Posted: 1/18/2008 5:27:51 PM EDT
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So, I may be making a move back to the Midwest and the Iowa City area. I have a few questions that I have not researched yet and was hoping for some quick preliminary answers. I see NFA is a no go there, so I will have to deal with that accordingly. Is there any push to allow some of these items? From what I have read, you need a permit to purchase handguns, is this correct? If so, would I have to get one just to possess the handguns I already own? How hard is it to get said permit? CCW is allowed, but restricted to the sheriffs discretion. I would guess with the Iowa City area being liberal, that sign offs are hard to get in Johnson county. Is this true? Do you folks have any type of Castle Doctrine law(s) on the books? Not looking for trouble. I will try and read up on the tacked items concerning the states gun laws, but just wanted your perspectives. Thanks. swen |
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Currently as I know, there is nobody trying to get NFA legal in Iowa You need a permit to Purchase handguns, not to possess. You do not need a permit to purchase for the any of the handguns you currently own. Getting the permit is as simple as going to your local Sherrif Department and requesting one. Usually costs about $5. Castle Doctrine, none that I know of. Best to consult local Law Enforcement. Anybody here have the skinny on that? If you currently own NFA, you cannot be a resident of Iowa and still maintain possesion of the items in the state. |
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Swen, 704.1. Reasonable force "Reasonable force" is that force and no more which a reasonable person, in like circumstances, would judge to be necessary to prevent an injury or loss and can include deadly force if it is reasonable to believe that such force is necessary to avoid injury or risk to one's life or safety or the life or safety of another, or it is reasonable to believe that such force is necessary to resist a like force or threat. Reasonable force, including deadly force, may be used even if an alternative course of action is available if the alternative entails a risk to life or safety, or the life or safety of a third party, or requires one to abandon or retreat from one's dwelling or place of business or employment. This is the Iowa Code definition for reasonable force. Hope this answers your question "Still training Sheepdogs, one Puppy at a time." |
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CCW is being worked on in state legislation right now. check out iowacarry.org for more information. just a thought, but it would be interesting to see how many people are turned away from IA by there NFA stance... as for today, there are several counties that border Johnson (iowa city) that are CCW friendly. check out the map at the iowacarry.org and read through on them in the forums. castle doctrine is being worked on in the state legislation right now as well. i'm not as involved with it as i am with "shall carry" CCW legislation but you can go here to check it out: iowa legislature |
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Johnson County carry permits are few and far between. Most go to retired LEO's or politicians. Your chances of getting one are slim to none. Permit to acquire is a "shall issue" deal but as a newcomer to JoCo be prepared for a hassle. You will need eight forms of ID plus get fingerprinted. If you're renewing a permit from another county its not as bad, but they still make it more work than any other place I've lived in Iowa. Permit is good for a year, and exempts you from NICS check when buying long guns. So its handy to have even if you're not buying handguns. IC/JoCo is about as firearms hostile an area as there is in Iowa. If state law didn't preclude it there would have been bans in place years ago, ala Chicago. Three decent places to buy guns in town; Ammo Bearer Fin and Feather, and Scheels. Gabe's is just south of Williamsburg, about 20 miles west. Cedar Rapids has two or three shops. L and R is in Durant, about 30 miles east. DNR has a so so shooting range north of town by the Coralville Res. West Liberty (about 15 miles east) has a decent little gun club, but no hi power rifles allowed (place is to small, sits right on the edge of town). Gun shows hit Cedar Rapids about six times a year, Davenport a bit fewer. NFA is for Class III dealers or LEO. A few people have set themselves up as dealers to get into the neat stuff, but its not easy and would likely be impossible in JoCo. In any event finding a Class III friendly range in Iowa tough. Think of Iowa City as the Berkeley of the midwest and you'll get some idea of the place. Most of the residents think its God's little acre on earth. It does have a diverse and interesting social scene, better than the rest of the state. But the place also reeks of hypocrisy and attitude. If possible, try living in one of the other cities in the county. I'm in Coralville and it tends to be little more "normal". Welcome back! |
Not by much. A DL alone won't cut it. He wants utility bill, a lease, checking statement, phone bill, etc. They want to really make sure you're a JoCo resident. All came about because of the Gang Lu shooting back in the early ninties. |
Excellent point that I had never considered. Same would hold for Ames. ISU owns an amazing amount of property and its scattered all over the place. I suspect UI is the same. |
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Thanks for the info and first hand accounts. I have been spoiled over the past few years living in very gun friendly states, NH and FL. I can not believe the hurdles some of you have to go through, although when I was in MN it was a similar process for handgun purchases. I only lived in Coralville for a year back in 2000, and the Berkley comparison of IC is spot on. Unfortunately as a gun enthusiast we are looking at jobs in two of the most liberal cities in the Midwest, IC and Madison. Time will tell. I may be back to pick your brains further if we do end up back in Iowa. Thanks again for your responses and the links. Will be reading through those and other material this week. Swen |
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Iowa City and Madison. Yikes. Boy I can't decide which is worse. I guess in Iowa you could always live just on the other side of the county line with one of the Johnson Co. borders and get a CCW permit fairly easily. That's one right they still make you give up when you go to Wisconsin. Fun story, I was walking down State Street (in Madison, for those not familiar) a while back and I had some libtard come up and nearly accost me trying to get me to sign some damn petition for Kerry. I just lauged and wrote "VOID" in huge letters across as many pages as I could before he ripped it outta my hands.  A couple weeks later I went back with a handful of McDonald's applications and handed 'em out to all the bums that kept trying to panhandle off me and my wife. THAT was some classic hilarity. |
Isn't there a time-in-residency requirement too? I'm not sure, but I think you have to live in Iowa for a certain period of time before they will issue a purchase permit. |
Not that I'm aware of, but I've lived in this state all my life. Good question. |