Keokuk, IA – It will be much easier for an Iowa resident to get a permit to carry a gun after January 1. Sheriffs will no longer be able to deny a permit based on their knowledge of an applicant.
Permit holders in Iowa will be able to conceal their gun or openly carry it.
Keokuk Mayor Tom Marion proposed the idea of a weapons ban for public property in response to the law change.
His request was sent to the city's code-revision committee, which is chaired by 1st Ward Alderman Mike O'Connor. O'Connor has repeated voiced his opposition to a weapons ban on public property.
The result is that the Keokuk City Council will have two proposals to discuss during this week's meeting.
The measure coming from O'Connor' committee simply bans weapons from all city property. The other is the proposal that Marion drafted.
Marion says his ordinance specifically identifies locations where weapons are not allowed in anticipation of a legal challenge.
The council has been split during recent discussions as to whether the city should implement a weapons ban.
Some aldermen feel that Keokuk should not impose on someone's right to carry a gun. Others say people should not feel scared to go to a public park or city hall.
Marion says city staff is confident that Keokuk has the authority to further restrict weapons compared to the state code.
The public workshop for the Keokuk City Council gets underway at 6:00 P.M. at City Hall.