For the last eight years, your legislature and Governor have been working to restore law abiding Iowans’ firearms rights. These rights are enumerated and protected from state and federal interference by both the Iowa and US Constitutions. At this point, we are among the most free states in regard to your gun rights.
The latest effort is to remove state restrictions on 18, 19, and 20-year-old Iowans and allow them to possess and carry handguns. Federal law forbids those under 21 from purchasing handguns from a federally licensed firearms dealer. Federal law allows possession for those same citizens. In fact, only ten states, like Iowa, have tighter age restrictions than federal law. Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Washington, and the District of Columbia impose minimum age requirements for the possession of handguns that are stricter than the federal minimum of 18. Anyone watching the Iowa Legislature over the last eight years knows we do not belong on that list.
This issue was brought to the front burner after the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a Minnesota law limiting 18-to 20-year-olds’ ability to possess a handgun is unconstitutional. Iowa is in the 8th Circuit, and the ruling applies to us as well. That means Iowa is ripe to be sued for violating the rights of that population under both state and federal constitutions. Further, since Iowa is blatantly abridging those rights, the state would even have to pay the legal costs for the citizen. We would certainly lose in court.
It gets worse. Because a quirk in current Iowa law actually allows young adults visiting or moving here from other states to fully exercise their 2A rights, while denying that ability to native Iowans. You see, Iowa law does not actually prohibit persons aged 18 to 20 from possessing handguns. Instead, it makes it a crime for “any person” to “make available” a handgun or handgun ammunition to any person under the age of 21, with certain limited exceptions. So, a young adult who obtained a handgun while living in another state may possess and carry it while visiting or living in Iowa.
With this new understanding, there are considerations. Iowa is a constitutional carry state, but we still offer carry permits and permits to purchase. These would not allow those ages 18-20 to purchase handguns in violation of federal law. Also, Iowa enjoys concealed carry reciprocity with most states. In order to continue this benefit, we will have a provisional permit created for those 18-20 so that Iowans 21 and older will still have the ability to carry the means to defend themselves in other states that currently recognize our permit. This won’t be difficult, as we are one of only ten states with this problem, and it has been dealt with nationally.
The Iowa Firearms Coalition gets the credit again for leading the charge to fix this oversight. For those looking to stay up to date with Iowa firearms laws and bills in the Legislature, go to www.iowafc.org
