Iowa

In Your State

Iowa

Iowa has had 13 mass shootings since 2020 and guns are the second leading cause of death of children. Lawmakers must do more to keep kids safe from gun violence. Learn more about what you can do to help in your state and community.

Take Action Now

Join us right now and urge your representatives to make Iowa safer by passing Secure Storage Laws.

Iowa had the

39th

highest firearm death rate in the U.S. in 2021.

Gun fire was the

2nd

leading cause of death for Iowa children in 2021.

Iowa had the

39th

highest firearm death rate in the U.S. in 2021.

Gun fire was the

2nd

leading cause of death for Iowa children in 2021.

Take Action Now

Join us right now and urge your representatives to make Iowa safer by passing Secure Storage Laws.

Pass Temporary Transfer Laws

Everyone experiences temporary moments of crisis. When that crisis is combined with a firearm, the outcomes can be deadly. Temporary transfer supports gun owners in crisis while protecting their rights and gets them help before things turn tragic.

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children died by gun fire in 2021.

293

Iowans died by suicide with a firearm in 2021.

mass shooting in 2023.

School Shooting in Iowa

Iowans have not been spared from the tragedy of school shootings. In the first week of January 2024, a sixth grade student was killed, and five other people were wounded in a school shooting in Perry, Iowa. It was the first day students were returning to their school following the holiday break. Local officials confirmed that the perpetrator had multiple guns in his possession during the shooting, and that an improvised explosive device was also found in the school. Reports described a history of the shooter being bullied and posting threats on social media just before the attack. The school day had not even fully begun when the shooting occurred.

Read our Statement

Gun Laws in Iowa

Enhanced background checks

Restricts certain semi-automatic rifles

Secure storage

Temporary transfer

Our Impact in Iowa

Throughout Iowa, Sandy Hook Promise has engaged youth & adults in our mission and prevention programs.

19766

Supporters in the state

Volunteer Promise Leaders who help raise awareness & engage communities

30k

Trained students and adults in 100 schools to Know the Signs and prevent violence

153

Students involved in 7 SAVE Promise Clubs throughout the state

Prevent gun violence in Iowa

You can help make Iowa a safe place for kids and for your whole community. We urge the legislature to pass proven policy solutions, including emergency temporary transfer, and closing the stranger-to-stranger loophole to prevent gun violence and tragedy. These policies keep the public safe from harm while protecting individual rights.

State Issue

Pass Temporary Transfer Laws

Take Action

State Issue

Close Dangerous Loopholes

A deadly loophole allows guns to be sold between a seller and a buyer who don’t know each other – and no background check is required. Iowa can close this “stranger-to-stranger” loophole and expand background checks to prevent dangerous people from buying guns.

Take Action

State Issue

Increase School Violence Prevention

Our model legislation known as the Safety and Violence Education for Students Act (SAVE Students Act) makes lifesaving violence prevention training, like Sandy Hook Promise’s Know the Signs programs, available to all students in grades K-12.

Take Action

“We are proud to work with the bipartisan champions to ensure we're doing everything we can to protect our kids and that millions more students will be trained to know the signs of violence and act to save lives. Our work does not end here, we will continue to bring our prevention programs to schools and communities across the country and advocate for life-saving policies.”

Mark BardenSandy Hook Promise Co-Founder and Co-CEO