Bill > SJR7

This Joint Resolution proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa, which is the state's foundational legal document, to explicitly protect the right of individuals to keep and bear arms. The amendment, which will be added as a new section to Article I of the Constitution, states that this right "shall not be infringed" and affirms it as a "fundamental individual right." Furthermore, it mandates that any laws or regulations that restrict this right must undergo "strict scrutiny," a high legal standard requiring the government to demonstrate a compelling interest and that the restriction is narrowly tailored to achieve that interest. This proposed amendment, having been approved by two consecutive sessions of the Iowa General Assembly (the state legislature), will be presented to Iowa voters for approval at the general election in November 2022.