Iowa passed Stand-Your-Ground law in 2017 — but thanks to legislative compromises at the last minute, our self-defense laws are very weak.
That’s not just political spin. Here’s what Iowa law actually looks like today:
👉 No Presumption of Innocence: If we are forced to defend yourself with a firearm, we are presumed guilty until YOU prove your innocence. The government doesn’t have to prove you did anything wrong — you have to prove you acted lawfully.
👉 No Criminal Immunity: Even if the force you used was 100% legal, you can still be arrested, prosecuted, and dragged through trial by an anti-gun prosecutor.
👉 No Pretrial Immunity Hearing: In most states bogus charges can be dismissed in a simple hearing where you can produce evidence, but it usually doesn’t work that way here.
👉 Can’t Even Use Stand-Your-Ground Until Appeal: That’s right, the protections of Stand-Your-Ground don’t even apply until you’re in the appeals process. After you are convicted. After you are bankrupt from legal fees.
This is outrageous. And it is exactly why we worked so hard on HF-945 this session. HF-945 would fix most of these problems.
HF-945 passed the Iowa House thanks to pro-gun champion Rep. Steve Holt and the pressure of IGO members like you. But when it reached the Senate, everything changed.
Senator Jason Schultz killed HF-945 by refusing to move it through his committee.
With Republicans in full control of both chambers, there was no excuse for this betrayal. But Schultz and other Senate leaders chose to protect the system, not the Second Amendment.
That’s why I’m asking you to do two things right now:
👉 First, sign your petition in support of HF-945 and demand that Iowa lawmakers fix our broken self-defense laws in 2026.
👉 Second, chip in $10, $25, or $50 so Iowa Gun Owners can:
➤ Expose the Senate’s betrayal to gun owners statewide
➤ Run digital ads targeting key swing districts
➤ Mobilize thousands of Iowans with email, mail, and text alerts
➤ Turn the pressure up heading into the 2026 elections!
Gun owners are still being prosecuted in Iowa for doing the right thing. Until HF-945 becomes law, that won’t stop.
Let’s make 2026 the year Iowa gets REAL Stand-Your-Ground protections.
Sign your petition and donate today!
For Iowa,
Aaron Dorr
Chairman
Iowa Gun Owners
