Des Moines, Iowa — Iowa Governor Terry Branstad signed several bills into law in a signing ceremony held Thursday morning. The two most noteable bills for folks in northwest Iowa are the Omnibus Firearms Bill that’s been garnering so much attention lately, and a bill to allow deer hunters to use rifles using straight wall ammunition.
HF 475 is the bill that makes it legal to use certain rifles, those that fire “straight wall” cartridge calibers to hunt deer in the state. Curt Nielsen of Southern Archery in Spencer explains what that means.
Nielsen says there are caliber limitations for use during deer season.
To read the exact text of HF 475, CLICK HERE.
The other bill of note that the Governor signed Thursday morning is HF 517, the Omnibus Firearms Bill. The new law’s “stand your ground” provisions will shield Iowans from lawsuits or criminal charges if they shoot to defend life or property, not just in their own homes, but anywhere they are legally permitted to be. That part of the bill takes effect July 1. People from any state with a permit to carry a concealed weapon will be able to take it into the state capitol after July 1st, too.
A few parts of the law take effect immediately. The names and addresses of gun permit holders had been public records, but as of today, they’re to be kept private. In addition, children under the age of 14 may now handle a handgun if they’re supervised by a sober parent.
To read the exact text of HF 517, CLICK HERE.
