Julian Garrett
The Iowa Senate has voted to legalize “suppressors” or “silencers” for guns. Senator Julian Garrett, a Republican from Indianola, was among the 46 senators who voted for the bill.
“I just want to take a brief moment to thank everyone involved in getting this bill up for a vote here today,” Garrett said this morning shortly before the bill passed 46-4. “It’s been kind of a long time coming.”
It is legal to own and sell suppressors in 40 other states. Gun owners say suppressors help preserve their hearing, especially for target shooters. Senator Steve Sodders, a Democrat from State Center, said after talking about legalizing gun suppressors in 2014 and 2015, legislators have come to agreement in 2016.
“I think this is a good change in allowing those folks that would like to get one to get one,” Sodders said.
The Senate corrected a grammatical error in the bill. It now goes back to the House. In late February, the House overwhelmingly approved the legislation.