In just three months, the Iowa gun permit law will change. Starting on January 1st, the ‘shall issue’ law will allow many more people to have access to handguns. Exceptions include people under age 21, anyone convicted of a felony or domestic abuse, and anyone addicted to alcohol or treated for mental illness.

Ottumwa city leaders want to ban concealed weapons in public places like government buildings and city parks. It’s something we could see in our area, too. But, Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner says the root of the problem is with the new permit law.

“We’re going from having some standards, while different, to having no standards whatsoever,” said Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner.

Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner says come January first more people will have guns without any restrictions.

“It’s not the concept of the “shall issue” it’s the lack of training session, it’s the lack of discretion from sheriffs whatsoever,” said Gardner.

So in response to the law, the city of Ottumwa wants to ban concealed weapons in public places. If someone breaks that proposed ordinance…

“It doesn’t look like it would affect your permit, no revocation, no anything, we would just ask you to leave,” said Gardner.

Source: Nadia Crow for KCRG.