IOWA - Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds is not saying whether she'll sign a gun bill to let people purchase and carry handguns without permits.
"We'll do a thorough evaluation as I always have," said Reynolds at a Wednesday news conference. “I’ve been pretty clear when we’re talking about gun violence, we need to take a holistic approach. There’s not a single answer. We need to be following the laws that are on the books, we need to make sure that coordination is in place between the agencies, we need to do everything we can to be proactive in just addressing mental health and behavioral health issues,” she said.
The gun bill received final approval in the Iowa Senate Monday, the same day a gunman killed 10 people in a mass shooting at a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado.
Reynolds supported Iowa's current gun permit requirements that were passed when she was a state Senator in 2010.
This week, she said she'd consider the changes to do away with them in the bill on her desk.
"I said I thought the policies were good that were in place, but I will continue to take a look at new legislation that is presented, Reynolds said. "I think that's the appropriate approach. And that's what we're doing right now. And I've been very consistent in my messaging on that."
The new bill passed the Senate this week 31-17 on party lines with no Democratic support, after receiving similar approval in the House.
Reynolds followed moves by the Biden administration twice in ordering flags to be flown at half-staff after two mass shootings in the one week - first after eight victims were gunned down at Atlanta area spas, and then after this week's shooting of 10 people in Colorado.
(Image from Governor Kim Reynolds news conference 3-24-2021)