What does the Gadsden flag mean to you?

Christopher Gadsden was a South Carolina delegate to the Continental Congress and it is thought he designed the flag around 1775.  Gadsden likely drew on the idea Ben Franklin had put forth in the original 13 colonies with his timber rattlesnake flag as a symbol of unity 20 years earlier.  Franklin knew his “Join or Die” mantra was the pure and simple truth.  If the states hadn’t banded together, they would have been crushed.  I’ve read many people believe this flag was the official symbol of the American Revolution, and I’d agree something as simple as “Don’t Tread On Me” was and is a simple and apt description of what not to do to any American.  Ever.

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Over the years the Gadsden flag has come to be a universal symbol of opposition to government overreach.  And I believe I can posit to anyone anywhere that our government on every level has become intrusive – Federal, State, County, City, and Local.  You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting some silly regulation that was poorly conceived, doesn’t do what was intended when enacted or authored, and ultimately hurts, rather than helps, the individual American Citizens.  Iowa House File 2424 (HF2424) finally brings us this coveted plate.

As of the time of this blog, many other states have Gadsden flag license plate options.  Iowa is leading the nation as one of the best 2A states – a tremendous change over the last 15 years.  But, we don’t advertise it.  I think we should.  If Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia have these options, why doesn’t Iowa?

The featured image you see is a rendition the DOT offered after liaising with Senate President, Amy Sinclair in the previous year.  We love it!  After speaking with the Senator, she essentially said, “Run with it!”  She very much wanted to see this become reality, as do we.  Iowa House Public Safety Chair, Phil Thompson was enthusiastic to run the bill, and Representative Jeff Shipley and Representative Bil Gustoff walked it through the committee process.

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In Libertatem,

Michael Ware – IFC Board