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Legal Information: Iowa

Iowa State Gun Laws

Updated: 
November 3, 2023

What is the difference between federal and state gun laws? Why do I need to understand both?

In these gun laws pages, we refer to both “federal gun laws” and “state gun laws.” The major difference between the two has to do with who makes the law, who prosecutes someone who violates the law, and what the penalty is for breaking the law.

One reason why it is important for you to know that there are these two sets of gun laws is so that you can understand all of the possible ways that the abuser might be breaking the law, and you can better protect yourself. Throughout this section, we will be referring mostly to state laws. Be sure to also read our Federal Gun Laws pages to see if any federal laws apply to your situation as well. You will need to read both state and federal laws to see which ones, if any, the abuser might be violating.

If you are calling the police because you believe the abuser has violated a gun law, you do not necessarily need to be able to tell the police which law was violated (state versus federal) but local police cannot arrest someone for violating federal law, only for violating state/local laws. Only federal law enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (“ATF”), can arrest someone for violating federal laws. If the local police believe that a state law is being violated, they could arrest the abuser and hand the case over to the state prosecutor. If the local police believe a federal law is being violated, hopefully, the police department will notify the ATF or perhaps the U.S. Attorney’s office in your state (which is the federal prosecutor). For information on how you can contact ATF directly to report the violation of federal gun laws, go to Who do I notify if I think the abuser should not have a gun? If the abuser is breaking both state and federal laws, s/he might be prosecuted in both state and federal court.

What is the definition of a felony?

In Iowa, felonies are crimes that are punishable by incarceration in state prison for terms of two years or more. Felonies in Iowa are designated as class “A,” “B,” “C,” or “D.”1

1 IA ST §§ 902.9; 903.1

I am a victim of domestic violence and the abuser has a gun. Is that legal?

Iowa state law says that a person cannot get a firearms permit, and therefore, cannot have a gun, if s/he is:

  • under the age of 18 and seeking a professional firearms permit;
  • under the age of 21 and seeking a nonprofessional firearms permit;
  • addicted to alcohol;
  • likely to use a weapon illegally or in a way that would endanger him/herself or other, which must be based on documented evidence within the two years before applying for a firearms permit;
  • subject to the firearm possession, receipt, transportation or control prohibitions of Iowa law;
  • convicted of a felony;
  • convicted of any serious or aggravated misdemeanor defined in chapter 708 of the Iowa Code, such as assault, stalking, harassment, within the previous three years that does not involve the use of a firearm or explosive;
  • prohibited by federal law from shipping, transporting, possessing, or receiving a firearm;1 or
  • subject to a permanent domestic violence protective order.2

If any of these situations apply to the abuser, it may be illegal for him/her to have a gun. Also, federal laws, which apply to all states, may restrict an abuser’s right to have a gun. Go to Federal Gun Laws to get more information.

1 IA ST § 724.8
2 IA ST § 236.5(1)