Iowa lawmakers passed a bill that no longer requires someone to have a permit to carry a firearm.

House District 20 Representative Ray Sorensen says the “Constitutional Carry” bill means that a law-abiding citizen no longer has to sit in a class to learn about firearms and pass a test to receive a permit to carry a firearm. While Sorensen does agree that those who are purchasing a firearm  should be proficient and responsible with it, but he wanted to further ensure protection for  everyone’s 2nd Amendment rights.

“The stricter you get on gun control, all you do is make it harder for law-abiding citizens to purchase a weapon. You do not make it harder for criminals to have weapons. All you do is create a more lucrative black market for weapons, when you enforce these laws. So that’s the way we see it.”

Sorensen describes his thoughts if law enforcement was agreeable to this change.

“Not every sheriff across the state is probably excited about this. We had many come forward at least non-publicly and say they didn’t see a problem with this.”

Sorensen notes those that don’t have a permit to carry are subject to a background check every time they want to purchase a firearm.