"Shall Issue" Passes House

Both chambers of the Iowa State House adjourned late last Saturday night. They returned Monday in attempt to end the 2010 legislative session before per diem pay runs out on March 31.

The House passed the NRA bill, SF2379, after beginning debate on it mid-Monday afternoon. Perhaps most significantly, the bill changes Iowa code language to provide that sheriffs shall issue permits to carry rather than may issue them. “May issue” leaves it up to the sheriff’s personal discretion whether to issue a permit or not. The effect of this was to have 99 different issuing policies for every sheriff in the state.

Permits to carry will be issued to a person who is not subject to the disqualifying criteria laid out in the bill, and are good for five years. Applicants for permits will still have to demonstrate firearm safety by completing certain firearm safety courses or training programs, participation in shooting competitions, or by completion of a small arms course while serving in the armed forces of the United States. The bill will also make it a crime of a serious misdemeanor to carry a firearm while under the influence.

The NRA bill picked up an amendment in the House, requiring it to go back to the Senate for final approval.