SF 2127 (LSB 5438XS (5) 91)

SENATE FILE 2127

BY  STAED, WINCKLER, ZIMMER, and DONAHUE

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to firearm safety training requirements for a permit to acquire pistols or revolvers, and making penalties applicable.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 724.9, subsection 1, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   An applicant for an initial permit to carry weapons or initial permit to acquire pistols or revolvers shall demonstrate knowledge of firearm safety by any of the following means:
    Sec. 2.  Section 724.9, subsections 3 and 6, Code 2026, are amended to read as follows:
   3.  Firearm safety training shall not be required for renewals of permits to carry weapons issued after December 31, 2010.  Firearm safety training shall not be required for renewals of permits to acquire pistols or revolvers initially issued on and after July 1, 2026.
   6.  If an applicant for a permit to carry weapons applies after expiration of the time periods specified for renewal in section 724.11, firearm safety training shall not be required for a renewal permit under this section.  An applicant for a permit to acquire pistols or revolvers who applies after expiration of the person’s prior permit to acquire pistols or revolvers pursuant to section 724.20 is not required to complete firearm safety training for a renewal permit under this section unless the prior permit to acquire pistols or revolvers was issued prior to July 1, 2026.
    Sec. 3.  Section 724.15, subsection 1, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  It is the intent of this section to satisfy federal requirements of 18 U.S.C. §922(t)(3) in order to acquire pistols or revolvers. In order to acquire a pistol or revolver from a federally licensed firearms dealer, an unlicensed person is required to have a valid permit to acquire or a valid permit to carry weapons issued in accordance with this chapter or the person must complete a satisfactory national instant criminal background check pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §922(t) and provide proof that the person has completed firearm safety training in accordance with section 724.9. A person under the age of twenty-one shall not be issued a permit to acquire a pistol or revolver, nor shall a nonprofessional permit to carry weapons held by a person who has not reached the age of twenty-one be valid for the transfer of a pistol or revolver from a federally licensed firearms dealer.
    Sec. 4.  Section 724.16, subsections 1 and 2, Code 2026, are amended to read as follows:
   1.  A person shall not transfer a firearm to another person if the person knows or reasonably should know that the other person is ineligible to possess dangerous weapons pursuant to section 724.8B, has not completed firearm safety training required under section 724.9, is intoxicated as provided under the conditions set out in section 321J.2, subsection 1, or is prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm under section 724.26 or federal law.
   2.  A person shall not loan or rent a firearm to another person for temporary use during lawful activities if the person knows or reasonably should know that the other person is ineligible to possess dangerous weapons pursuant to section 724.8B, has not completed firearm safety training required under section 724.9, is intoxicated as provided under the conditions set out in section 321J.2, subsection 1, or is prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm under section 724.26 or federal law.
    Sec. 5.  Section 724.17, subsection 1, Code 2026, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  The application for a permit to acquire pistols or revolvers may be made to the sheriff of the county of the applicant’s residence and shall be on a form prescribed and published by the commissioner of public safety. The application shall require only the full name of the applicant, the driver’s license or nonoperator’s identification card number of the applicant, the residence of the applicant, the date and place of birth of the applicant, and whether the applicant meets the criteria specified in section sections 724.9 and 724.15. The applicant shall also display an identification card that bears a distinguishing number assigned to the cardholder, the full name, date of birth, sex, residence address, and brief description and color photograph of the cardholder, or other identification as specified by rule of the department of public safety. The sheriff shall conduct a criminal history check concerning each applicant by obtaining criminal history data from the department of public safety, which shall include an inquiry of the national instant criminal background check system maintained by the federal bureau of investigation or any successor agency. A person who makes what the person knows to be a false statement of material fact on an application submitted under this section or who submits what the person knows to be any materially falsified or forged documentation in connection with such an application commits a class “D” felony.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to firearm safety training requirements for a permit to acquire pistols or revolvers.
   Under current law, an applicant for an initial permit to carry weapons must demonstrate knowledge of firearm safety by the completion of a firearm safety training course. The course may be conducted over the internet if completion of the course is verified by the instructor or provider of the course. Evidence of the training may be shown through certain documents.
   The bill requires an applicant for a permit to acquire pistols or revolvers to complete the same training requirement as an applicant for a permit to carry weapons.
    The bill makes conforming changes that provide that if a person transfers, loans, or rents a pistol or revolver to a person who the transferor knows or should reasonably know has not completed the required training, the transferor is guilty of a class “D” felony. Additionally, conforming changes in the bill provide that a person who makes what the person knows to be a false statement of material fact on an application or submits falsified or forged documents is guilty of a class “D” felony. A class “D” felony is punishable by confinement for no more than five years and a fine of at least $1,025 but not more than $10,245.