Are “Forced Reset Triggers” (AKA Binary Triggers) Legal in Iowa Code? YES, They Are! A commonn question we get at IFC:
I was wondering what the legality is of forced reset, or binary triggers, is in the state of Iowa currently?
Richard Rogers, IFC Board member and chief lobbyist, gives us the skinny:
Iowa Code 724.29 was enacted in 1990 as a reaction to the introduction of bolt-on trigger cranks. The law prohibits the sale or offering for sale of “a manual or power-driven trigger activating device constructed and designed so that when attached to a firearm increases the rate of fire of the firearm”. (See below and at link.) It does NOT prohibit the possession or use of such devices.
FRTs, binary triggers, and the like are replacement triggers. They are NOT “trigger activating devices” and were not designed until decades after the enactment of this statute.
724.29 Firearm devices. A person who sells or offers for sale a manual or power-driven trigger activating device constructed and designed so that when attached to a firearm increases the rate of fire of the firearm is guilty of an aggravated misdemeanor.
Manufacturers and distributors of binary triggers and the like have been reluctant to sell into Iowa. They either misunderstand the law or simply don’t believe that the potential reward in this market overcomes any potential risk of legal complications, should some prosecutor try to “stretch” the current law. The law mentions a design the “increases the rate of fire”, but specifically prohibits only “trigger activating devices”, NOT triggers.
IFC had draft legislation prepared in this legislative session that would have repealed Iowa Code 724.29 and made other needed changes to Chapter 724-Weapons, but the Chairman of the House Public Safety Committee declined to consider the bill. We will continue to work on this issue. IFC receives frequent inquiries and requests on this.
Thank you as always, Richard, for helping illuminate the truth! JOIN IFC and help us!
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