To hear leaders of the party speak about it in such a negative way is really surprising.”

Iowa GOP spokesperson, Josie Albrecht did not want to comment on the video Friday. Several phone calls from a reporter to Representative Kaufmann were also not returned.

At least one major Iowa gun advocacy group says it’s standing behind Kaufmann.

“We don’t believe he is in anyway backing down from his support for any of the gun bills currently being heard,” said Sean McClanahan, President of the Iowa Firearm Coalition. “Our lobbyist as well as the NRA lobbyist works with Kaufmann on a daily basis at the capitol. He is one of our biggest supporters.”

McClanahan says the comments may also be taken out of context, and Kaufmann may have been making a joke, but Democratic Spokesman Roecker says he believes the conversations speaks for itself.

“I don’t think the characterization of this bill was taken out of context,” Roecker said. “This is how they view it.”

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