Starting on 5 February, 2014, the Scott County, Iowa Sheriff’s Department has instituted an innovative and convenient way for Iowa residents to obtain their concealed carry or pistol purchase permits. Under Iowa law, a person must have a permit to carry a firearm, either openly or concealed. They are also required to obtain a permit to purchase a handgun, either from a dealer or privately. While these requirements are a little unusual (most states don’t require a permit to carry firearms openly, and only a few require a permit to purchase one) the online process seems much more convenient than most, and, compared to most concealed carry permits, is reasonably priced . . .
An Iowa permit to carry costs $54 and is good for five years. It also doubles as a permit to purchase pistols during that same five year period. In addition, the carry permit is renewable for additional five year periods for $29 more. The permit to purchase (presumable for home and range use) costs $14, and is good for one year. Of those fees, $4 is a service fee for using a credit card, and can be avoided by paying cash in person at the Sheriff’s office.
No information about the pistols acquired is required by the Sheriff’s office. Unfortunately, you have to pick up your permit at the Sheriff’s office in person, and only between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. You also have to present identification at the time of pickup, and show documentation of the required training for the carry permit.
My attention was drawn to this innovative program by a short article on kljb.com, titled “Online Gun Registration In Scott County”. As Iowa doesn’t have or require gun registration, I was intrigued, only to find the program to acquire permits to carry or purchase handguns and nothing to do with registration.
There are also some “suggestions” listed by the Scott County Sheriff’s Department that are a bit confusing. It’s more than a little questionable that the Sheriff’s Department would place these suggestions so prominently when some are only opinions, and others carry the force of law. And they aren’t clearly differentiated. People could be deceived into thinking that some opinions are a part of Iowa law when they are not, and some parts of the law are opinions, when they carry criminal penalties. Here are the “suggestions” listed by the Scott County Sheriff’s Department:
Suggestions:
Please consider the following suggestions:
- Permit holders are STRONGLY encouraged to safely conceal their weapons versus carrying in the open or plain view.
- At the onset of any contact with law enforcement, IMMEDIATELY notify the deputy/officer(s) that you have a permit to carry and you are armed.
- A permit holder is required by law to carry their permit while armed by State Code of Iowa 724.5
- Prior to traveling across state lines, familiarize yourself with the laws of the state you intend to pass through and enter. Iowa recognizes and honors weapon permits from other states, but in many other states there is no such reciprocity.
- Weapon possession/use is prohibited while a person is impaired by alcohol and/or drugs by State Code of Iowa 724.4C
- Permit holders may possess weapons in vehicles but not while riding on an ATV or snowmobile.
- Contact the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for specific inquiries regarding hunting.
- Private establishments may post signs prohibiting weapons on their premises.
- Permit holders may not carry on school grounds.
- Permit holders are STRONGLY encouraged to gain proficiency with the weapon they carry (to include shooting accuracy, weapon safety, and justification in the use of deadly force).
Overall, I have to give the Scott County Sheriff’s Department good marks for their efforts to make the permit process easier for everyone. This online system is still new, and will likely be refined in time.
©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Gun Watch
I take issue with bullet item 2. I’m not disclosing that information unless specifically asked. Obviously, this is assuming I’m not committing a crime, or suspicious of committing one.
I notified an officer one time I was armed and he asked me if I was threatening him. I said no, just a heads up. That cured that for me. Shut up until they ask you.
Does Iowa have privacy laws about their gun permitting process, or is the information available for public access (or FOIA request)?
Many people in today’s world carry Firearms. Some of us do it legally, and go out of our way to meet legal requirements and pay the government for permission to exercise the fundamental human right to self-defense. Others do it illegally, and are the main reason why some people choose to arm themselves when they venture away from their homes. In this opinion, I’ll examine some concerns of proponents and opponents of allowing the law-abiding public to carry Firearms, and see where they naturally lead us.
