A bill allowing children to handle guns passed Iowa's house of representatives on Tuesday.
The bill allows children under 14 to have "a pistol, revolver or the ammunition" while under parental supervision. It was approved by 62-36 votes and has now gone to the state senate.
However, opponents were vocal in their criticism. "We do not need a militia of toddlers," state representative Kirsten Running-Marquardt, who opposes the bill, told CBS-affiliate KCCI. This bill "allows for one-year-olds, two-year-olds, three-year-olds, four-year-olds to operate handguns".
It is currently legal for children of any age to operate long guns and shotguns under adult supervision, but this bill would allow children to use handguns, as long as the parent is 21 and maintains "visual and verbal contact at all times with the supervised person". Children would not be allowed to purchase firearms if the new system was put in place.
The bill has polarised politicians.
Those in support of the bill have argued that it restores the emphasis on parents to protect and educate their children.
The law "gives the power back to parents", state representative Jake Highfill told the Washington Post.
"Allowing people to learn at a young age the respect that a gun commands is one of the most important things you can do," he said.
Meredith and Natalie Gibson, 12 and 10 respectively, agree with Highfill. They have been shooting since they were five, under their father's supervision.
"It's only dangerous if you handle it wrong," Natalie told KCCL. "You never point a gun at somebody."
Not all the legislature agreed. The government "can't legislate good parenting... but we can protect our children", State Representative Mary Mascher said.
"While most parents would not allow their two-year-old to wield a revolver, we pass laws for those parents who lack the parenting skills needed to protect their own children," she said, in reference to smoking in cars.
She also referenced the case in 2014 when a nine-year-old girl accidentally shot and killed her shooting range instructor with an Uzi.
