Hunter
09/03/25
A convicted felon who sued Johnson County Sheriff Brad Kunkel and Governor Kim Reynolds to restore his 2nd amendment rights to own a firearm was ruled ineligible by the US District Court of Appeals.
According to a release from the Johnson County Attorney’s Office, Anthony Browne was convicted of committing Willful Injury causing Bodily Injury and Criminal Gang Participation in Iowa in 1991 and was thereafter prohibited by Iowa law to possess firearms, apply for restoration of firearms rights, or to receive a permit to acquire a handgun.
Browne discharged his sentence in 1998 and according to the complaint has behaved lawfully since then. He paid all restitution, fines and other financial obligations resulting from the conviction and has since earned an undergraduate degree and secured gainful employment. He alleged he wants to now keep a firearm for hunting, target shooting, and home defense.
Browne sued Iowa Governor Reynolds and Johnson County Sheriff Brad Kunkel on the grounds that his Second Amendment rights had been violated.
Chief Judge Stephanie Rose of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa ruled that Iowa Code does not violate the Second Amendment and dismissed his complaint for failure to state a claim. On Tuesday, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld this judgment.