As of today, 7/1/2021, Iowans that can legally own a gun may purchase and carry without a permit. Obviously need to pass background and fill out 4473 but nothing in the county if you are legal.
Permit to conceal carry also no longer requires class to obtain.
I deeply respect Governor Reynolds and our State Legislature. Doing a lot of great things.

Iowa has come a long way since we moved there in 1995. Then I couldn't get any permit to legally carry without the Polk county sheriff's ok.
And that wasn't happening unless I was in his privileged class of subjects. Still pisses me off to think of it.

quote:

Originally posted by Powers77:
Iowa has come a long way since we moved there in 1995. Then I couldn't get any permit to legally carry without the Polk county sheriff's ok.
And that wasn't happening unless I was in his privileged class of subjects. Still pisses me off to think of it.

I can relate, when I was a resident of one of the more rural counties that had a conservative Sheriff, getting a permit was relatively easy with few restrictions. I then moved to Linn County where much more liberal Sheriffs are generally elected, you had to be amongst the anointed ones and of all things one of the conditions was as to how much money you were carrying as to whether your permit was valid at that moment along with several other reasons that were at least not bad ideas, like not drunk. When Iowa went to shall issue a few years ago, that took away much of the foolishness that some imposed on honest citizens.

From what I've read, the long struggle to move from 'may issue' to 'shall issue' was largely won through the efforts of a small non-profit group called the Iowa Firearms Coalition. It's a good story of a small group of people that worked hard to make change happen in Iowa.

It's also interesting to read about the history of Iowa and the origin of 'may issue' and Jim Crow laws.

You are very correct regarding the Jim Crow laws being used to control who could get a permit in years past. Even today in many of the more rural counties the population has very few people of color. I do not recall ever seeing an African American until I was almost a teen and never had any folks of color in school other than a family that had a mother from the Sac Fox tribe. I very likely am one of those folks that have inherent systemic racism just due to not being around people of color until later in my life. I am a product of my environment like all of us are.

Texas went "shall issue" some years ago, after I had moved here in 1980. Prior to that the law was vague and involved "traveling". The law evelved over time and now anyone allowed to have a gun can have it in their car without a permit, and open carry is allowed with a permit. We are about to have Constitutional Carry.

Texas has often been thought to be a haven for gun owners, but it was certainly not so when I first moved here. There have been many changes in the laws during my 41 years, all positive. We don't rate up with Arizona yet, but we're working on it.

flashguy

Congrats to all Iowans!! These are all positive steps....much to the chagrins of the Dems.

Great news. Enjoy Iowans.