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Iowa regulates the
acquisition of handguns and the carrying of weapons through a weapons
permit program. The statutory authority for this program is established in
Iowa Code Chapter 724. The program is administered by the Iowa Department
of Public Safety in cooperation with the 99 county sheriffs under
Administrative Rules 661-4 promulgated by the Department of Public Safety.
Sales, acquisition, and possession of handguns are also governed by
applicable federal laws. Much of
the most commonly requested information regarding Iowa weapons laws and
their administration is addressed in the following material. The following
material serves only as a guide to firearms and weapons. For official
laws, refer to the Iowa
Code. The
Sheriff of your county of residence is the only person who is authorized
to issue permits unless you are a non-resident of Iowa or require a permit
as a result of your employment by the State of Iowa, in which case the
Commissioner of the Iowa Department of Public Safety can issue permits to
carry. The
Sheriff may issue both a professional and a non-professional permit to the
same individual if circumstances warrant. Iowa
Sheriffs and the Commissioner of the Iowa Department of Public Safety may
impose additional requirements for permits to carry. These permits are
generally valid statewide unless restricted by the issuing
officer. Annual
Permit to Acquire Pistols or Revolvers Nonprofessional
Permit to Carry Weapons Professional Permit
to Carry Weapons A valid
professional or nonprofessional permit to carry weapons authorizes an Iowa
resident to acquire firearms in the same manner as a permit to
acquire. Carrying Weapons Offensive
weapons are illegal in Iowa and cannot be owned or carried by the general
population. To carry a dangerous weapon concealed on or about your person,
a valid permit to carry weapons is required. Offensive
weapons Dangerous
weapons An
unloaded handgun may be transported in a closed and fastened container or
securely wrapped package which is too large to be concealed on a person,
or inside a cargo or luggage compartment where the handgun is not readily
accessible to any person in the vehicle. An
unloaded rifle or shotgun may be transported if it is taken down or
totally contained in a securely fastened case. When a
motor home is being used as a means of transportation, a permit to carry
is not needed if the weapon is unloaded and in a container or package too
large to be concealed on a person or inside a cargo or luggage compartment
where the handgun is not readily accessible to any person in the
vehicle. When a
motor home is used as a residence or place of business, no permit is
required. The law
restricting the carrying of weapons does not apply to persons who are in
their own dwelling or place of business, or to persons on land owned or
possessed by them. Dwelling includes homes, rented apartments, and
hotel/motel rooms. Dwelling does not include hallways, lobbies and other
common areas outside apartments or hotel/motel
rooms. A person
does not need a permit to carry while lawfully engaged in target practice
on a range designed for that purpose or while actually engaged in lawful
hunting. Black Powder Firearms Black
powder firearms (rifles, shotguns and handguns) are defined as dangerous
weapons in the Code of Iowa, section 702.7. Therefore, they are considered
the same as modern weapons for the purpose of permits to carry. Under
federal law and state law, black powder firearms are classified as
antiques. Neither permits to acquire nor federal instant checks are
required. Black
powder firearms cannot be in the possession of convicted
felons. Stun Guns Stun guns
fall under the definition of a dangerous weapon (Code of Iowa, section
702.7). Therefore, the permit to carry rules apply. Permits to acquire are
not required, as they are not classified as
firearms. The purchase or acquisition of paint guns, air rifles, BB guns, long bows and crossbows is not regulated by federal or state law. Ammunition Restrictions Iowa law
prohibits the possession of: exploding bullets (classified as offensive
weapons in 724.1 and prohibited in 724.3) fireball type ammunition, also
known as dragon’s breath (classified as offensive weapons in 724.1 and
prohibited in 724.3). Weapon
free zone means the area in or on, or within one thousand feet of, the
real property comprising a public or private elementary or secondary
school, or in or on the real property comprising a public park. A weapons
free zone shall not include that portion of a public park designated as a
hunting area under section 461A.42. A person who commits a public offense
involving a firearm or offensive weapon in a weapon free zone shall be
fined twice the normal maximum amount. A person
who goes armed with, carries, or transports a firearm of any kind, whether
concealed or not, on the grounds of a public or nonpublic school commits a
class "D" felony. This does not apply to a person who has been
specifically authorized under the Code of Iowa or by the school to go
armed, carry, or transport a firearm on the school grounds, including for
the purpose of conducting an instructional program regarding
weapons. A legal
resident alien who has been a resident of Iowa continuously for at least
90 days is considered to be a resident of the state for the purposes of
acquiring or carrying weapons. After the 90-day waiting period, a resident
alien has the same rights and privileges of a US
citizen. Non-residents are
not eligible for permits to acquire but may make application to the
Commissioner of the Iowa Department of Public Safety for permits to
carry. Iowa does
not have reciprocity with any other state; therefore permits to carry
issued in other states are not valid in Iowa. A loaded
firearm must be secured if it is known or there is reason to believe that
a minor under the age of 14 years is likely to gain access to the firearm.
