Iowa brass knuckles law

Answer 1

Technically it is legal for you to own them as long as they are carried in the confines of your own home or on private property that you possess. Iowa does not do a very good job of clarifying this as they do not expressly mention brass knuckles or anything like them in the wording of their laws.

However, read Chapter 724.4, subsection 1 which I have paraphrased below.

724.4 Carrying weapons.

1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person who goes armed with a dangerous weapon concealed on or about the person, or who, within the limits of any city, goes armed with a pistol or revolver, or any loaded firearm of any kind, whether concealed or not, or who knowingly carries or transports in a vehicle a pistol or revolver, commits an aggravated misdemeanor.

Nowhere in Chapter 724 do they mention brass knuckles and do not define brass knuckles under offensive weapons in Chapter 724.1. However, from the quote above, "a dangerous weapon" could be construed to mean brass knuckles. Having done a little bit of quick case law search from Iowa, brass knuckles generally fall under this category of "dangerous weapon" making them illegal. The exception to making them illegal if they indeed are lies in Chapter 724.4, subsection 4, part a which can be seen below.

4. Subsections 1 through 3 do not apply to any of the following:

a. A person who goes armed with a dangerous weapon in the person's own dwelling or place of business, or on land owned or possessed by the person.