Iowa State University student alleges Ames bus firearms ban violates state law

An Iowa State University student has filed a petition against the City of Ames, alleging its policy prohibiting firearms on city buses violates state law.

Natalie Gibson, an ISU junior studying animal science, filed a petition Oct. 13 in the Iowa District Court for Story County seeking a declaration that the city’s policy barring firearms on buses is unenforceable as it violates state law. The lawsuit also seeks damages.

A statement from the city, provided over email by Communications and Outreach Manager Susan Gwiasda, acknowledged it is aware of the case.

“CyRide is the public transit system funded by the City of Ames, Iowa State University Administration, and ISU Student Government,” the city stated. “The City of Ames does not comment on pending litigation. We will respond to the lawsuit through our filings with the Court system.”

According to the petition, the city has had firearms listed as an item not allowed to be brought on buses for at least 15 years, and Gibson — a carrier of a nonprofessional firearm permit in Iowa — uses the bus system for “some of her transportation needs.”

Gibson has never brought her firearm onto the bus, the petition stated, despite state and federal law allowing her to do so. The student is “adversely affected” by the city’s policy since it stops her from “being lawfully armed while riding a CyRide bus.”

“Gibson wishes to be able to ride the CyRide system while lawfully armed and in compliance with all other laws and policies that would apply to her related to the carrying of firearms,” the petition stated.

The petition cites Iowa code barring cities, counties and townships from enacting “an ordinance, motion, resolution, policy or amendment regulating the ownership, possession, carrying, legal transfer, lawful transportation, modification, registration, or licensing of firearms” and other weapons when those actions are “otherwise lawful under the laws of this state.”

An Ames city official told the Iowa Firearms Coalition after a member said it was violating Iowa code through its firearms policy that since the buses travel on ISU property, where university policy prohibits firearms, the items cannot be allowed, according to an October 2025 email exchange included in the petition.

No policies on barring firearms from roadways within or near university campuses exist in Iowa code, the petition stated, nor do provisions prohibiting firearms on campus. ISU’s firearm policy states that “the possession or use of weapons is prohibited on campus and in the course of university-related activities unless authorized through the firearms and other weapons application process.”

The petition stated the university policy conflicts with Iowa code on nonprofessional carry permits, which maintains the permits are valid anywhere in the state except where carrying a firearm is barred by state or federal law.

Gibson, through the petition, is requesting the court declare the city’s policy in violation of Iowa code, grant an injunction against the city and those working within it from further violating the law and have the city pay her attorney’s fees and court costs.

She also seeks to be “awarded damages… for the City’s knowing violation in an amount of not less than $1,000 per day nor more than $2,500 per day to a maximum of $25,000.” An alternative form of damages sought in the petition would equal an amount not less than $100 per day or more than $500 a day, capped at $5,000.

“The policies of Iowa State University regarding firearms on its campus cannot justify a prohibition on the lawful carry of firearms on the CyRide bus system as those (buses) pass through the campus,” the petition stated.