There have been reported instances of cases where criminals use gun permit information to discern who owns a gun and who doesn’t, and Iowa has been looking for a way to lower these circumstances.

“I am not a fan of weapons. I believe weapons are destructive and cause a lot of damage in more ways than one,” said Breanna Baker, psychology major. “But growing up in a rough neighborhood and experiencing violence, I understood why my parents registered a gun. I knew it was for the protection of me and my sisters.” 

House File 535 serves these exact purposes by concealing gun permit records and making them confidential. The permit was first introduced on March 6, 2013, and it gained an immense amount of approval in the House Judiciary Committee.

The bill was brought up as a proposal because of the media publishing the identities of firearm permit holders in one area of Iowa.

Those in support of the bill believe it will have a huge impact on the safety of permit holders and those who do not own weapons.

The current law allows the public to request open records of permit holders. Legislators and law enforcement alike became aware that criminals could use this information for bad purposes.

“I have seen instances where I believe criminals have used public information to narrow down their victims. Between social media sites and the general media, picking out victims has become easier than it ever has been,” said Officer Lance Cross, a police officer of more than 20 years.

“I believe that the bill will have the desired effect of providing safety to permit holders while still ensuring that we, the law enforcement, have access to the information in the case of a crime.”

Crime along with gun ownership is something that Baker has witnessed firsthand.

“I saw an incident when I was younger where a man was being robbed at gunpoint. I realize that both men owning firearms might not end very well, but I’m hoping that over time the opposite effect occurs where people are less likely to commit crimes against one another because of the fact that you don’t know what that person may own,” Baker said.

“This bill, making gun permits confidential, helps that to become a reality where maybe one day crime will not be so apparent.”

The bill keeps all information on record for permit holders confidential, but law enforcement can still access the records. The state will still retain the right to give out statistical information regarding gun permits.

House File 535 passed on March 25, 2013, by Iowa House lawmakers on a bipartisan vote of 95-3. The bill will now be moved to the Iowa Senate to be carefully considered and voted upon.

Iowa is currently one of seven states which have gun permit information public.