PERRY, Iowa — A Jan. 4 school shooting at Perry High School has some community members questioning how the alleged shooter was able to obtain a firearm.
The shooter, 17-year-old Dylan Butler, reportedly had a pump-action shotgun and a small caliber handgun. In addition, law enforcement located and disarmed an "improvised explosive device", according to Mitch Mortvedt with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
As of Friday morning, it's still unknown how Butler obtained the guns. Iowa law indicates individuals must be 21 or older to acquire a handgun or obtain a Nonprofessional Permit to Carry Weapons. There are exceptions for people ages 18-20 who have a Professional Permit to Carry Weapons, but once again, officials say Butler was only 17 years old.
Still, it's possible Butler could have obtained the guns in other, legal ways. Iowa law says parents and guardians may legally allow a minor to possess a rifle or shotgun with their express permission.
Regardless if Butler legally had the guns under Iowa law, he would still be in violation of the federal Gun-Free School Zones Act, which states guns are not allowed within 1,000 feet of a school.
Gun rights are a hotly contested topic in Iowa. In 2021, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a controversial law allowing Iowans to buy and carry handguns without a permit.
Iowans interested in buying a handgun would still need to pass a federal background check if going through a federally licensed dealer.
However, opponents of the law said the legislation created a loophole for Iowans buying from private citizens, making it easier for them to skirt background checks.