Catfish Creek (FiveC)
563/581-5591

We still hear a lot of people asking HOW to get  their Iowa PERMIT TO CARRY WEAPONS. It's really quite simple, so we recommend that everyone should get this permit. Who knows when there may be a day you'd feel safer with a pistol in your pocket or purse? That little slip of paper could save you a LOT of grief if you are found to be so-armed, or if God-forbid, you need to draw your gun for self-defense.

(NOTE: the NRA certification is valid for Wisconsin concealed carry permits too!)

here's a brief run-down for Iowa counties...

1) gather the following items:
- Iowa photo ID
- Military DD214 or NRA Approved Training Certificate (which FiveC provides)
- completed application form . (WP5)
(you can download it here http://www.dps.state.ia.us/asd/weapons/WP5.pdf)
- $50.00 for the five (5) year permit.

2) take all these to your county Sheriff's office  and tell them you'd like to apply for your PERMIT TO CARRY WEAPONS.
  The Sheriff's office will execute a background check, and assuming all checks out well, they SHALL issue your permit. (see below)

  The response time, and appearance of the permit will vary from county to county, but in most cases you'll be packin' in just a few days!

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See below for details regarding the legal requirements to own firearms in the United States, and requirements for obtaining an Iowa Weapons Permit.

WEAPONS PERMIT LAW IN IOWA:

Shall Issue to Residents and Non-Residents

The “Shall Issue to Residents and Non-Residents” classification means that the issuing official will issue a permit to a Iowa resident or non-Iowa resident if they meet all of the legal requirements.

Minimum Requirements for an Iowa Weapon Permit:

• You must be a resident of Iowa.
• Non-residents are only issued a professional license (must be required by employer).
• You must not be an alien who is unlawfully present in the U.S.
• You must be 18 years of age or older for a professional license (required by employer) and 21 years of age or older for a non-professional permit (resident).
• You are qualified to own a firearm in a safe manner.
• You must not under indictment nor have been convicted of a felony in the U.S. or elsewhere.
• You must not be convicted of misdemeanor or domestic violence.
• You must not be under court order.
• You must not be an unlawful user or addicted to any controlled substance.
• You must not be dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces.
• You have not renounced U.S. citizenship.
• You must not be adjudged insane or mentally deranged.
• You must not be a fugitive from justice.

Miscellaneous Iowa Concealed Carry Permit Information:

• Instructions for new applications for a license to conceal carry:
  1. Go to the sheriff of the county in which you reside.
  2. Accomplish the application form. Bring valid I.D.’s and a colored photograph of yourself.
  3. Submit a Proof of Training. (FiveC provides this certificate with our course)
  4. Pay the $50 application fee for the concealed weapon permit .
  5. National Instant Criminal System check (NICS) will be administered upon applying.
  6. The processing time would last within 30 days.
• Iowa Concealed Carry Weapon permit (CCW) is valid for five (5) years.

Official Government Links:

Iowa professional permits to carry weapons guidelines

Iowa Application Form for permit to carry weapons

Before you can even consider a concealed carry permit, you must still be able to legally possess or own a firearm under U.S. federal law.

United States Code Title 18, Part I, Chapter 44, Section 922: “Firearms, Unlawful Acts” is a summary of conditions that disqualify a person from firearm possession or ownership.

The person cannot be:

• under indictment for or have been convicted of a felony. (see note 1)
• a fugitive from justice
• an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance
• adjudicated as a mental defective or has been committed to a mental institution
• an alien who is illegally or unlawfully in the United States (see note 2)
• discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions;
• someone who has renounced his or her U.S. citizenship;
• subject to a court order that restrains the person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner of the person or child of such intimate partner or person, or engaging in other conduct that would place an intimate partner in reasonable fear of bodily injury to the partner or child
• convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence,
  • Note 1: Felony conviction does not include any conviction which has been expunged or set aside, or for which a person has been pardoned, or has had civil rights restored, unless the pardon, expungement, or restoration of civil rights expressly provides that the person may not ship, transport, possess, or receive firearms.
  • Felonies don’t include non-violent business related crimes.
  • Civil rights are generally restored after the sentence is completed for felonies that are not crimes against persons.
  • Note 2: Legal immigrant aliens (“green card” or approved and pending green card) are not prohibited.