Governor Chet Culver of Iowa (a Democrat, by the way. They're not all radical socialists) has announced that he will sign that state's updated firearms carry-permit law this coming Thursday at 9:00 am.
The new legislation will replace the current "may-issue" system, in which individual county sheriffs enjoy complete (and oft-abused) discretion as to whether to issue a permit, with a "shall-issue" process similar to driver's licenses in that anyone who passes the legal requirements must be given their permit unless a valid disqualifying reason exists:
"Iowa has not been a shall issue state although permits were issued in most counties but under differing standards and it was generally what “may issue” always is, a general mess with some sheriffs issuing to all law-abiding citizens and some only to their cronies."
Two points of interest to everyone, not just the locals:
1. Open carry as well as concealed carry will be legal with a permit.
2. Iowa will honor carry permits issued by all other states. Residents from other states who may now choose to carry while visiting Iowa are reminded that they will still have to abide by that state's law with regard to any restrictions, such as off-limits locations.
This now makes 37 states where a citizen is legally able to carry a firearm in public for the purpose of self-protection, even if a permit must be obtained in order to do so.
Sarah Brady and the rest of her group, along with the fine folks at the Violence Policy Center, must be growing truly disheartened by now at the rate in which the onerous restrictions on free Americans' 2nd Amendment rights are being loosened at both the state and federal levels.
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3 comments:
I have been waiting for this. I live three miles north of the Iowa border, and every time I go to Iowa (frequently as a border citizen), I have to pull over to the side of the road and secure my firearm in the rear of the vehicle. No big deal, but a reminder of the outdated and irrational fears of the anti gun crowd. I am obviously no threat in Minnesota, but I am in Iowa? Glad to see that time, truth and the facts have prevailed once again. Thanks for the update. :)
This is awesome news....now if only Wisconsin and Illinois take the hint......
Bike Bubba- Those states may be closer than we think. At least WI from what I hear. But I would still prefer that the states do it individually, one at a time, than the Fed stepped in and made all permits reciprocal (which has been discussed). What the Federal Government giveth, it can take away as they say. :)
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