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First Monday and Every Monday |
IPGV: Some states hand out permits to carry concealed weapons “like candy at Halloween” |
| The carrying of concealed weapons (CCW) is governed by state law rather than federal law. In 48 states, including Iowa, a permit is required to lawfully carry a concealed weapon (e.g., a loaded handgun) in public places. Applicants for an Iowa permit to carry are required to complete a minimum 4-hour firearms safety training course and pass a background check. In addition, applicants are required to provide “reasonable justification” of the need to go armed.
Applications must be made in the county that the applicant resides. Permits are issued by and at the discretion of local county sheriffs. Thus, Iowa is considered a “may issue” state in CCW language.
Many state laws are not as strict as Iowa However, in more than 30 states, permits to carry concealed weapons are issued to any “qualified” applicant who requests one, regardless of any justifiable need to go armed. Generally, “qualified” means any adult with no documented significant criminal history – conviction of a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. These states are called “shall issue” states. Some states, but not all, may additionally require completion of some type of firearms safety course.
Legislation currently pending in the Iowa House (HF 2753) would allow nonresidents to carry concealed weapons in Iowa if the person has a permit to carry in the person’s home state. The reciprocity provision in HF 2753 is a concern because requirements for obtaining permits to carry in many states are not as strict as those in Iowa. For example:
While some states, including Iowa, have fairly strict requirements for issuing permits to carry concealed weapons, many states hand out permits to carry concealed weapons “like candy at Halloween.”
Based on a review of requirements in other states, IPGV considers that only about nine states currently have requirements for permits to carry as strict as Iowa. This means that if HF 2753 were to become law, nonresidents could carry concealed weapons in Iowa based on permits that do not meet Iowa’s requirements for carrying a concealed weapon.
If HF 2753 were to become law, it would be possible for an 18-year-old from Alabama, with no justifiable reason to go armed, no background check, and no firearms safety training, to carry a concealed weapon in Iowa based on his/her Alabama permit.
In addition, HF 2753 sends the wrong message that if more citizens carried concealed weapons in their cars and public places, we would all be safer. Whereas, guns kill and injure about 120,000 Americans every year.
States with no firearms safety training requirement Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Washington
States with firearms safety training that is less strict than Iowa (as proposed in HF 2753) Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming
States where minimum age for permit to carry is 18 Alabama, Delaware, Indiana, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming. Vermont has no minimum age. Anyone who can legally possess a firearm can carry one in Vermont.
States with firearms safety training as strict as Iowa (as proposed in HF 2753) (Key elements: minimum 8 hours, instruction in use of deadly force, shooting qualification.) Arizona, California, Delaware, Iowa, Maryland, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas
Other First Monday’s on Nonresident Conceal Carry Studies Show Most Americans Are Opposed to Citizens Carrying Concealed Weapons in Public Places, 3/27/06. |
