Iowa law covers weapon permits and threats against officials

Certain officials may receive permits to carry weapons. This covers state lawmakers, judicial officers, county attorneys and assistant county attorneys, and the attorney general, deputy attorneys general, and assistant attorneys general. A sheriff may require a skills test, and the applicant must pay its reasonable cost. The Supreme Court may set added training or other requirements for judicial officers with permits. Inside a courtroom, permit holders may carry weapons only concealed. This limit does not apply to peace or correctional officers doing their jobs. These permits remain valid during the holder’s employment unless canceled. When that employment ends, the holder must return the permit for cancellation.

Threatening certain officials or their close family with specified intent is a class C felony. Covered people are state lawmakers, judicial officers, and their close family, including spouses, children, siblings, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, stepfamily, and adoptive family. The person must intend to cause fear of serious injury, disrupt the official’s work, or retaliate for official duties. For retaliation, the person must threaten bodily injury or property damage and cause the official or family member to reasonably believe they or their property are in danger.

Sharing covered personal information with specified harmful intent is a serious misdemeanor. This covers the personal address, phone number, or physical location of a state lawmaker or judicial officer, or their close family, including stepfamily and adoptive family. The person must intend to cause harm, cause fear of serious harm, or disrupt the official’s work.

Communicating a true threat to a public official counts as harassment if the official learns of it within one year. This covers public officials as defined in Iowa Code section 68B.2. A true threat may include a stated intent to cause bodily injury. The official must become aware of the communication within one year of the threat.