Iowa Gun Laws
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
Gun Laws Overview
RIFLES & SHOTGUNS | HANDGUNS | |
---|---|---|
Permit to Purchase | No | Yes |
Registration of Firearms | No | No |
Licensing of Owners | No | No |
Permit to Carry | No | Yes |
The list and map below are included as a tool to assist you in validating your information. We have made every effort to report the information correctly, however reciprocity and recognition agreements are subject to frequent change. The information is not intended as legal advice or a restatement of law and does not include: restrictions that may be placed on non-resident permits, individuals under the age of 21, qualifying permit classes, and/or any other factor which may limit reciprocity and/or recognition. For any particular situation, a licensed local attorney must be consulted for an accurate interpretation. YOU MUST ABIDE WITH ALL LAWS: STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL. RECIPROCITY NOTES: Nebraska will only honor the Iowa NON-PROFESSIONAL permit (not the Iowa Professional permit); Colorado, Florida, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania recognize an Iowa RESIDENT permit ONLY. Iowa does not publish a list of states that recognize their permit, so it is up to the individual permit holder to verify what states offer reciprocity for an Iowa permit. |
STATE STATUS | |
---|---|
Castle Doctrine | No Law |
No-Net Loss | No Legislation |
Right to Carry Confidentiality | Provisions Enacted |
Right to Carry in Restaurants | Legal |
Right To Carry Laws | Shall Issue |
Right To Carry Reciprocity and Recognition | Outright Recognition |
Right to Keep & Bear Arms State Constitutional Provisions | No Provisions |
Laws on Purchase, Possession and Carrying of Firearms
Antiques and Replicas
An antique firearm is any firearm (including any firearm with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system) manufactured in or before 1898 or a replica of an antique firearm if the replica is not designed or redesigned to use conventional rimfire or centerfire ammunition, or if the replica uses only rimfire or centerfire fixed ammunition which is no longer manufactured in the United States and which is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade. Iowa Code § 724.25(2) (see also § 724.1(2)(a)). MORE |
Possession
No state permit is required to possess a rifle, shotgun, or handgun. MORE |
Purchase
No state permit is required to purchase a rifle or shotgun. A “permit to acquire” is required to purchase a handgun. Iowa Code § 724.15. MORE |
Carrying
It is unlawful to carry a handgun or a loaded firearm of any kind within the limits of any city, whether concealed or not. It is also unlawful to carry a handgun or other firearm concealed on or about one’s person, or to knowingly transport a handgun in a vehicle. Open carry outside of the limits of a city is permitted. Iowa Code § 724.4(1). There are several exceptions to these prohibitions. MORE |
Machine Guns, Magazines, Ammunition, etc.
State law defines “machine guns” as “offensive weapons.” (A "machine gun" is a firearm which shoots or is designed to shoot more than one shot, without reloading, by a single function of the trigger, and includes any part or combination of parts either designed or intended to be used to assemble or convert any device into a machine gun, except magazines or other parts, ammunition, or ammunition components used in common with lawful sporting firearms or parts including but not limited to barrels suitable for refitting to sporting firearms.) Iowa Code § 724.1(1)(a), (e). MORE |
Miscellaneous
Iowa Code § 724.22(7) makes it a crime to store or leave a loaded but unlocked or unsecured firearm where the person storing or leaving the gun knows or has reason to believe that a child under the age of 14 is likely to gain access to the gun without the permission of the child’s parent or guardian, and the child gains access to the gun without such consent and either exhibits the gun in a public place in an unlawful manner or uses the gun unlawfully to cause injury or death. This prohibition does not apply if the child obtains the gun as a result of an unlawful entry by any person. MORE |
Restoration of Rights
Iowa has a restoration of rights procedure for persons under a mental health-based firearm disability. Gun rights lost due to a criminal conviction may be restored by pardon or “Special Restoration of Citizenship Rights (Firearms).” MORE |
Preemption
A political subdivision of the state – a city, county, or township – is prohibited from enacting an ordinance regulating the ownership, possession, legal transfer, lawful transportation, registration, or licensing of firearms when the ownership, possession, transfer, or transportation is otherwise lawful under state law. Iowa Code § 724.28. MORE |
Range Protection
A person who acquires title to or who owns real property adversely affected by the use of property with a permanently located and improved range shall not maintain a nuisance action against the person who owns the range... MORE |
SOURCES: Iowa Code Sections 483A.35, 483A.36, 724.1 through 724.30 and 902.7 and Chapter 571-51(481A) and 571-61.5(461A) of the Iowa Administrative Code. Internet sources: http://www.dps.state.ia.us/asd/weapon_permits.shtml |
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