(Radio Iowa) – A new state law will take effect tomorrow (Tuesday) that will allow 18, 19 and 20-year-olds in Iowa to be able to carry handguns. Art Roche is a board member with Iowans for Gun Safety, which opposes the new law. He says the group is concerned it could put more guns, more easily into the hands of people who may not be equipped to use them responsibly.  “We’re not interested in taking guns away,” Roche says. “We’re interested in being very thoughtful and very deliberate and very careful about how we introduce new avenues of gun availability into Iowans’ hands.”

Richard Rogers is a board member of the Iowa Firearms Coalition and says the law change falls in line with past federal court rulings. He says he thinks denying young adults the ability to carry a handgun leaves them more vulnerable. “Will people abuse their rights? Yes, people abuse their rights all the time, but safety isn’t achieved by stripping rights from responsible young adults,” Rogers says. “What we need to do is foster a culture of personal responsibility and accountability, and that’s what’s going to make us all safer.”

Under the law, the 18, 19 and 20-year-olds will be able to buy handguns or handgun ammunition through private parties in the state, but state officials say licensed gun dealers are still restricted from selling or transferring handguns to anyone under 21.