DES MOINES, IOWA (AP) -- Gov. Chet Culver has signed into law an overhaul of Iowa's concealed weapons rules that make it more difficult for sheriffs to reject permit requests.
Speaking Thursday at a bill-signing ceremony, Culver maintained the measure struck an appropriate balance between the right to carry a gun and public safety.
The new law changes rules that had given sheriffs broad authority to reject concealed weapon permit applications. Sheriffs now will only be allowed to turn down applications for specific reasons, such as being a convicted felon or being declared mentally incompetent.
KTVO talked with Jefferson County Sheriff Jerry Droz about the new law.
Droz has mixed feelings over the law. He believes some sheriff's discretion should have been maintained.
"Any discretion that any county sheriff would have had is taken clear out. There are things we have looked at before that we can no longer look out," Droz said.
However he does see many good things in the law.
"Uniformity is going to be one thing that I think we'll see all sheriffs are really pleased at," Droz said.
Droz also sees an issue with the validity to carry permits under the influence of alcohol. Droz said one can still carry a weapon until their blood alcohol level reaches .08.
"Professional truck drivers have to be taken off the road at .04 so that means you’re impaired to me at .04, but yet you can still carry a hand gun. That bothers me a little bit. I mean officers don’t even drink and drive," Droz said.
The permits will now be valid for five year, up from just one.
Thursday was his deadline for dealing with bills approved in this year's Legislature.
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