Keokuk debates on gun ordinance

The Keokuk city council tabled a proposed ordinance that would have made it illegal to carry a weapon on city property.

On Thursday (12/16), the Keokuk City Council voted 5-4 to table a proposed ordinance that would prohibit anyone from carrying any offensive weapon as defined in the Iowa Code on several city properties, including City Hall, the municipal airport, public library and all city parks.

The proposal drafted by Mayor Tom Marion and City Attorney Steve Swan is in response to Iowa’s new law, which goes into effect next year, that will allow anyone to carry a firearm as long as they have obtained a permit from the county sheriff and have passed a course. However, firearms will not be allowed on school property.

How would this jive with current state law, 724.28 Prohibition of regulation by political subdivisions.?

A political subdivision of the state shall not enact an ordinance regulating the ownership, possession, legal transfer, lawful transportation, registration, or licensing of firearms when the ownership, possession, transfer, or transportation is otherwise lawful under the laws of this state. An ordinance regulating firearms in violation of this section existing on or after April 5, 1990, is void.

The key words are possession and lawful transportation per Iowa code.

If passed, they would certainly open themselves up to lawsuits and the costs associated with that.

Hoplophobia, it's everywhere.