(SIOUX CITY, IA) - It's an argument that you've probably heard before: guns don't kill people, people kill people. Iowa's Governor seems to agree as he pushes for stricter mental health checks.
President Obama unveiled his proposals for gun control laws on Tuesday and part of that includes taking a deeper look at the nation's mental health system. It's an idea Iowa Governor Terry Branstad says he believes is the first step to solving gun violence.
At Hawkeye Rifle And Pistol Club in Sioux City on Friday, Dustin Johnson was brushing up on his target practice. He's a gun owner and handles weapons on a regular basis.
He addressed concerns about anyone who may be unfit to handle a gun.
"That is scary, but if anybody wants to get a gun, they can get one somehow, someway. If anyone wants to kill someone, they can kill someone somehow, someway. I don't like the idea of someone mentally unstable owning a gun, but I don't know if that is something you can address. And just banning types of guns and just winging laws isn't really gonna do anything for the mentally unstable," said Johnson.
Johnson believes the idea of banning certain guns, like President Obama is suggesting, won't solve the gun violence issue.
"Assault weapons themselves aren't the biggest killer, aren't the number one choice. In fact, they're along the bottom of guns that are being used. I just think he's targeting a certain type of gun that people in the media or himself is intimidating or scary," said Johnson.
Governor Terry Branstad agrees.
"The big problem is so much of the gun control focuses on the honest law-abiding citizens that obey the law. The problem is with the criminals that violate the law and they don't care if they violate another gun control law," said Governor Branstad.
Stan Sorokowski believes gun owners need to take responsibility.
"Around children and mentally-ill if they're in your family, a good way to prevent accidents and shootings and stuff is to lock your firearms up: either with a trigger lock or I think it's better, a gun safe," said Sorokowski, a gun owner.
Governor Branstad said Iowa is on the right track.
"Last year we passed a whole redesign of our mental health system and looking at how we can provide better mental health services. Maybe we can identify some of these people," said Governor Branstad.
"I think that society is getting lazy. I think people need to address these mental health problems at home with their families and keep an eye on each other," said Johnson.
