The Iowa House recently passed a bill concerning permitless carry of a firearm. 

Iowa House Representative for District 19 Carter Nordman says there may be some misinformation surrounding the recent legislation. Nordman addresses the concern that the bill will eliminate background checks.

“That’s not the case at all. Actually, this bill is probably going to raise the amount of background checks here in the state of Iowa. That’s due to current law (and) says that person to person sales you don’t need a background, that’s current law.”

Nordman says the bill would raise the crime level from an aggravated misdemeanor to a Class D Felony if someone were to sell a weapon person to person to someone who isn’t eligible to own or purchase a firearm, including being convicted of a felony. 

“You know a Class D Felony is you can do five years in prison, loss of the right to carry a firearm and of course significant effects on a person’s ability to get a job in the future.”

Nordman also notes it would not change or eliminate the age requirements for purchasing or owning a firearm.