ive been lookingaround the internet but can not find any sort of an actual answer as to when and where you can open carry a firearm in Iowa. from what i have found it seems that you are alowed to OC in rural areas or within city limits with a CCW permit. anybody know if this is correct? i have never seen anybody open carrying before so am a little nervous to give it a try unless i can recite the law on the spot should i be questioned.
open carry in Iowa
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jonmerritt
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Hi there, Iowa is open carry, even with a permit. As the law is written there is not a concealed carry law in iowa. We have a permit to carry a dangerous weapon, its says nothing about being concealed, or requiring it to be concealed. Then again, we don't have a law for open carry either, that is the gotcha they will use to cause you problems. Out in rural areas, most sheriffs don't care if you open carry(just don't do it on a road in a car). You generaly don't have to worry about concealed carry either out of town, as the law is written, which allows for alot of gray areas that can be turned against you, or you can use in your favor with a decent lawyer.
I have found that Des Moines county doesn't bat an eye if you carry out of town (don't even ask if you have a permit, they already may know too). You are in Douds Iowa, Van Buren county. The sheriff there is pretty much shall issue. I am in Douds usually three times a week on deliveries. I think Douds is unincorperated (check on that) that would make it rural ie. not in town.
I have found that Des Moines county doesn't bat an eye if you carry out of town (don't even ask if you have a permit, they already may know too). You are in Douds Iowa, Van Buren county. The sheriff there is pretty much shall issue. I am in Douds usually three times a week on deliveries. I think Douds is unincorperated (check on that) that would make it rural ie. not in town.
NavyLCDR
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http://www.opencarry.org/ia.html
Iowa
Summary
Iowa is not a traditional open carry state, but no permit is required to open carry except when in vehicles or when inside city limits. Open carry in cities is technically legal with an Iowa permit to carry weapons, however Iowa is a may-issue state, and some sheriffs have indicated that they will revoke your permit for open carrying.
More info from like minded persons can be found here:
http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum23/
Iowa kinda sucks for open carry :-(
Iowa
Summary
Iowa is not a traditional open carry state, but no permit is required to open carry except when in vehicles or when inside city limits. Open carry in cities is technically legal with an Iowa permit to carry weapons, however Iowa is a may-issue state, and some sheriffs have indicated that they will revoke your permit for open carrying.
More info from like minded persons can be found here:
http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum23/
Iowa kinda sucks for open carry :-(
Pramunitus
Member
This is all just one more reason for anyone interested in Iowa's carry law should email Governor Culver and ask him to please sign SF-2379, which will change Iowa from "May Issue" to "Shall Issue", and extinguish the sheriff's ability to refuse to renew your permit for lawful behaviors.
For a link to register support for this bill, go to www.iowacarry.org, and click on the "Legislative Action Center" link for instructions.
For a link to register support for this bill, go to www.iowacarry.org, and click on the "Legislative Action Center" link for instructions.
NavyLCDR
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Correct. You would actually have to violate a statute for your permit to be revoked, vice violating a sheriff's personal whim or opinion.
jonmerritt
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I am amazed at how people seem to want to push in other directions to make problems for themselves and others. Just seems that way.
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NavyLCDR
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jonmerritt said:
Would you please clarify that statement? Are you referencing open carriers as those that "seem to want to push in other directions to make problems for themselves and others?"
jonmerritt
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take my statement the way you want to, no matter how I clarify, somebody is just itching to take offense one way or the other. Hence clarification is not needed.
NavyLCDR
member
Sounds like you are afraid to stand up for what you believe or not prepared to back it up with any kind of factual evidence.... that's the way I take your statement. Thank you for your mostly useless comment.
Buck Snort
Member
I take it to mean migratory birds fly south in the spring and north in the fall.
NavyLCDR
member
Bass Ackwards?!? 
Tacbandit
Member
I have friends in Alabama who claim the same situation exists there. I guess it's supposed to be an open carry state, but it seems that not many do so, due to some really extreme
harassment that comes down on those who try to carry "open", in some areas. Seems to be a little known fact, and an even lesser attempted mode of carry...Make sure you get all the facts...Hope it works out for you. Be careful, and good luck....
Tac
harassment that comes down on those who try to carry "open", in some areas. Seems to be a little known fact, and an even lesser attempted mode of carry...Make sure you get all the facts...Hope it works out for you. Be careful, and good luck....
Tac
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We have a great sheriff here in Polk county and we had a great guy for a sheriff who just retired. I have lived in Iowa all my life, grew up in a small farm town in Southwest Iowa and lived in Omaha/Council Bluffs, Red Oak, Shenandoah, Clarinda, Corning, Winterset and Des Moines. I have hunted all of my life and had a concealed carry permit for longer than I can remember, I have had no problem open carrying in the countryside or even some of the very small rural towns, however when going into larger towns or stores or restaurants, I always switch from open carry to concealed carry. I do not want to cause an incident or rile up the anti gun crowd or even make people nervous.
To me open carry is a double edge sword, I respect the people who do it, on the one hand if more people did it without incident maybe the general public would get used to it and we would see stronger laws protecting our 2nd Amendment Rights, on the other hand if the people who are afraid of guns get all excited and join the anti gun crowd we could see even tougher laws against our constitutional right the Freedom to bear Arms.
Open carry reminds me too much of walking in a minefield, you either get to your destination in one piece or you don't make it at all.
To me open carry is a double edge sword, I respect the people who do it, on the one hand if more people did it without incident maybe the general public would get used to it and we would see stronger laws protecting our 2nd Amendment Rights, on the other hand if the people who are afraid of guns get all excited and join the anti gun crowd we could see even tougher laws against our constitutional right the Freedom to bear Arms.
Open carry reminds me too much of walking in a minefield, you either get to your destination in one piece or you don't make it at all.
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