Current law provides that a person shall not operate or ride on a snowmobile or an all-terrain vehicle with a firearm in the person’s possession unless it is unloaded and enclosed in a carrying case.
Under proposed changes to the law, a person may operate or ride on a snowmobile with a loaded firearm, whether concealed or not, if the person has in the person’s possession and displays to a peace officer on demand a valid permit to carry weapons which has been issued to the person, and the person’s conduct is within the limits of that permit. A person may operate or ride on a snowmobile with a loaded firearm, whether concealed or not, without a permit to carry weapons, if the person operates or rides on land owned or possessed by the person, and the person’s conduct is otherwise lawful.
These changes were approved by the Iowa Senate this week after House approval of similar language in February. The House will visit the bill once more before it goes to Governor Terry Branstad.