Iowa’s New Gun Law and PK – 12 Schools

With the new Iowa gun law now in affect (Senate File 2379) there seems to be some confusion over where, exactly, Iowans can and cannot carry weapons.

Although the new law allows for a nonprofessional permit to carry that has no restrictions whether the weapon is concealed or not there are still restricted areas that apply to people with these permits.

Iowa Code section 724.4B clearly prohibits firearms on the grounds of schools even when the person has a nonprofessional permit to carry. In fact, the new law makes it even clearer that carrying on school grounds is still prohibited. Iowa Code section 724.7 now states that a carry permit “…shall be valid throughout the state except where the possession or carrying of a firearm is prohibited by state or federal law.”

The only exceptions to having a firearm on school grounds – exceptions previously enacted and unchanged by the recent law – are:

·         Law enforcement officers when required to carry;

·         Military when carrying the firearm as part of the person’s current duty;

·         A person who for any lawful purpose carries an unloaded firearm inside a closed and fastened container that is too large to be concealed on the person or inside a cargo or luggage compartment of a vehicle and the firearm is not readily accessible to any person;

·         A person specifically authorized by the school to do so, including for the purpose of conducting an instructional program on firearm safety.

I have purposely highlighted the word grounds to make sure that everyone understands that these exceptions apply to all school property, not just the buildings themselves.  If you have any questions or would like further details on the exceptions listed above please feel free to contact the Superintendent’s office at 563-2607 or the Iowa Department of Education at 515-281-8661.