Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill on Friday that allows people to buy and carry a handgun without a permit, according to the Des Moines Register.
“Today I signed legislation that protects the 2nd Amendment rights of Iowa’s law-abiding citizens while still preventing the sale of firearms to criminals and other dangerous individuals,” Reynolds said in a statement after signing the bill.
“We will never be able to outlaw or prevent every single bad actor from getting a gun, but what we can do is ensure law-abiding citizens have full access to their constitutional rights while keeping Iowans safe.”
The passage of the bill came weeks after two high profile mass shootings, less than a week a part, in Georgia and Boulder, Colo. that left a combined 18 people dead and renewed calls for commonsense gun laws.
The legislation, which some advocates call “constitutional carry,” will make it optional for Iowans to obtain handgun carry permits and go through background checks when purchasing firearms through unlicensed sales, including websites and gun shows. Also, Iowans who do not have a permit or go through safety training will be allowed to carry a handgun into public places.
However, if an individual chooses not to receive permits, that person must pass a background check when purchasing from a federally licensed dealer, the Des Moines Register reports. The bill also requires courts to report to a state law enforcement database when someone is determined to be ineligible to possess a firearm for mental health reasons.
There are no background checks for private handgun sales in Iowa and under this new legislation Iowans would no longer have to obtain a permit before acquiring a handgun through sales between private citizens.
But, it would become a Class D felony to sell, rent or loan a gun to a person that the seller “knows or reasonably should know” is prohibited from owning firearms. That crime would be punishable by up to five years in prison, the Des Moines Register noted.
Republicans say the increased penalty will be a deterrent to illegal or questionable sales. Democrats say it will be difficult to prosecute anyone unless there was clear proof the seller knew they were selling a handgun to someone who was legally barred from owning one.
The legislation takes effect on July 1.
