Gun laws in Iowa regulate the sale, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition in the state of Iowa in the United States. 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. Applicants must successfully complete an approved training course. 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. However, an Iowa resident must have an Iowa Permit To Carry in order to lawfully carry a firearm on his or her person in Iowa. A Permit To Acquire, obtained from the sheriff of the county of the applicant's residence, is required when purchasing or otherwise acquiring a handgun, either from a dealer or from a private party. A Permit To Acquire 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. A PTA is not required when purchasing an antique handgun, defined as one made in or before 1898 and including post-1898 replicas of matchlock, flintlock, or percussion cap pistols. Iowa residents with a Permit To Carry can use the PTC in lieu of a PTA when acquiring a handgun. The PTC is valid for 5 years. Iowa has enacted state preemption of firearms laws, so local units of government may not restrict the ownership, possession, or transfer of firearms, or require their registration. 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, or any explosive, incendiary or poison gas destructive device. Sound suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns may be possessed if federally registered.
Summary table
Eligibility requirements
You must be 21 for a Non Professional Permit; a resident of the state of Iowa; Not addicted to alcohol; There is no documentation indicating there is probable cause exists in the past two years that you would use a weapon unlawfully or in a manner endangering yourself or others; You are not a felon; You have not been convicted of a serious or aggravated misdemeanor in the last three years involving the use of a firearm or explosive; and are not prohibited by federal law from shipping, transporting, possessing or receiving a firearm.
Non-residents
All of the paragraph above except the resident requirement. This application must be made to the Commissioner of Public Safety. These are typically limited to people applying for a professional permit or Non Professional Permits for students and military members who are transferred to Iowa.
Applying for a permit
You must complete the Iowa Application for Permit to Carry Weapons. You must apply to the Sheriff in the county of your residence. You must produce an identification card with your current address; You must have documentation indicating you meet the training requirements of Iowa Code Chapter 724. You must pay $50 in cash. Service members or former service member don't have to take the training course, as long as they present their DD-214 or a military ID. The Sheriff Office will take your picture. The Sheriff is required to conduct a background check of local files and the NICS. If you provide false information on your application, you commit a class "D" felony. Your permit will be issued or denied within 30 days.
Apply to the Sheriff in the county of your residence for a duplicate, replacement or renewal. Cost is $25 and must be at least 30 days before current permit expires. If it is a renewal you must have undergone training outlined in Iowa Code Chapter 724 within the 12 months before the expiration date of current permit unless the initial permit was issued after December 31, 2010
Drinking and carrying
Iowa Code makes your permit invalid if your BAC is.08 or greater.
Reasonably in fear of a threat against yourself or another person. A reasonable person would have also feared a physical threat against themselves or another person, and would agree that some level of force was required to end the threat. Any force used must be reasonable for the circumstances. Any level of force used to end the threat must be the minimum level of force necessary, and it may not exceed the threat itself. Iowa Code 704.1 Reasonable force
Deadly Force
Must be in immediate fear of death or great/grave bodily harm for yourself or another person. The threat must be immediate and must be so serious that a reasonable person would fear death or great/grave bodily harm. Great or grave bodily harm is a significant or life-threatening injury. Must be an innocent party. You cannot be seen as the person who started or escalated the conflict. No lesser force is sufficient or available to stop the threat. If you can stop a threat with something less than deadly force, you are required to. You are not required to retreat. Iowa recently became a stand your ground state.
Transporting a gun
In Iowa with a permit
You may carry a loaded weapon on or about your person. You do not need to put it in a container or unload it. This includes rifles or shotguns.
In Iowa without a permit
You must unload the gun and put it inside a closed and fastened container or a wrapped package too large to conceal. A pistol or revolver must not be accessible to anyone in the vehicle.
Federal law
18 U.S. Code § 926A - Interstate transportation of firearms. Any person who is not otherwise prohibited from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle: Provided, That in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver's compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.
