April 21st, 2025

Governor Reynolds has enacted legislation that permits individuals between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one to acquire firearms.

However, federal regulations prohibit individuals under the age of twenty-one from purchasing firearms from licensed dealers. Consequently, eighteen to twenty-year-old purchasers are limited to purchasing handguns through private sales, inheritance estate sales, or from family members. Regrettably, none of these avenues provide for background checks.

A primary concern appears to be straw sales, where an individual purchases a firearm on behalf of another individual without undergoing background checks.

It is imperative to remember that both the seller and the buyer are held accountable for any violations of applicable laws.

Federal and state laws apply.

In Iowa, several categories of individuals are prohibited from buying or possessing firearms under both state and federal law. These include:
Under Iowa Law (Iowa Code § 724.26 and other sections):

• Convicted Felons: Anyone convicted of a felony in Iowa or any federal court, or who has been adjudicated delinquent as a juvenile for conduct that would constitute a felony if committed by an adult.
• Domestic Abusers: Individuals convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence or who are subject to a protective order for domestic abuse that includes firearm prohibitions under federal law.
• Certain Misdemeanor Convictions: Individuals convicted within the previous three years of any serious or aggravated misdemeanor not involving the use of a firearm or explosive may be prohibited.
• Persons Subject to Certain Court Orders: Those prohibited by a court order from possessing, shipping, transporting, or receiving a firearm. This includes specific domestic violence protective orders.
• Persons Posing a Danger: Individuals for whom probable cause exists to believe, based on documented specific actions, that they are likely to use a weapon unlawfully or in a manner that endangers themselves or others.
• Individuals Committing an Indictable Offense: Anyone currently committing an offense that could lead to an indictment.
• Intoxicated Persons: Individuals who are intoxicated as defined under Iowa Code § 321J.2(1) (operating while intoxicated).
• Minors (with exceptions): Generally, individuals under 18 cannot possess firearms, and those under 21 cannot possess handguns (though the new law effective July 1, 2025, will change the handgun ownership age to 18). There are exceptions for minors using firearms for lawful purposes with parental/guardian consent or under direct supervision.
• Persons Ineligible to Possess Dangerous Weapons: As outlined in Iowa Code § 8B (this section likely refers to individuals with specific involuntary commitments or adjudications related to mental health).
• Individuals in Weapons-Free Zones: While not a prohibition on buying, possessing firearms is restricted within 1,000 feet of public or private elementary or secondary schools.
  Under Federal Law (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)):
  Federal law also prohibits certain individuals from shipping, transporting, receiving, or possessing firearms and ammunition. These categories largely overlap with Iowa law but include some additional points:
• Convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year (a felony).
• Fugitives from justice.
• Unlawful users of or addicted to any controlled substance.
• Adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to any mental institution.
• Aliens illegally or unlawfully in the United States.
• Dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces.
• Those who have renounced their United States citizenship.
• Subject to a court order restraining the person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or child of the intimate partner.
• Convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
  Important Considerations:
• The new Iowa law lowering the handgun age to 18 (effective July 1, 2025) does not change who is federally prohibited from purchasing handguns from licensed dealers (remains 21).
• Iowa’s permit to acquire system (while no longer generally required) can still be used, and denial of a permit would indicate a prohibition under state law.
• This is not an exhaustive list, and specific legal interpretations can be complex. Consulting legal counsel is always recommended for specific situations.
  Therefore, a person is prohibited from buying firearms in Iowa if they fall under any of the categories outlined in either Iowa state law or federal law. The specifics of the prohibition can vary depending on the category.

Click below for more information on all of Iowa’s gun laws