Having never lived outside of Firearm ownership, I have a tough time imagining what it must be like to do so. Firearms simply aren’t scary things to me — they are interesting, enjoyable, and very useful tools as well as objects of beauty. But I realize that some people are scared of Firearms for various reasons, and many people who are not frightened of Firearms are disturbed by the idea that some people carry them. I must point out that some people will always carry Firearms, regardless of the law. These are not good people; they are criminals who break laws for a living. They are just as unfazed by anti-firearm laws as they are by anti-murder, anti-rape, and anti-theft laws.
No matter which side of the argument you find yourself on, remember that those who wish to legally carry concealed Firearms are people who do not want to be victims of such miscreants. They are just regular folks like you and me, people with families who would like to legally carry an effective means of defense on their person, just in case they encounter some of the bad folks in a situation where confrontation can’t be avoided. That’s all. They don’t want to shoot anyone, and most pray that never happens… they just want a chance.
I came across the following quote-unquote, credited to one Scotty Reitz, that puts it well: “If some cretin intends to use violence on me, I want to have some input into the decision on whether or not I live or die. Having a firearm on me gives me a bit of choice in the matter.”
The Assumptions:
Let’s look at some assumptions that many people make about Firearm owners, and especially those Firearm owners who choose to carry.
Gun People Think They’re Rambo:
We really don’t. People who carry Firearms legally don’t wish to use them on others — ever. Sometimes they have to, but only when there is no other option, and choosing the safety of yourself or other victims over the well-being of someone seeking to do you harm is a no-brainer.
You Have to be Paranoid to Carry a Gun:
Not so; in fact, the opposite may be true. Firearm owners who carry typically stay away from bad neighborhoods and situations in which conflict is likely… but if circumstances begin to look suspicious, those who go armed can be even more at ease than the unarmed masses. So in essence, we have less to fear than people who go unheeled.
It’ll be the Wild West All Over Again! They’re Going to Shoot us All:
Um, no. This misconception has been disproven time and time again. In localities where free citizens are allowed to carry Firearms, crime goes down. The vast majority of Firearm owners never have to use their Firearms for defense, and those that do draw their Firearms usually do not have to fire them. The last thing we want is to have to shoot someone.
Only the Government Can be Trusted With Guns:
This really is how some people think — that the government, which is composed of ordinary people like you and me, is the only entity that can be trusted to have and use firearms. Nothing could be farther from the truth; history shows that governments are the worst abusers of rights and pose a larger threat to our well-being than criminals in the private sector.
The Police Will Protect me:
Even if you set aside the previous point because you believe in the inherent goodness of those who rule, consider how many police officers are likely to be present should you become threatened by a mugger or rapist: zero. The only folks around will probably be you and the bad guy{s}. In that scenario, should the bad guys be the only ones who are armed? I think not. After all, when seconds count, the police are minutes away. Many of people have died during the response time of responding LEO’s…..!
The Facts:
Here’s some truth about Firearms owners and Firearms toters.
We Just Want to be Safe:
That’s all it is, really… we want to remain secure against those who may seek to do us harm, and a convenient Firearms is a great tool to help achieve that. And get this: those who carry Firearms help to protect those who do not carry Firearms, even when Firearms-toters are not around, because criminals don’t know who’s armed and who isn’t, which makes them a lot more hesitant to victimize people. Think about it: if everyone were armed, many types of crime would almost cease to exist, because an armed citizen is not a victim.
Vigilance, not Paranoia:
People who choose to carry guns do so not because they live in fear, but because they want to take responsibility for their own safety and that of other innocents. History has shown that nothing short of enduring vigilance can keep us safe in an unsafe world. After all, many notorious mass murders have been committed in “Safe- Gun Free Zones” in places such as restaurants, movie theaters, schools, etc. Keeping such places Free of Lawful Firearms is an open invitation to criminals, but the presence of responsible, law-abiding citizens with Firearms offers a feasible deterrent to mass murder.
We Don’t Want to Shoot Anyone:
It’s true; we do not want to have to drop the hammer on anyone. I can’t think of a much more traumatic experience than having to take a life, unless it’s suffering as a helpless victim under the cruel attentions of a criminal such as a rapist or murderer. No, I don’t ever want to pull a trigger in anger, but if it comes down to a choice between me and a bad guy, I’ll do everything I can to ensure that the bad guy loses.
