The House of Representatives in the state voted to pass a bill allowing children under 14 to use “a pistol, revolver or the ammunition” so long as they are supervised by a parent.

Democratic state representative Kirsten Running-Marquardt said: “What this bill does, the bill before us, allows for 1-year-olds, 2-year-olds, 3-year-olds, 4-year-olds to operate handguns.”

She added: “We do not need a militia of toddlers.”

Current law permits children to use shotguns and long guns under supervision – but not handguns.

Republican state representative Jake Highfill explained that the new law “brings the code in line with long guns and shotguns”.

Supervision is defined as “supervision provided by another person who maintains visual and verbal contact at all times with the supervised person.”

Mr Highfill told The Washington Post it would help teach children “the respect that a gun commands”.

He added that the bill “gives the power back to parents” to make decisions.

Meredith and Natalie Gibson, 10 and 12 respectively, spoke to news station KCCI, explaining that they have used guns since they were 5.

“It’s only dangerous if you handle it wrong,” Natalie said.

“You never point a gun at somebody.”