(Des Moines) Last week, the House passed House File 654, a bill that changed Iowa’s firearms laws.
Iowa House District #23 Representative Ray Sorensen of Greenfield says the bill passed with overwhelming support (62-37) and is in the Senate awaiting further action. HF 654 has nine divisions; some are technical changes designed to ensure the code is uniform, and others are substantive to allow law-abiding Iowans the freedom to carry firearms.
| Division I allow loaded firearms in locked vehicles on most publicly owned property.
– If a firearm is left in a vehicle on public property, the vehicle must be locked, and the firearm must be stored out of sight. Firearms are not allowed on National Guard property. Public property includes state, county, city, and other municipality property. Division II strikes a DHHS rule prohibiting foster parents from having loaded firearms in their vehicles. – Under current DHHS rules, a foster parent can carry a firearm, but if it is in their vehicle, it must be unloaded and locked. Foster parents who chose to carry a firearm were forced to unload and reload their firearms every time they went in and out of their vehicle. This change simply allows these parents to carry their firearms in a vehicle, just like when they are out in public. Division III allows loaded firearms to be in a vehicle on school property while dropping off or picking up a student. – Federal law already allows a person with a permit to carry a loaded firearm on school property. Iowa law currently requires a firearm to be unloaded and locked without approval from the school. HF 654 simply allows a person with a permit to carry who is dropping off or picking up someone from the school to have their firearm in their vehicle. If the person needs to enter the school, they must leave their firearm out of sight in the locked vehicle. Division IV allows loaded firearms to be in a vehicle parked at regent’s universities or community colleges. – Division IV is similar to Division I and allows people to leave a firearm, out of sight, in their locked vehicle when they are on a regent’s university property or a community college campus. This does not allow a person to carry their firearm outside the vehicle unless it is for an authorized purpose, such as a trap team, security, or other approved reason. Division V prohibits insurance companies from refusing to ensure a school that allows firearms in their buildings. – Iowa law allows schools to decide who can carry a firearm in the building. Some schools are authorizing teachers and others to have firearms for building security. Even though these individuals have extensive training and are following the law, some insurance companies are considering denying the school coverage for taking steps to protect the students. This division prohibits an insurance company from denying coverage due to legal firearms in the building. Division VI clarifies a person can have a loaded firearm in their car while driving. – Previous law changes made the code confusing. This division clarifies that a loaded firearm can be in a vehicle while it is being driven. Division VII allows a person to have a loaded firearm on their snowmobile or ATV. – This change allows loaded firearms on ATVs or snowmobiles. Iowans are still prohibited from shooting from either vehicle unless the hunter is non-ambulatory. Division VIII strikes a rule prohibiting firearms at casinos. Casinos will determine their firearm policy. – Current rule has a blanket prohibition on firearms in casinos. This division returns that choice to the casino to develop its own firearms policy. Division IX makes several changes to 724 regarding who can possess and carry firearms. – There have been significant changes made to firearms laws in the past few years, and some of those changes were not consistently applied throughout the code. This division addresses those issues. |
