Iowa Governor Chet Culver To Sign Shall-Issue Bill Into Law Thursday

[tt11758]

From www.siouxcityjournal.com:

DES MOINES -- Gov. Chet Culver plans this week to sign bills into law dealing with the issuance of gun permits, expanded seat-belt usage for teenaged passengers, additional help for military veterans and studying the feasibility of building a second nuclear plant in Iowa.

Culver’s staff issued a schedule of bill-signing ceremonies since Friday marks the last day for the governor to take action on bills approved during the 2010 legislative session. Culver still has a number of fiscal 2011 budget bills to take action on, as well as a dwindling list of policy measures.

Included in the planned signing ceremonies is an event Thursday in Des Moines to approve Senate File 2379, a measure approved near the end of the session that would overhaul the way concealed weapon permits are issued in Iowa.

Currently, anyone seeking a permit to carry a concealed weapon must apply with a local county sheriff, who decides whether to grant or deny an application for a gun permit. The legislation that Culver plans to sign would establish a statewide “shall issue” standard that would require sheriffs to issue permits to applicants who meet the requirements or to provide specific reasons for denying a request.

This bill is being met with mixed emotions here in the hawkeye state.  While most everybody (except several County Sheriffs) approve of the shall-issue portion of the legislation, as well as increasing the term of the permits from one year to five, many are disappointed in the requirement that a permit holder take a handgun course every 5 years before their permit can be renewed.  Exceptions to that requirement are active duty military, permit holders who have participated in a shooting competition during the previous year, and those who are willing to demonstrate their proficiency on the range.

One of the best results of this legislation, however, is that it opens to the door to reciprocity with other states (like, hopefully, Minnesota) which also require proof of proficiency prior to permit renewal.

Time will tell how all of this shakes out. 

[Hazcat]

and those who are willing to demonstrate their proficiency on the range.

Have any idea how that will work?  In front of a Sheriff or what?

[JSC3ATLCSO]

Have any idea how that will work?  In front of a Sheriff or what?

My understanding it will be some sort of a standardized qual and in front of the safety training officer that provides your required safety course. 


The sheriff that I use to work for is one of the sheriff's that is opposed to "Shall issue"

I worked for him for a little over 8 years and he issued to everyone that walked through the door to get a permit to carry but he is pissed that someone is taking away his right to deny someone if they need denied.. Frankly.... I'm glad I don't work for him anymore or his dictatorship.   (I do however miss the night shift guys I worked with)

[Hazcat]

My understanding it will be some sort of a standardized qual and in front of the safety training officer that provides your required safety course. 


The sheriff that I use to work for is one of the sheriff's that is opposed to "Shall issue"

I worked for him for a little over 8 years and he issued to everyone that walked through the door to get a permit to carry but he is pissed that someone is taking away his right to deny someone if they need denied.. Frankly.... I'm glad I don't work for him anymore or his dictatorship.   (I do however miss the night shift guys I worked with)

If ya find out the course of fire for the test post it please.

Thanks

[crusader rabbit]

And, what if you ARE a Safety Training Officer?  Can you qualify yerownself? 

I know we don't have answers to these sorts ofquestions, but I am just stirrin' the puddin'.

[Sponsor]

[JSC3ATLCSO]

Haz - I will talk to "Deputy Gun Qual" from the S.O. and find out for you.  He was a "Night Guy" so next time we are puttin a few down range or emptyin a few I'll ask.

CR - I'm not exactly sure on who can give you the safety course.  Every where I know about the sheriff's department has the class and until last year or the year before they didn't have to have a range qual.  Now there is a qual but I'm not sure if there is a standard course of fire yet?  Sgt Turner always ran us through the ILEA course which is 2 different courses now.  One for more accurate shooting and one is tighter time with more mag changes.  The last copy of the bill I had seen which was 2 year ago draft was that there was going to be a different one for CCW classes but I don't know if this is included or not.  As soon as I know more I will update!

[tt11758]

Haz - I will talk to "Deputy Gun Qual" from the S.O. and find out for you.  He was a "Night Guy" so next time we are puttin a few down range or emptyin a few I'll ask.

CR - I'm not exactly sure on who can give you the safety course.  Every where I know about the sheriff's department has the class and until last year or the year before they didn't have to have a range qual.  Now there is a qual but I'm not sure if there is a standard course of fire yet?  Sgt Turner always ran us through the ILEA course which is 2 different courses now.  One for more accurate shooting and one is tighter time with more mag changes.  The last copy of the bill I had seen which was 2 year ago draft was that there was going to be a different one for CCW classes but I don't know if this is included or not.  As soon as I know more I will update!

It used to be in Iowa that the only ones who had to qualify were the ones getting a "Professional Permit":  LEO's, Armed Security Officers, PI's, etc.  In fact, the last time I had to qualify was when I changed from a non-professional to professional permit back in 1979.

One other thing.  Don't remember if I mentioned it in the original post or not, and I'm too damn tired to go look, so if I did, tough shit.  If one has participated in a handgun shooting competition during the year before renewal is due, then one is exempted from taking the course, or qualifying on the range. 

I wonder if our little mail-in competition would qualify? 

[JSC3ATLCSO]

In Louisa county there is an annual CCW shoot over a couple of days.  All of the permit holders are invited to get together and "qualify" most of the permit holders were happy to do this to show a little proficiency.  Back to my original post there are a few permit holders that are elderly and the sheriff thought he would use this to try and weed out a few people that weren't competent.  This kind of accomplished what he was trying to do.  Most of them just decided it was time to give it up and a few after trying to qualify and failing decided then it was time.  One of the holders was an 85+ yo guy carrying a 44 mag with hand loads.  Couple of shots would be lights then there would be a hot one that set him back a few steps almost to his ass.  (Scary day on the range) Then there are a few of the permit holders that this is beneth them.  They are very qualified shooters but one half day at the range you'd think was the end of the world as we know it.  Since I have now moved to Muscatine county I don't know if they still have the Citizen shoot because of the new laws requiring a Qualifaction score on the safety course cert.  Turner always used a modified version of the ILEA quals to accomodate the different types of guns.  Mostly just the time limits were modified.

I haven't seen the new law yet but in the past current permit holders have been "Grandfathered in" 

[fightingquaker13]

The qual course is a PITA, but hardly a deal breaker. Most states that use it want 50 rounds into a standard shilloutte from 20 yards to seven with something around a seventy percent score. Not all that hard. I can live with it even if I'd prefer to live without it. Sort of like a road test for a DL renewal. I can see it the first time, after that, not so much, just the eye test and call it a day.
FQ13

[tombogan03884]

Never mind the Eye test, give them a directional light test .