Gun Rights Groups To Oppose Ames City Council's Proposed Ban of In-Home Firearms Businesses

The Ames City Council plans to take up a second reading of an amended ordinance that would outlaw in-home firearms businesses at its meeting which begins 7 p.m. tonight.

In April, an Ames man applied for a permit allowing him to operate a firearms business out of his home. His permit was approved by the Board of Zoning and Adjustment, but neighbors petitioned the city council to prohibit firearms businesses in residential homes.

Tuesday, a group of Ames residents plans to present the council with a petition urging the council to leave firearms off the list or prohibited home occupations.

Iowa Firearms Coalition, Liberty Iowa and Campaign for Liberty have collected almost 250 signatures from Ames residents. The Story County Republicans also asked Ames residents to “voice their opinion on this matter” before a third reading of an ordinance scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 23.

City attorneys stated in a memo to the City Council, that the prohibition would not violate a person's Constitutional right to bear arms.

The ordinance “does not, in any fashion, regulate the personal possession, ownership, legal transfer, transportation, registration or licensing of firearms within the City of Ames. The ordinance only prohibits the ability to sell firearms as a permissible home occupation (home-based business),” the letter stated.

Animal hospitals, exercise and dance studios, auto shops, private clubs, restaurants, stables and kennels are already on the list of prohibited home occupations.

The Council unanimously approved a first reading of an ordinance that would add firearms to the list of prohibited home occupations in September.