Iowa Code § 724.6 - Professional permit to carry weapons

1. a. (1) A person may be issued a permit to carry weapons when the person’s employment in a private investigation business or private security business licensed under chapter 80A, or a person’s employment as a peace officer, correctional officer, county attorney, assistant county attorney, security guard, bank messenger or other person transporting property of a value requiring security, or in police work, reasonably justifies that person going armed. (2) A person may be issued a permit to carry weapons if the person is an emergency medical care provider who is designated and attached to a law enforcement tactical team by the authorities having jurisdiction. A person issued a permit to carry weapons under this paragraph shall train with the law enforcement tactical team the person is designated and attached to, complete a prescribed firearm safety training course offered pursuant to section 724.9, subsection 1, paragraph “e”, complete any additional training as prescribed by the authorities having jurisdiction, and not be disqualified under section 724.8. (3) A person may be issued a permit to carry weapons if the person is a school employee of a school district, a private school, or an institution of higher education as defined in section 722.11. The person shall complete a prescribed firearm safety training course offered pursuant to section 724.9, subsection 1, prior to being issued a permit, and not be disqualified under section 724.8. A person issued a permit to carry weapons under this subparagraph shall receive one-time, in-person legal training, including training on qualified immunity, annual emergency medical training, and annual communication training that is approved by the department of public safety. A person issued a permit to carry weapons under this subparagraph shall complete annual live scenario training and quarterly live firearm training approved by the department of public safety for school employees of a school district, a private school, or an institution of higher education that has opted into participating in the professional permitting of school employees. A school employee issued a professional permit to carry by the department of public safety who is up to date with all required training, and the school district that employs the school employee, shall be entitled to qualified immunity from criminal or civil liability for all damages incurred pursuant to the application of reasonable force at the place of employment. The identity of a person who has been issued a permit pursuant to this subparagraph shall be confidential and shall not be a public record subject to disclosure under chapter 22. The department of public safety shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer this subparagraph. (4) A person may be issued a permit to carry weapons if the person is a county attorney or an assistant county attorney. An application for a permit by an assistant county attorney must be approved by the county attorney of each county in which the applicant serves prior to a permit to carry weapons being issued. The sheriff of the issuing county may require the applicant to complete a proficiency examination prior to issuing the permit to carry weapons. The standards for a proficiency examination for a county attorney or assistant county attorney shall not exceed the standards required of a peace officer. The applicant shall pay the reasonable costs associated with completing a proficiency examination. b. The permit shall be on a form prescribed and published by the commissioner of public safety, shall identify the holder, and shall state the nature of the employment requiring the holder to go armed. A permit so issued, other than to a peace officer, county attorney, or assistant county attorney, shall authorize the person to whom it is issued to go armed anywhere in the state, only while engaged in the employment, and while going to and from the place of the employment. c. A permit issued to a certified peace officer, county attorney, or assistant county attorney shall authorize that peace officer, county attorney, or assistant county attorney to go armed anywhere in the state at all times, including on the grounds of a school. d. Permits shall expire twelve months after the date when issued except that permits issued to peace officers, county attorneys, assistant county attorneys, and correctional officers are valid through the holder of the permit’s period of employment unless otherwise canceled. When the employment is terminated, the holder of the permit shall surrender it to the issuing officer for cancellation. 2. Notwithstanding subsection 1, fire fighters, as defined in section 411.1, subsection 11, airport fire fighters included under section 97B.49B, school employees, and emergency medical care providers other than emergency medical care providers specified in subsection 1, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (2), shall not, as a condition of employment, be required to obtain a permit under this section. However, the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a person designated as an arson investigator by the chief fire officer of a political subdivision. 3. For purposes of this section, “emergency medical care provider” means the same as defined in section 147A.1. [S13, §4775-4a, -7a; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §12939, 12943 – 12945; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §695.5, 695.11 – 695.13; C79, 81, §724.6] 83 Acts, ch 7, §3; 84 Acts, ch 1235, §17; 93 Acts, ch 31, §1; 94 Acts, ch 1183, §87; 95 Acts, ch 41, §26; 98 Acts, ch 1183, §74; 2004 Acts, ch 1103, §58; 2010 Acts, ch 1149, §18; 2017 Acts, ch 69, §10; 2021 Acts, ch 35, §14 – 16; 2024 Acts, ch 1084, §2 – 4; 2024 Acts, ch 1119, §1 – 3; 2024 Acts, ch 1179, §11, 13 Referred to in §29C.25, 80A.13, 279.84, 724.2A, 724.11