Legal age for shooting Handgun in......

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LightningMan

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Iowa, is what I'm trying to find out. Hello to the forum members. Again where can I find an answer, I have googled, searched & searched and can't find an answer.:banghead: I have been told that the Iowa law is 14 years of age to shoot a handgun under adult supervision, but can't find the exact Iowa law/code for it.:confused: Any help please, this is to settle an arguement. Thanks, LM.
 
724.22(5) A parent who is 21 or older of a person b/t 14 and 21 may allow the person to use a handgun while under the supervision of the parent (paraphrased)
 
Wow, that's stupid. Kids in Iowa aren't even allowed to shoot a .22 pistol before age 14, regardless of supervision. I was shooting my dad's 1911 at that age.
 
ROKK Quote: 724.22(5) A parent who is 21 or older of a person b/t 14 and 21 may allow the person to use a handgun while under the supervision of the parent (paraphrased)

Yes, I did find that, but what does it say about anyone under the age of 14 and what are the fines or penalties? I belong to a gun club, and have been to a few IDPA type of combat shoots, and there's a 10 year old w/dad that shoots the match. So what type a problems could this cause?
 
LighteningMan,
Since that subsection does not give a penalty it would appear to me that 724.22(2) would fit, basically making a handgun available to anyone under age 21 and NOT meeting the conditions of 724.22(4) or (5) a serious misdemeanor.
That would be a tough call and were it me I would call the County Atty before I would charge someone with that. Probably more of a child endangerment charge if any. I can check with my County Atty's office for you but not till Wed. You may want to call yours on Monday and ask.
Handgun shooting by youngsters, especially .22's, is pretty common and I would think it not very likely to cause a legal problem until sometime got hurt.
I know not a definitive answer but thats why the County Atty gets paid the big bucks, to make a call like that. I have yet to run into something like this myself.
 
14! Good grief. I think I was 8 the first time I fired a pistol. And I was under the supervision of our neighbor, who also happened to be the local Fire Chief, not my parent. Although we did have Mom's permission.
 
ROKK Quote;
LighteningMan,
Since that subsection does not give a penalty it would appear to me that 724.22(2) would fit, basically making a handgun available to anyone under age 21 and NOT meeting the conditions of 724.22(4) or (5) a serious misdemeanor.
That would be a tough call and were it me I would call the County Atty before I would charge someone with that. Probably more of a child endangerment charge if any. I can check with my County Atty's office for you but not till Wed. You may want to call yours on Monday and ask.
Handgun shooting by youngsters, especially .22's, is pretty common and I would think it not very likely to cause a legal problem until sometime got hurt.
I know not a definitive answer but thats why the County Atty gets paid the big bucks, to make a call like that. I have yet to run into something like this myself.

I'm not in a hurry for an answer, as we are done shooting combat for the year. Personally I think the club should be up on existing state laws, and know the consequence's if these laws are not followed. I too think this is a stupid law, but I would just like to let our match director know about this, because I don't think he even knows about this law. I had heard about it from a friend, but wanted to confirm it. So I asked a Sherriff's deputy (that I personally know) about it, but he didn't even know, although he got back to me and said that it was indeed 14. He couldn't believe it either, as he too remembers shooting a handgun at a younger age. Let me know if you find anything out in the following week, thanks. LM
 
That is a question that no-one in my neck of the woods would even think of asking! There very well may be a law here governing the age at which a parent can start training their own child to shoot a firearm including a handgun but I don't think any cop I know would be dumb enough to try to enforce it(if there was no OTHER charge). That is something that comes under the heading of parental prerogative.
 
ROKK,

What you posted was the exception to the prohibition. The exception has to be viewed in light of the prohibition to make sense. The prohibition is contained in IOWA statute 724.22(2):

2. Except as provided in subsections 4 and 5, a person who sells, loans, gives, or makes available a pistol or revolver or ammunition for a pistol or revolver to a person below the age of twenty-one commits a serious misdemeanor for a first offense and a class "D" felony for second and subsequent offenses.

In addition, Federal law would also apply to those under 18 years old and in possession of a handgun/handgun ammunition. In this situation, the most important thing to notice about the Federal law is that the juvenile in possession of a handgun must also be in possession of written parental/guardian permission to possess that handgun, even if the parent is standing right there supervising.

18 USC 922(x):

(x)
(1) It shall be unlawful for a person to sell, deliver, or otherwise transfer to a person who the transferor knows or has reasonable cause to believe is a juvenile—
(A) a handgun; or
(B) ammunition that is suitable for use only in a handgun.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person who is a juvenile to knowingly possess—
(A) a handgun; or
(B) ammunition that is suitable for use only in a handgun.
(3) This subsection does not apply to—
(A) a temporary transfer of a handgun or ammunition to a juvenile or to the possession or use of a handgun or ammunition by a juvenile if the handgun and ammunition are possessed and used by the juvenile—
(i) in the course of employment, in the course of ranching or farming related to activities at the residence of the juvenile (or on property used for ranching or farming at which the juvenile, with the permission of the property owner or lessee, is performing activities related to the operation of the farm or ranch), target practice, hunting, or a course of instruction in the safe and lawful use of a handgun;
(ii) with the prior written consent of the juvenile’s parent or guardian who is not prohibited by Federal, State, or local law from possessing a firearm, except—
(I) during transportation by the juvenile of an unloaded handgun in a locked container directly from the place of transfer to a place at which an activity described in clause (i) is to take place and transportation by the juvenile of that handgun, unloaded and in a locked container, directly from the place at which such an activity took place to the transferor; or
(II) with respect to ranching or farming activities as described in clause (i), a juvenile may possess and use a handgun or ammunition with the prior written approval of the juvenile’s parent or legal guardian and at the direction of an adult who is not prohibited by Federal, State or local law from possessing a firearm;
(iii) the juvenile has the prior written consent in the juvenile’s possession at all times when a handgun is in the possession of the juvenile; and
(iv) in accordance with State and local law;
 
the most important thing to notice about the Federal law is that the juvenile in possession of a handgun must also be in possession of written parental/guardian permission to possess that handgun, even if the parent is standing right there supervising.
I'm going out on a limb here and say this almost never happens(mo). The chances of that happening here,in spite of federal law,is nil to none.
 
Yes, I did find that, but what does it say about anyone under the age of 14 and what are the fines or penalties? I belong to a gun club, and have been to a few IDPA type of combat shoots, and there's a 10 year old w/dad that shoots the match. So what type a problems could this cause?

I just noticed this above, LightningMan. I would say that your interpretation later is correct, that the prohibition of 724.22(2) applies. The exception is only for those 14 and over. If your club wants to comply with Iowa law, I think they need to have an age limit of 14 established.

DISCLAIMER: I am not implying that I agree with the law or that I have any problems with the clubs disregard of the law. Just sayin' that's what appears to me the law requires.
 
That is a question that no-one in my neck of the woods would even think of asking! There very well may be a law here governing the age at which a parent can start training their own child to shoot a firearm including a handgun but I don't think any cop I know would be dumb enough to try to enforce it(if there was no OTHER charge). That is something that comes under the heading of parental prerogative.

I 100% agree. It's pretty difficult anymore to NOT be an outlaw, if even purely by accident. So, use discretion and don't do anything blatantly irresponsible and enjoy your life.
 
This is how its done in Ohio Boys. He hit's a man size steel target everytime.
If I tell him to hit the steel praire dog target he hits that everytime.
All at 100 yards..
My 5 year old shooting a Sig 556
invpzk.jpg
Ruger 22
2utq6om.jpg
 
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