by admin | Mar 20, 2020
Friends of IFC,
IFC has been flooded with communication regarding the highs and lows people have experienced when attempting to apply for an Iowa Permit to Carry or Permit to Iowa Acquire in the last week. County Sheriffs had responded to the current health emergency in different ways, with some temporarily suspending the issuance and renewal of weapons permits, while others arranged for applications by mail, email, or online. IFC worked with the Department of Public Safety to communicate ‘best practices’ to Sheriffs early in the week. This guidance was sent to all 99 Iowa counties. At the same time, IFC was coordinating with DPS, we were working through House and Senate leadership to communicate options for solutions as simple as the use of the mail or other alternatives for the public to receive and submit applications. The results of these immediate, behind the scenes efforts by IFC have resulted in Governor Reynolds’ proclamation made this morning, which reads:
WEAPONS PERMITTING PROCEDURES
SECTION TWELVE. Pursuant to Iowa Code section 29C.6(6) and 135.144(3), and in conjunction with the Iowa Department of Public Health, I temporarily suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code section 724.18 requiring personal delivery of applications for permits to acquire pistols or revolvers and direct that each sheriff’s office to formulate and implement a policy for the procedure for accepting applications for permits to acquire pistols or revolvers and applications for permits to carry weapons that shall include in-person drop-off without involving in-person interactions between the public and staff, acceptance by mail, and to the extent practical by electronic means.
SECTION THIRTEEN. Pursuant to Iowa Code section 29C.6(6), I temporarily suspend the regulatory provisions of Iowa Code sections 724.6, 724.7, and 724.20 regarding professional and nonprofessional permits to carry and permits to acquire pistols or revolvers, in that, for State purposes only, the permit to carry weapons will not expire during this Proclamation. This suspension will not extend to the ability of the permits to be used to purchase, in lieu of a NICS check, once the permit is past its original expiration date.
Thank you, Governor Reynolds, for helping streamline and simplify this process. IFC members and Iowans at large appreciate it. Thank you to the House and Senate Leadership which offered assistance in this matter. We enjoy our relationship with you and the spirit of our mutual work. Thank you to the Department of Public Safety for making the attempt to communicate best practice options to all of Iowa’s Sheriffs. I only wish more would have promptly listened to the guidance coming from DPS.
IMPORTANT POINTS
- Governor Reynold’s proclamation extends expiring weapons permits
- Governor Reynold’s proclamation allows for the mailing of permit applications to your local Sheriff’s Office
- Governor Reynold’s proclamation offers email or fax options for permit applications to your local Sheriff’s Office
- The NICS background check is only valid for 5 years by Federal Regulation – A permit that is beyond its printed expiration date may not be used to purchase a firearm. Instead, a new background check will need to be performed at the point and time of purchase. This can be accomplished at your FFL dealer.
This proclamation helps make permit application safe and simple during this trying period. This is a welcome move by Governor Reynolds. Remember, however, an expired permit beyond its five-year period DOES NOT hold validity to ATF.
Iowa law grants Sheriffs a thirty-day window in which to either grant or deny a weapons permit to an applicant. Normally, this process should take a few days at most. However, IFC expects that Iowans will understand that Sheriff’s Offices are under exceptional stress at the moment and may also be short-staffed. They are also seeing a surge in public interest for permits. Please exercise patience.
DOCUMENTATION
Iowa Department of Public Safety webpage with links to application, code, and laws.
Iowa Permit to Carry Application
Iowa Permit to Acquire Application
LOOKING FORWARD
The sudden turmoil and uncertainty of the present emergency has shattered our sense of normalcy and forced us all to seriously consider how we would care for and defend our families in the event of a much greater breakdown in the social order. Many Americans are just beginning to realize that we may all be called upon to be our own “first responder” in times of crisis. The natural right to self-defense – and by extension, the right to keep and bear arms – is fundamental to our safety and security. The Constitution of the United States recognizes that and decrees that it “shall not be infringed.” Yet elected officials, political candidates, bureaucrats, and well-funded special interest groups continue to offer an unending stream of draconian restrictions on those rights.
This is an election year – and a critical one at that. IFC and IFC’s Political Action Committee will be working hard in the next few months to help you make an informed choice among the candidates. For the sake of our families and their future, we must maintain and strengthen the pro-liberty, pro-2A majorities in the Iowa legislature, especially in the House. If we lose even only the House majority, we will likely never again have an opportunity to pass the Freedom Amendment, which will add strong protections of the right to keep and bear arms to Iowa’s own Constitution.