A loaded firearm can be secured by a trigger lock mechanism, by placing it
in a securely locked box or container, or by placing it in some other
location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure from a
minor. A person
under the age of 18 may possess a rifle or shotgun or its ammunition for
lawful use when allowed to do so by the person’s parent, guardian, spouse
who is 18 or older, or another with the express consent of the minor’s
parent, guardian or spouse who is 18 or older. A person
must be at least 18 years old to acquire a rifle or shotgun or its
ammunition. A person must be at least 21 years old to acquire a handgun or
its ammunition. Caliber .22 rim fire ammunition is considered as rifle
ammunition. A person
between the ages of 14 and 21 may be allowed to possess a pistol or
revolver or its ammunition while under the direct supervision of the
person’s parent, guardian or spouse who is 21 or older, or while receiving
instruction in the proper use of a handgun from an instructor who is 21 or
older. A person
who is 18, 19 or 20 years old may possess a handgun or its ammunition
while on military duty or while serving as a peace officer, security guard
(permit to carry required), or correctional officer, when such duties
require the possession of such a weapon or during instruction in its
proper use from an instructor who is 21 or older. A person
must be at least 18 years old to apply for a permit to carry. However, a
permit to carry that is valid for handguns cannot be issued to a person
who is 18, 19 or 20 years old unless that person will be performing the
duties of a peace officer, security guard or correctional officer, or
while on military duty, or while under the direct supervision of a parent,
guardian, or spouse who is 21 years old or older, or while receiving
instruction from an instructor who is at least 21 years old with the
consent of such parent, guardian or spouse. The
acquisition and possession of firearms in Iowa are regulated by both
federal and state law. All requirements must be met.
Iowa
Regulations Iowa law
contains additional minimum requirements for permits to carry and permits
to acquire. You do not qualify if you:
Iowa
Sheriffs and the Commissioner of the Iowa Department of Public Safety may
impose additional requirements for permits to carry. The Gun
Control Act of 1968 and the Brady Handgun Control Act require that persons
must meet certain requirements before taking possession of firearms from
federally licensed firearms dealers. These are listed in the section
entitled Acquiring and Possessing Firearms in Iowa. A background check
through the National Instant Check System (NICS) is required to ensure
that these qualifications are met. If a
federally licensed dealer runs a NICS check prior to the sale of a rifle
or shotgun and the person is disqualified, the dealer will be told to deny
the sale but will not be told the reason. If the person believes the
denial to be in error and wants to appeal, this can be done on forms
available through the dealer. Under
federal law, if a person has a valid Iowa permit to acquire or permit to
carry, a federally licensed dealer may transfer a firearm to the permit
holder without running a NICS check. Iowa law
also requires a person to have a valid Iowa permit to acquire or permit to
carry before acquiring a handgun. This applies to both dealer sales and
private transactions. A handgun may generally be transferred from one
family member to another without a permit as long as the person receiving
the handgun meets the state and federal requirements for
possession. A person
must be at least 18 years old to acquire ammunition for a rifle or
shotgun, and must be at least 21 years old to acquire ammunition for a
handgun. Caliber .22 rim fire ammunition is considered as rifle
ammunition. |