Proposed Legislation in Iowa Would Add Sharks to Dangerous Animals List

Shark end

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(Des Moines, IA) -- A proposed bill in the Iowa Legislature would add sharks to the dangerous animal list. House File 24, sponsored by Rep. Ray Sorenson (R-Adair County), is proposed after a shark attack at Blue Zoo in West Des Moines last year. That happened when a zookeeper was trying to care for a shark, and it latched onto them.

Today, a subcommittee of the House's Public Safety Committee met to discuss the bill. Preston Moore spoke in favor at that meeting.

"It makes it so you can still bring a shark in," Moore says. "It's just you can't get in with it and pet it. It doesn't shut this place down."

But legislators say it may be too niche to address at the Capitol. Rep. John Wills (R-Dickinson County) is serving as chair of this subcommittee.

"I have a tough time doing it," Wills says. "For one business. For one town. We govern the state of Iowa. Not West Des Moines."

No action was taken on the bill in today's meeting.


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