Concealed weapons permits more than double in first year after new law

One year after a change in Iowa law required county sheriffs to issue concealed weapons permits, without restriction, to anyone who applies and meets certain requirements, the number of permits issued in Allamakee County has more than doubled. Allamakee County Sheriff Tim Heiderscheit said that prior to the passage of the new law, 256 concealed weapons permits had been issued in Allamakee County, while after the passage of the law, 312 new permits were also issued.
Heiderscheit attributed the increase in the number of permits issued to the publicity the new law received, noting that he rarely had denied permits prior to the new law’s passage. Heiderscheit added that there were very few problems handling the increase in permit applications because the necessary training to obtain a permit was offered locally well in advance of the law going into effect.