AMES — An Iowa State University student is suing the city of Ames over CyRide’s firearms ban, arguing she should be allowed to carry a gun on the buses with a valid Iowa permit.
Natalie Gibson, a junior studying animal science, is challenging the policy under Iowa’s firearms preemption law, according to her attorney, Alan Ostergren. He said Gibson has followed the policy while riding CyRide but wants to travel while lawfully armed.
“We filed this lawsuit to challenge the city’s violation of Iowa’s preemption law,” Ostergren stated in an emailed response to the Iowa State Daily.
According to court documents, the Iowa Firearms Coalition warned Ames last year that the ban violated state law. The lawsuit states that the city defended the policy because CyRide buses travel on Iowa State property, where firearms are prohibited.
Most CyRide routes travel through Iowa State’s campus, but the network also serves neighborhoods, businesses and other destinations throughout Ames.
“Although ISU policy prevents her from carrying on campus, there is nothing in the law that allows ISU to prevent anyone from lawfully carrying a firearm while traveling in a vehicle passing through campus,” Ostergren stated.
Ostergren also disputed the policy’s public safety value.
“The only people who will obey a policy like that are the ones who are the least likely to use a firearm illegally,” Ostergren stated.
He said Gibson will ask the court to declare the policy illegal, block its enforcement and impose a statutory penalty against the city of up to $25,000.
The city declined to comment when contacted by KCCI, citing its policy against commenting on pending litigation.