Ames Lifts CyRide Gun Ban, Riders Can Now Carry Legally

Ames, Iowa, has dropped its ban on lawfully carried firearms aboard CyRide buses, reversing course weeks after an Iowa State University student sued the city over the policy.

Snapshot

Iowa State student Natalie Gibson sued Ames on Oct. 13 after the city ignored warnings that its CyRide firearm ban conflicted with Iowa's preemption statute. A Nov. 5 memo from Transit Director Barbara Neal confirms riders can now carry openly or concealed, with the change taking effect immediately under CyRide Transit Board approval.

Key points

• Policy flip: CyRide employees can no longer deny service, kick someone off, or call police just because a passenger is lawfully carrying a firearm, per the Nov. 5 memorandum.
• No permit demands: Staff are barred from asking for carry permits or telling passengers how to carry or store their guns on board.
• Legal basis: Gibson's suit argued the ban violated Iowa Code Section 724.28, the state's firearm preemption law, which bars cities from regulating lawful possession and carry.
• Money on the table: Knowing violations after written notice can trigger damages of $1,000 to $2,500 per day, capped at $25,000, plus attorney fees — though Gibson's underlying claims haven't been resolved.
• Background fight: Ames had defended the ban by citing CyRide routes through Iowa State property, where guns are restricted, but that campus rule didn't extend city authority over the whole transit system.

Quick take

This is a clean example of state preemption doing its job — a city tried to carve out its own gun rule, got challenged, and backed down fast rather than risk statutory penalties. For CyRide riders, it means no more choosing between taking the bus and carrying for protection. Worth watching whether Gibson's lawsuit still produces damages or a formal court ruling, since the policy reversal alone doesn't settle that question.

Read the full story: nssf.org