Sioux City Times

U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra from Hull, Iowa, has introduced a new piece of legislation titled the Preserving Rights Of Tenants by Ensuring Compliance To (PROTECT) the Second Amendment Act. This legislative proposal aims to safeguard the Second Amendment rights of tenants living in rental properties whose landlords receive federal financial assistance.

Rep. Feenstra emphasized the commitment to constitutional rights, with a focus on ensuring that landlords and rental property managers cannot unlawfully restrict firearm ownership among tenants. He stated, "The right of Iowans to keep and bear arms is enshrined in our Constitution and shall not be infringed. These constitutional protections must be strongly defended and certainly do not cease to exist for gun owners living in rental properties."

He further explained that his legislation ensures landlords or rental property managers benefiting from federal financial assistance do not unjustly limit tenants' constitutional rights, reiterating his advocacy for the Second Amendment and law-abiding gun owners.

John Commerford, the Executive Director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, voiced support for the legislation, underscoring a historic right of self-defense. Commerford remarked, "The right of law-abiding Americans to keep firearms in their homes for self-defense has been a fundamental freedom since our nation’s founding and has been reaffirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court. No one should be forced to give up this right, especially when a landlord or property manager is receiving federal tax dollars."

The PROTECT the Second Amendment Act outlines three primary goals. It aims to protect tenants' rights to own firearms lawfully within federally assisted rental housing, ensure the lawful transport of firearms through common areas when entering or exiting the property, and prevent discrimination by property managers and landlords who accept federal assistance against tenants' right to own firearms.