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Legislature sends gun measure to Culver
Posted: 03.12.2010 at 8:10 AM
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DES MOINES, IOWA (AP) -- Lawmakers have given final approval to a measure that forces those convicted of domestic abuse to give up their guns.
The Senate approved the measure Thursday on a 36-12 vote, a day after the House approved the proposal. It now goes to Gov. Chet Culver.
The gun ban has been a top priority of Attorney General Tom Miller and other prosecutors. They argue the law could help save lives because many domestic violence cases have ended in homicides where the weapon used was a gun.
Opponents say the measure as a first step in limiting gun rights. They suggested alternatives ranging from self-defense classes for domestic abuse victims to giving those victims a tax break on gun purchases.
All of those efforts were rejected.
(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)