A new law in Iowa recently took effect and Iowans who are legally able to purchase and carry a firearm may do so without obtaining a permit.

The new law now makes having a permit to purchase or carry a firearm an option for those who can legally own a firearm. Greene County Sheriff Jack Williams shares his thoughts on the new law that Governor Kim Reynolds signed earlier this year.

“My biggest concern is just that people are going to go out and buy a gun and start carrying it with no training at all. Some people just don’t have the knowledge to actually use the firearm in a safe manner. So the no class or no knowledge is a concern. Other than that, I really don’t have any concerns with it because if the criminals want to carry guns, they’re going to anyway whether they got a permit or not. And hopefully the criminals will look at it is, ‘I don’t know if that person has a gun anymore,’ so it may deter crime a little bit.”

Williams points out another benefit of taking the permit to purchase and carry class.

“A lot of people don’t realize the liability of carrying a firearm. If you decide to shoot that firearm and you miss your target and somebody, you’re still criminally and civilly liable.”  

Williams points out a positive with the new law is the ability for law enforcement to charge a private gun seller if they knowingly sell a firearm to someone who isn’t legally able to own one.