Iowa law provides for a permit to acquire pistols or revolvers but it is not required to purchase firearms. The permit has a three-day waiting period before taking effect.
"Neither the sheriff nor the commissioner shall require an applicant for a permit to carry weapons to provide information identifying a particular weapon in the application including the make, model, or serial number of the weapon or any ammunition used in that particular weapon."
"A political subdivision of the state shall not enact an ordinance, motion, resolution, policy, or amendment regulating the ownership, possession, carrying, legal transfer, lawful transportation, modification, registration, or licensing of firearms, firearms attachments, or other weapons when the ownership, possession, carrying, transfer, transportation, or modification is otherwise lawful under the laws of this state."
Machine guns and destructive devices illegal. Suppressors legal as of March 31, 2016.[1] Short barreled rifles and shotguns legal as of April 13, 2017.[2]
"Right to keep and bear arms – The right of the people to keep and bear arms
shall not be infringed. The sovereign state of Iowa affirms and recognizes this right to be a fundamental individual right. Any and all restrictions of this right shall be subject to strict scrutiny."
In November 2022, Iowa adopted Constitutional Amendment 1, The Right to Keep and Bear Arms, including the requirement of "strict scrutiny for any alleged violations of the right brought before a court".[3]
Firearm laws
On January 1, 2011, Iowa became a "shall issue" state for a permit to carry weapons on one's person. This applies to both open carry and concealed carry.[4]
Applicants must successfully complete an approved training course. The permit is valid for 5 years. On July 1, 2021, Iowa became a constitutional carry state allowing for both open and concealed carry without a permit by both residents and non-residents.
Iowa will honor any valid permit issued by any other state. Persons do not have to be a resident of the state from which the permit was issued.
A Permit To Acquire (PTA), obtained from the sheriff of the county of the applicant's residence, is available to skip the background check before purchasing firearms.[5] A PTA shall be issued to qualified applicants aged 21 or older. The PTA becomes valid three days after the date of application, and is valid for five years. Starting July 1, 2021, a PTA is no longer required to purchase a handgun in the state of Iowa. They are still available, however, as they may be used to substitute a NICS background check.[6]
Iowa has enacted state preemption of firearms laws, so local units of government may not restrict firearms.[7]
Under Iowa law, private citizens may not possess automatic firearms, any firearm "other than a shotgun or muzzle loading rifle, cannon, pistol, revolver or musket" with a bore of more than 6/10 of an inch (unless it is an antique made in or before 1898), or any explosive, incendiary or poison gas destructive device., short-barreled rifles (barrels under 16 inches), and short-barreled shotguns (barrels under 18 inches) may be possessed if federally registered.
"A person carrying a dangerous weapon whose behavior creates a reasonable suspicion that the person presents a danger to the person's self or others shall cooperate with an investigating officer."
Does the permit cover weapons other than firearms?
Rifles must be unloaded and cased. Pistols or revolvers may be carried loaded. If on own property no permit necessary. If not on own property, permit to carry necessary. May not shoot from a moving or running snowmobile or ATV. A non ambulatory person may shoot if the vehicle is not running/moving.
"A political subdivision of the state shall not enact an ordinance, motion, resolution, policy, or amendment regulating the ownership, possession, carrying, legal transfer, lawful transportation, modification, registration, or licensing of firearms, firearms attachments, or other weapons when the ownership, possession, carrying, transfer, transportation, or modification is otherwise lawful under the laws of this state." NOTE: Some city and county facilities have been designated as gun free zones contrary to this rule. The Attorney General of Iowa has issued a letter stating this would be allowed under the home rule exception. It has not been tested in court.
Does this state recognize other state's carry permits?
No. All permits so issued shall be for a period of five years and shall be valid throughout the state except where the possession or carrying of a firearm is prohibited by state or federal law.
This statute punishes one who "sells, loans, gives, or makes available" rifles, shotguns, or rifle/shotgun ammunition to another under age 18 and handguns or handgun ammunition to another under age 21. (First offense: serious misdemeanor. Second offense: Class D felony.) The statute clarifies that .22 rimfire ammunition is rifle ammunition, but other cartridges are not specified. The statute includes a handful of exceptions, including direct supervision of a parent, guardian, or spouse over the legal age and sober, service in the military, as a peace officer, as a corrections officer, or as a private security guard. An exception is also granted for a firearms instructor (over the legal age) with consent from one's parent, guardian, or spouse. The statute also punishes one who leaves an unsecured firearm where a minor under the age of 14 can access it with a serious misdemeanor, and that minor's parent, guardian, or spouse may be held civilly liable for injuries that occur. The statute does not specify penalties for cases where an individual merely possess a firearm under the legal age.
The following are places Iowa statutes prohibit carry of a firearm
School means public or nonpublic prekindergarten through 12th grade. Unless the person has been specifically authorized by the school to go armed with, carry or transport a firearm on school grounds
No patron or employee of the licensee, including the security department members, shall possess or be permitted to possess any pistol or firearm within a licensed facility without the express written approval of the administrator
Weapons are not permitted on the campus except for purposes of law enforcement and as specifically authorized for purposes of instruction, research or service. A weapon is any instrument or device which is designed primarily for use in inflicting death or injury upon a human being or animal and which is capable of inflicting death or injury when used in the manner for which it was designed. Weapons include any pistol, revolver, shotgun, machine gun, rifle or other firearm, BB or pellet gun, taser or stun gun, bomb, grenade, mine or other explosive or incendiary device, ammunition, archery equipment, dagger, stiletto, switchblade knife, or knife having a blade exceeding five inches in length.
In 2019, a statute was adopted prohibiting public universities and community colleges from restricting non-projectile electrical weapons. Exemptions are provided for stadiums and university-owned hospitals.
The following are places federal law prohibits carry of a firearm
This means a building or any part of one whether owned or leased by the federal government where federal employees are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties
Iowa Attorney General Opinion and letter to Des Moines County Attorney, December 29, 2010 both opine that Iowa home rule rights allow local governments to place restrictions on the use of firearms on city/county property, including airports. Local ordinances ban firearms at airports.
