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Iowa Legalizes Civilian Suppressor Ownership

We were hesitant to post this yesterday, lest our readers feel that we were pulling an April Fool's gag in poor taste. Iowa has become the 42nd state of the union to legalize suppressor usage and ownership. The last holdouts? They're not terribly surprising:
suppressors_illegal

SilencerCo has this to say about it:

Iowa has become the 42nd state to legalize suppressors. House File 2279, a bill introduced by Rep. Matt Windschitl and Rep. Terry Baxter, recently passed the Iowa Senate Judiciary Committee on March 2, 2016 by a wide margin of 11-2. The bill moved through the Iowa Senate without issue, and has now been signed by Governor Terry Branstad.

After three years of efforts by the American Suppressor Association, the National Rifle Association, and the Iowa Firearms Coalition to educate lawmakers on the benefits and realities of suppressors, HF 2279 was met with positive response.

This victory in Iowa is bringing hope to the eight other states where suppressors are still illegal for civilians to own. As part of their “No State Left Behind” campaign, the American Suppressor Association will now turn its attention to those states, including California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and New York.

The text of the bill reads:

House File 2279
AN ACT RELATING TO POSSESSING AND TRANSFERRING FIREARM SUPPRESSORS, PROVIDING PENALTIES, AND INCLUDING EFFECTIVE DATE PROVISIONS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

Section 1. Section 724.1, subsection 1, paragraph h, Code 2016, is amended by striking the paragraph.
Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 724.1A Firearm suppressors —— certification.
1. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise House File 2279, p. 2 requires:
a. “Certification” means the participation and assent of the chief law enforcement officer of the jurisdiction where the applicant resides or Maintains an address of record, that is necessary under federal law for the approval of an application to make or transfer a firearm suppressor.
b. “Chief law enforcement officer” means the county sheriff, chief of police, or the designee of such official, that the federal bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives, or any successor agency, has identified by regulation or has determined is otherwise eligible to provide any required certification for making or transferring a firearm suppressor.
c. “Firearm suppressor” means a mechanical device specifically constructed and designed so that when attached to a firearm it silences, muffles, or suppresses the sound when fired and that is considered a “firearm silencer” or “firearm muffler” as defined in 18 U.S.C. §921.

2. a. A chief law enforcement officer is not required to make any certification under this section the chief law enforcement officer knows to be false, but the chief law enforcement officer shall not refuse, based on a generalized objection, to issue a certification to make or transfer a firearm suppressor.
b. When the certification of the chief law enforcement officer is required by federal law or regulation for making or transferring a firearm suppressor, the chief law enforcement officer shall, within thirty days of receipt of a request for certification, issue such certification if the applicant is not prohibited by law from making or transferring a firearm suppressor or is not the subject of a proceeding that could result in the applicant being prohibited by law from making or transferring the firearm suppressor. If the chief law enforcement officer does not issue a certification as required by this section, the chief law enforcement officer shall provide the applicant with a written notification of the denial and the reason for the denial.
c. A certification that has been approved under this section grants the person the authority to make or transfer a firearm suppressor as provided by state and federal law.

House File 2279, p. 3
3. An applicant whose request for certification is denied may appeal the decision of the chief law enforcement officer to the district court for the county in which the applicant resides or maintains an address of record. The court shall review the decision of the chief law enforcement officer to deny the certification de novo. If the court finds that the applicant is not prohibited by law from making or transferring the firearm suppressor, and is not the subject of a proceeding that could result in such prohibition, or that no substantial evidence supports the decision of the chief law enforcement officer, the court shall order the chief law enforcement officer to issue the certification and award court costs and reasonable attorney fees to the applicant. If the court determines the applicant is not eligible to be issued a certification, the court shall award court costs and reasonable attorney fees to the political subdivision of the state representing the chief law enforcement officer.

4. In making a determination about whether to issue a certification under subsection 2, a chief law enforcement officer may conduct a criminal background check, including an inquiry of the national instant criminal background check system maintained by the federal bureau of investigation or any successor agency, but shall only require the applicant to provide as much information as is necessary to identify the applicant for this purpose or to determine the disposition of an arrest or proceeding relevant to the eligibility of the applicant to lawfully possess or receive a firearm suppressor. A chief law enforcement officer shall not require access to or consent to inspect any private premises as a condition of providing a certification under this section.

5. A chief law enforcement officer and employees of the chief law enforcement officer who act in good faith are immune from liability arising from any act or omission in making a certification as required by this section.

Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 724.1B Firearm suppressors —— penalty.
1. A person shall not knowingly possess a firearm suppressor in this state in violation of federal law.
2. A person who possesses a firearm suppressor in violation of subsection 1 commits a class “D” felony. House File 2279, p. 4

Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE UPON ENACTMENT. This Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.

Now–eight more to go.

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