Iowa Lowers Handgun Ownership Age to 18 as Governor Reynolds Signs New Legislation

Iowa has expanded firearm rights for young adults with Governor Kim Reynolds approving new legislation that reduces the minimum handgun ownership age from 21 to 18. The law, signed on April 18, aligns Iowa with several other states that have successfully challenged federal age restrictions on handgun ownership.

The legislation, known as House File 924, will take effect July 1 following its narrow passage in the state Senate where it received 33 votes in favor and 14 against, largely reflecting partisan divisions. Representative Steven Holt, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, championed the bill based on his belief that younger Iowans with families deserve access to self-defense options.

"I joined the Marines when I was 18, I graduated from boot camp when I was 18. I was carrying firearms in the military, ready to defend my country when I was 18, along with hundreds of thousands of other young men and women," Holt explained. "So the idea that an 18-year-old, a 19-year-old, a 20-year-old, doesn't have a right to own a firearm in protection of their families — which is really what the Second Amendment is about, right?"

While the new law permits Iowans aged 18-20 to legally possess and carry handguns, federal regulations will still prohibit them from purchasing handguns directly from federally licensed firearms dealers. This latest change builds upon 2021 legislation also signed by Governor Reynolds that eliminated permit requirements for Iowans 21 and older to openly carry or conceal handguns.

House File 924 includes safeguards against minors accessing handguns. The law establishes that any person 18 or older who provides a pistol, revolver, or ammunition to a minor (unless they are the minor's parent or guardian) commits a serious misdemeanor. Parents and guardians may allow supervised access or during formal instruction. Additionally, parents and guardians will be held liable for any damages resulting from handgun possession by minors 14 years of age or younger.