Iowa Gun Owners is opposed to this bill.

This bill, which seeks to make Iowa a ‘shall issue’ state with regards to the permit-to-carry law, has two glaring flaws that we will address here:

1. “…if the sheriff or commissioner determines that the requirements of sections 724.6 to 724.10 have been satisfied.”

This section of code includes 724.8.5 which says, “The issuing officer reasonably determines that the applicant does not constitute a danger to any person.”

This bill leaves this provision intact. If this phrase is left in place then the sheriff still can deny you a permit even the law is ‘shall issue.’ This is a way for the sheriff to get around the “shall issue” requirements and effectively leaves the bill a “may issue” bill as there is no mention of what standard needs to be used when determining whether or not someone is a threat.

Iowa Gun Owners does not agree with this concept and nor do we agree with conceding ground. For that reason, we can not support this provision.

2. “…if the sheriff or commissioner determines that the requirements of sections 724.6 to 724.10 have been satisfied.”

This section of code includes 724.9 which deals with the firearms training requirements.

Iowa Gun Owners is all for its members obtaining the highest caliber training that he/she can afford to enable them to safely and effectively carry a firearm for self-defense. We take firearms training seriously!

But we do not agree that the government has the right to tell her citizens how many rounds they must fire at the five, seven and ten yard line to be able to defend themselves from a violent criminal attack! How many Iowans are going to be scared away from seeking a permit because of language like this? How many women will become victims in their lifetime due to the implications of this bill?

Further more, many states have no training requirement for applicants. South Dakota, Alaska, Vermont, Washington, and Pennsylvania are some of the states that don’t require this. These states are not known for having any higher rates of accidents or mishaps by people who carry for self-defense.

At its root, this is a matter of principle. If the government is given the right to enact ‘reasonable’ training requirements, than they will be able to enact unreasonable requirements whenever they choose. Again, Iowa Gun Owners is not will to concede any ground to the anti-gun crowd. This provision would do this.

For all these reasons Iowa Gun Owners is opposed to House File 88. This bill is better than others proposed this session but still contains these major concessions. To see a real no compromise pro-gun bill take a look at our bill, House File 596.