It’s a Dangerous World:
If this world wasn’t dangerous, we wouldn’t have any debate about Firearms. But it most certainly is, and one must choose whether to live in denial that anything bad can happen, or accept reality and prepare oneself as best you can to protect yourself and your loved ones from whatever threat may arise.
Armed Citizens Make Unarmed People Safer:
I touched on this earlier, but it bears repetition: any portion of armed, non-criminal citizenry creates a measure of security for everyone else. When the bad guys have to guess at who does or doesn’t have a gun, it makes crime a less attractive career choice. On the other hand, in areas where the law-abiding can’t arm themselves {such as in schools or big cities with strict anti-gun laws in gun free zones}, criminals can and do operate boldly.
Use Your Bill of Rights – or Lose Them:
Like many, I believe it’s wrong to have to beg permission, submit to scrutiny, and/or bribe the government in order to exercise a right that is not granted by government. That said, I have done so, and I hope that every able-bodied adult will do the same. Because the more of us there are who exercise these civil rights, the harder it will be for the government to steal these and other rights in the future….!
Carrying a Firearm is Inconvenient and Uncomfortable:
It’s true – toting a gun is a pain. A gun can poke, dig, gouge, protrude, aggravate, and otherwise just be a hassle to keep on your person – especially when you are legally obligated to keep it hidden at all times. But that’s something I’m willing to put up with, just in case someone ever points a gun at me and my family again. Yes, I did say, “again.” It happens, on public streets in broad daylight. One must choose whether to be prepared to resist, or to submit as a lamb to the slaughter.
Your Right to Choose a Firearm:
In the end, it’s really about choice. Firearm owners basically wish to be secure in our persons, and if things get ugly, we hope for a chance. Criminals do not like a fair fight, and will usually attack without warning, so being armed is not a get-out-of-crime-free card — it’s simply an edge. And for some, it can be a great equalizer. Criminals love to victimize the weak, and most women would have a hard time physically defending against an attack from a man, but having a Firearm makes a woman just as powerful as any bad guy with a Firearm.
In fact, here’s a quote from a woman who regularly carries a firearm:
“Although the stereotype is that Firearm owners are after some sort of a ‘power rush,’ I never have felt super-powerful or invincible when carrying a Firearm, nor anything remotely like that. Instead, in a low-key sort of way, I simply feel confident that I am equipped to handle an unpleasant or even deadly situation if I really need to do so. Because I know I could cope with the worst that could happen, I am free to go about my regular business without a lot of that low-level, back-of-the-mind feeling of vulnerability that most women experience on some level in their daily lives (especially when traveling though big cities, or in deserted areas after dark). When I first began carrying, I really liked having that feeling of calm confidence which came from being prepared to cope with the worst life could possibly throw at me, and I wanted to keep feeling it.
As you can tell, we “ the good guys” who carry Firearms do so for many reasons, and believe strongly that it would be wrong to deny any citizen the right to keep and bear arms in order to defend against any potential threat. We don’t want to kill, but neither do we wish to be killed.
Carrying a Firearm is not for everyone; that choice is your own to make, and I hope this opinion helps with that decision…..!
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Hassani also wins, “Mental Midget of the Day” award.
Sad, but scary, too.
I have been a Service Electrician (Meaning I show up at your house or business to make repairs) for 20 Years, I have never met a dog or a group of dogs that can’t be mollified by a dog biscuit and patience. Yes I’ve had ankle biters get me; never a injury from them. Big Dogs can be scary but if you approach them on their terms I have never had a problem. There have been two occasions where I felt it was better to retreat and call the owner. But after introduction by the owner to the dog all was well. How you treat peoples pets (property, children, spouses, etc…) reflects highly on your character and on your employer (Department & Taxpayers). It’s called Customer Service. You as a Cop provide a service to us the taxpayers, we are your employer. You as a Cop have a difficult enough job you do not need the people you serve to be pissed at you for not doing your job in a manner the does not respect your chosen profession. Deadly force is the LAST resort always Human or Animal! Having said all that the Homeowner is an idiot for letting his pets run free and is equally responsible. Neither get a pass for bad judgement.
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