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Legal Information: Iowa

State Gun Laws

Laws current as of August 5, 2024

Is a permit required to own or carry a gun in Iowa?

No state permit is required to legally own a rifle, shotgun, or handgun. This wasn’t always the case, but the law changed on July 1, 2021. Currently, Iowans don’t need a permit to get a handgun or to carry any firearm. These permits are still available to Iowa residents, but they are optional.1

To learn more about the requirements for a permit to carry a gun, go to the question I am a victim of domestic violence and the abuser carries a gun. Is that legal?

1 Iowa Department of Public Safety website

Legal Information

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