DES MOINES, Iowa – Starting on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, the state of Iowa will enact a new law that lowers the minimum age for the ownership, carrying, and purchase of handguns, including private sales, from 21 to 18 years. This significant change, outlined in House File 924 and integrated into the Iowa Code, reflects a shift in the state’s firearm legislation and views on personal freedoms.
As per the revised Iowa Code, individuals aged 18 and older will be permitted to own and carry handguns, specifically pistols and revolvers, in alignment with the existing regulation that allows for the purchase of rifles and shotguns at the same age. The legislation abolishes the previous 21-year-old requirement for nonprofessional permits to carry or buy handguns, now granting these rights to 18- to 20-year-olds as long as they are not subject to any additional legal restrictions under state or federal law.
A pivotal aspect of this law is the provision for private sales of handguns to individuals aged 18 and older. The amended Iowa Code allows private citizens to transfer, lend, or gift pistols, revolvers, or ammunition to adults over the age of 18 without the necessity of a permit. This represents a significant move from the prior requirement for a Permit to Acquire or Permit to Carry Weapons. To uphold compliance, the law establishes strict penalties: supplying a handgun to anyone younger than 18 by an individual who is 18 or older constitutes a serious misdemeanor, with repeated offenses escalating to a Class D felony.
The legislation also allows for supervised usage of handguns by minors. An adult parent, guardian, or spouse aged 18 or older can permit a minor to handle a handgun or ammunition for lawful purposes, provided there is direct supervision from a qualified instructor aged 21 or older, along with the consent from the minor’s parent or guardian.
This update revises existing provisions within the Iowa Code to reflect the new age limits, ensuring consistency across legal language. Certain exemptions still apply for specific roles, including peace officers, security personnel, correctional staff, or military members aged 18 to 20, who were eligible for professional carry permits prior to this change. However, it is important to note that federal law continues to prohibit individuals aged 18 to 20 from purchasing handguns from licensed dealers, thereby limiting their avenues for obtaining firearms to private sales or gifts from close relatives, such as parents or grandparents.
This legislative update marks a notable change in Iowa’s gun laws, set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and will be applicable to all eligible residents throughout the state.
