I was under the impression that you could not carry on any college campus or public school in Iowa.  A heard someone referencing otherwise today in reference to the Community College that I attend.  Can anyone site me references one way or the other in terms of state and federal laws? I will look through the school specific rules but I would like to get more information on this.  I am sure there are some folks much smarter than I on this kinda stuff.

Last I knew was you couldn't. However you could carry right up to the sidewalk.

Can you show me a place that says that?  I haven't been able to find.  I am also looking for places that spell out that school includes community, state or private colleges.

Iowa code 724.4  from what I have read states that permit holders do not fall under the exempt rules for carry on schools but when it lists weapons free zones it specifically says elementary or secondary schools.  College of course are post-secondary schools.

iowa code 724.4a

According to the national conference of state legislatures Iowa is listed amongst the 23 states that leaves the decision to ban or allow concealed carry weapons on campuses to the college or university.  Found here


One example of such school policy is from kirkwood community college
police found here

Emphasis added is mine

This is one specific schools example.  Basically stating if they believed you had a weapon on you security can be called and ask you to leave like other businesses which do not want you to carry on the premiss.  If you were to refuse you would be trespassing?  I don't know I am asking.  It adds afterwards that you may be referred to further disciplinary action.  

Iowa Lakes is a CC in Northwest Iowa the policy is much shorter I will share it all.  The policy is found here


I found this brief policy to be interesting as it lists any item that is used in a manner to inflict harm.  Every member of the baseball team wandered the halls with a bag that contained a baseball bat that would be capable of inflict bodily harm.

I question any federal laws hold considering there are several states that expressly permit carry like Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Oregon, Utah, and Wisconsin.  Utah is particular allows for carry in elementary and post secondary as far as I know.  

As I said I would like some kind of solid information either for or against hearing from your brother in laws cousin that it was cool or that it would put you in federal prison is not what I want.

DMACC used to have it in their policy.  I looked it up back when I worked at urban campus.

Here's their's:

https://go.dmacc.edu/handbook/polprocedures/pages/weapons.aspx

Thanks for the link.  This is the school policy.  This is not law.  They could expel you from school but I want to know what state or federal law it would be breaking.  A store could tell me I can't carry in the store but it doesn't hold the power of the law in doing so.  I can be removed for trespassing but not more from my understanding.  Thanks for helping me understand this.

The school's position was all I paid attention to because they were paying the bills. However, my search fu is doing a little better tonight than it did back in once-upon-a-time-time.

My reading of code seems to say you cannot carry at a post-secondary institution.  Here's the wording in code:

First, 724.2B:


"b" through "f" or "j" don't cover an issued weapons permit.

Which means you have to rely on Code's definition of "school" as defined in section 280.2.

There you find the following:



Unfortunately, many postsecondary schools are directly supported in whole or part by taxation. I didn't look at 256.11, but assume it is a similar dead end as well.


Ignore, or follow, Iowa Code at your peril, depending on where you believe the greatest danger to be.

Yammershooner is correct AFAIAC.  With Iowa's loose definition of schools it includes all colleges and community colleges and Universities.

Some people will make the same argument on how the law reads, but I haven't found anyone willing to test it. If they are sure in their interpretation and actually believed it is legal, then they should be willing and able to open carry across campus right? Good luck spending attorney fees only to have judge think otherwise. Every news story I have ever read about someone in possession of a gun on campus was charged as such permit or not.

The other issue as mentioned is there is zero tolerance with schools policy for students.  

The 1000 ft rule doesnt apply in Iowa and in some states where it does, the Feds do not prosecute for that from what I understand.

I know of a teacher at a community college that carries every day. He says it is legal unless asked to leave. Not going to say his name as he does not want attention. But he helped write the new carry law according to him. He is in the state govt as an official somehow.

I work at a Board of Regents institution.  I am told by my contacts in the PD there are written opinions from both the Iowa Attorney General and the school's legal council that the carry law does not cover us.  I have not seen those opinions but have no reason to doubt the exist.  We are however under BOR policy and they say no guns.  As an employee if I were caught carrying my career would take a detour.   I will note that I have never heard or seen of anyone getting pinched for ccw on campus.  

I do not carry on campus.  Most of my friends have permits and none of them carry on campus either.  We like our jobs.  

As far as community colleges are concerned I can't offer you any advice.

Somewhere or another in the Iowa code is a section that defines schools and as I read (past tense) it, it did not apply to colleges or universities which leaves it to the school and their signs hold as much legal authority as any other business.
I'll see if I can find it.

EDIT:
OK, so how do we find out when a section of the Iowa Code may have been changed?
The part I was referring to was the 280.2 or whatever, but I am pretty sure that in the past it specifically referenced primary and secondary schools which would not include colleges and universities.
Now as we can see in the quote, it does not mention them, which I would now think would.
So.... bastards.

I seem to remember this as well, but cannot remember the context from which it was taken. I'm pretty sure that wherever I saw it, it was prior to 2005.

When I saw it, it was well after 2005, BUT it is possible what I saw was from before that.

Keep it concealed well and keep you mouth shut.  Don't require the use of an ambulance or emergency service except to defend yourself and other innocent students.  No one will know and no one needs to know.   kwg

This is a nice thought but if the tangled mess of a code does include post secondary the penalty for any kind of slip could be a class d felony which would mean your right to vote and own guns.  I would rather get a more concrete answer.

In the 1970's I was a LE student at DMACC.  We had a class that was specifically called Weapons and Firearms.  We tested various ammo for energy transfer and foot lbs of energy.  If we had something unusual we could bring it in and test it.  We made a point of leaving the classroom door open to listen for anyone who might have screamed in the hallway when we let a round go into the ductseal.   I don't know of one complaint.

My guess is several of the current Criminal Justice students are active police officers and carry.  We would come in in uniform and of course we wore firearms.  I don't recall anyone saying we could not.  I don't know of anyone who was told "don't bring it back".   Several of the instructors are former LEO's.  If anyone should be packing, it should be them.  My own thought is, if something goes wrong I want one of those CJ students (or myself) packing.  We know the security guards are unarmed and the local police are at least 3 minutes out.   Use your best judgment.   We know what happens when nutballs show up on campus and no one is there to challenge them.  

kwg