Iowa criminal charge
Possession, receipt, transportation, or dominion and control of firearms, offensive weapons, and ammunition by felons and others in Iowa
Possession, receipt, transportation, or dominion and control of firearms, offensive weapons, and ammunition by felons and others is a criminal offense under Iowa law, defined by Iowa Code § 724.26. Its classification is not fixed: Iowa assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Iowa Code § 724.26.
How is possession, receipt, transportation, or dominion and control of firearms, offensive weapons, and ammunition by felons and others classified in Iowa?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Felon in possession of firearm/offensive weapon — first offense | Class “D” Felony | A person convicted of a felony or adjudicated delinquent for felony-level conduct who knowingly possesses, receives, transports, or has dominion and control over a firearm or offensive weapon, for a first offense. | Iowa Code § 724.26(1)(a)(1) |
| Felon in possession of firearm/offensive weapon — second offense | Class “D” Felony | Same underlying conduct as first offense but constituting a second offense, carrying a higher mandatory minimum term. | Iowa Code § 724.26(1)(a)(2) |
| Felon in possession of firearm/offensive weapon — third offense | Class “C” Felony | Same underlying conduct constituting a third offense, with a mandatory minimum of seven years. | Iowa Code § 724.26(1)(a)(3) |
| Felon in possession of firearm/offensive weapon — fourth or subsequent offense | Class “C” Felony | Same underlying conduct constituting a fourth or subsequent offense, with a mandatory minimum of ten years. | Iowa Code § 724.26(1)(a)(4) |
| Possession of firearm, offensive weapon, or ammunition by person subject to protective order or domestic violence misdemeanant | Class “D” Felony | A person subject to a federal protective order under 18 U.S.C. §922(g)(8) or convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence under 18 U.S.C. §922(g)(9) who knowingly possesses, ships, transports, or receives a firearm, offensive weapon, or ammunition, unless the official-duty exception in paragraph (b) applies. | Iowa Code § 724.26(2)(a) |
Common questions about possession, receipt, transportation, or dominion and control of firearms, offensive weapons, and ammunition by felons and others in Iowa
Is possession, receipt, transportation, or dominion and control of firearms, offensive weapons, and ammunition by felons and others a felony or a misdemeanor in Iowa?
It depends on the circumstances: possession, receipt, transportation, or dominion and control of firearms, offensive weapons, and ammunition by felons and others ranges from a Class “D” Felony to a Class “C” Felony in Iowa under Iowa Code § 724.26.
Felon in possession of firearm/offensive weapon — first offense: Class “D” Felony (Iowa Code § 724.26(1)(a)(1)) · Felon in possession of firearm/offensive weapon — second offense: Class “D” Felony (Iowa Code § 724.26(1)(a)(2)) · Felon in possession of firearm/offensive weapon — third offense: Class “C” Felony (Iowa Code § 724.26(1)(a)(3)) · Felon in possession of firearm/offensive weapon — fourth or subsequent offense: Class “C” Felony (Iowa Code § 724.26(1)(a)(4)) · Possession of firearm, offensive weapon, or ammunition by person subject to protective order or domestic violence misdemeanant: Class “D” Felony (Iowa Code § 724.26(2)(a))
Which Iowa statute covers possession, receipt, transportation, or dominion and control of firearms, offensive weapons, and ammunition by felons and others?
Possession, receipt, transportation, or dominion and control of firearms, offensive weapons, and ammunition by felons and others is governed by Iowa Code § 724.26 (Possession, receipt, transportation, or dominion and control of firearms, offensive weapons, and ammunition by felons and others).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.