Iowa Democrat Black Caucus comes to Waterloo

June 04--WATERLOO -- Changes in Iowa's self-defense laws have Sharina Sallis worried.

Sallis, of Waterloo, has a 16-year-old son with autism, and she is concerned he could become a victim of "stand your ground," a new provision that allows people to use deadly force when they feel threatened instead of retreating.

"I'm very worried about him being out in the community, and someone saying they are scared of him, to shoot him," said Sallis, a military veteran and gun owner. "I'm concerned about people just taking this law and not understanding what the law is about."

Sallis was one of about 30 people who turned out for the Iowa Democratic Black Caucus Town Hall meeting at the Waterloo Center for the Arts on Saturday.

Rep. Ras Smith, D-Waterloo, said concerns over stand-your-ground -- one of the elements of a multifaceted firearms rights bill passed into law this year -- are valid.

"It was written in a way that you could be wrong in your estimation of a threat. You could have a bias that would make it, in your mind, reasonable for you to assume somebody's in danger, and you now have the ability to use lethal or deadly force in that situation," said Smith, who garnered recognition when he showed up on the House floor in a hoodie during debate in March.

Another attendee at Saturday's meeting said she planned to take a concealed carry firearms class because she was concerned for her safety. Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad, D-Des Moines, cautioned the new law feed on fears.

"It's really trying to show the phobia, the fear that we have in this country, and the real conversations we have to have. There is fear of African-American males, there is fear of Muslims, there is fear of individuals that look different from white society," Abdul-Samad said.

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Saturday's session didn't include a discussion of possible solutions because time ran out. Another meeting will be scheduled in Waterloo. But Smith told attendees to learn about their legislators and push them to address issues they care about.

"The most impactful thing we can do is be educated about who we are voting for and get as many people as you can get out and be activated. We have to be involved. We have to vote," Smith said.

The caucus, an arm of the Iowa Democratic Party tasked with motivating black communities to engage in the political process, has been touring Iowa counties, said Chair Jamie Woods of Davenport. The group's next town hall meeting is scheduled for July 15 in Burlington.

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