DES MOINES, Iowa – Beginning Tuesday July 1, 2025, Iowa will implement a new statute that decreases the minimum age for owning, carrying, and buying handguns, including via private transactions, from 21 to 18 years. This notable adjustment, detailed in House File 924 and incorporated into Iowa Code, signals a revised perspective on firearm policies and personal liberties within the state.

According to the amended Iowa Code, individuals aged 18 and above will have the right to own and carry handguns such as pistols and revolvers, consistent with the current regulation permitting the acquisition of long guns like rifles and shotguns at that age. The law removes the earlier 21-year-old threshold for nonprofessional permits to carry or purchase handguns, extending these privileges to 18- to 20-year-olds, provided they face no other legal restrictions under state or federal guidelines.

A crucial element of this legislation is the allowance for private handgun sales to those 18 and older. The Iowa Code now permits private individuals to transfer, lend, or present pistols, revolvers, or ammunition to adults aged 18 and up without a permit, moving away from the previous mandate requiring a Permit to Acquire or Permit to Carry Weapons. To maintain compliance, the law imposes severe penalties: providing a handgun to anyone under 18 by a person 18 or older is deemed a serious misdemeanor, with repeat offenses escalating to a Class D felony.

The statute also accommodates supervised use by minors. An adult parent, guardian, or spouse aged 18 or older may authorize a minor to handle a handgun or ammunition for legal activities or under direct oversight or training from a confirmed qualified instructor aged 21 or older, with the authorization of the minor’s parent or guardian.

This revision updates existing Iowa Code provisions to align with the new age requirement, ensuring coherence across legal texts. Exemptions remain for specific occupations, including peace officers, security personnel, correctional staff, or military members aged 18 to 20, who were previously eligible for professional carry permits. Nonetheless, federal regulations still bar 18- to 20-year-olds from purchasing handguns from licensed dealers, restricting their options to private transactions or gifts from close relatives like parents or grandparents.

This update represents a substantial shift in Iowa’s firearm laws, effective July 1, 2025, and will apply to all qualifying residents statewide.