Once we have adopted the Freedom Amendment – and as we look back and review the lessons of the current crisis – we will be in a much stronger position than ever before to then eliminate one of the original infringements on our basic rights – the requirement for a government permit to purchase or peaceably carry a defensive weapon.
Finally, while you’re at home reading in the coming weeks, I suggest you read and commit to memory the Constitution of the United States. Make use of your time wisely. Too few people do.
In liberty,
Michael Ware – IFC Chairman
by admin | Mar 18, 2020
Friends of IFC,
Scare Tactics vs. Truth
Hurricane Katrina opened our eyes to a flaw in government. Power can be, and all too often is, abused… As a result, IFC and NRA discussed at length what an “Emergency Powers” bill ought to include in an effort to preempt the kinds of abuses of civil liberty we saw in Louisiana. We put those thoughts into motion and it took years to accomplish.
The language prohibiting the violation of fundamental Second Amendment rights under the government’s Emergency Powers was included in the historic passage of HF517 in 2017. This epic legislation was floor managed in the House by Representative Matt Windschitl and by Senator Dan Dawson in the Senate. These changes to the law became effective on July 1, 2017. Iowans now enjoy protections during times like these that too few states offer.
You’ve all witnessed politicians saying silly things. Have you seen a passionate address for the Second Amendment? We witnessed a fantastic display of this during the debate of HF517 direct from the floor. You may have forgotten THIS VIDEO. Watch it again. The Iowa Firearms Coalition and NRA were thinking ahead, working on behalf of our membership, and had the support of a trifecta of 2A friendly legislators in both chambers and the Governor.
When New York-based con artists are fear mongering about a supposed pending government ban on firearms and ammunition sales, use, and permitting, we’re out in front leading as usual. In fact, if you’d like to see who registered to support the bill that offers you vital protections now, read down through THIS LIST of declarations. Did you notice any missing groups?
If you’d like to read what we placed into law in regard to Emergency Powers, check out 29C.25 of Iowa Code. I had no idea there would come a time so soon after passage where this would protect me and my family. I’m grateful Representative Matt Windschitl and Senator Dan Dawson enthusiastically stood up to run those bills and to proactively defend our rights. Thank you, gentlemen!
A Few Items of Clarity
There have been a couple of Sheriff’s Offices that experienced miscommunication in the permitting process given current mandates to decrease physical contact. Those mistakes were communicated and we thank those counties for swift correction. The Legislature met with the Governor’s Office to get ahead of future problems. It appears the lawmakers helped provide some financial flexibility so our Executive Branch could help sidestep whatever landmines will pop up in the near future. Unlike what is happening in some other state, no suspension of Second Amendment protections came from that collaboration on Monday and Tuesday of this week. If your county makes a declaration on suspending permitting or carry, just ask them to read 29C.25 linked above and suggest the option of mailing in your permit application.
When the Session Resumes
We’ve been in routine contact with Legislative Leadership and it sounds as if the session will resume in the future to finish business. I suspect an accelerated session with a focus on budget and policy combined. If this suspicion is correct, be ready for long hours at the statehouse, as they’ll want to conclude work and return home in short order. If I were a legislator, I too would want to avoid shenanigans and put in extra hours each day to bring things to a close.
Parting Thoughts
Understand and adhere to best practices when it comes to this antigen. Find best practices from the Center for Disease Control here.
-Coronavirus is spread person to person primarily through coughing on one another, secondarily through infected surfaces
-Keep your distance and avoid risk, cough into your elbow, wear a mask if you have a cough
-Clean and wash hands often, use hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol or higher, avoid touching your face
As always, use good sense in all situations. As people who understand the intent of the Second Amendment, we know better than anyone the sanctity of human life. We seek to defend it daily. I’ve heard this virus described as scary by some and an inconvenience by others. But the truth is if we all buckle down and compartmentalize for a short while this will be over and we’ll have saved some lives that might have otherwise have been lost. I take solace in that thought. In the meantime, I’m with my family enjoying board games, lots of books, and the kinds of wholesome fun you have when you’re stuck inside on a rainy day. I trust this finds you all well.
In liberty,
Michael Ware – IFC Chairman
by admin | Mar 15, 2020
From the State of Iowa Legislature:
“Dear Iowa Firearms Coalition:
This afternoon the House and Senate announced the legislative session will be suspended for a minimum of 30 days following the announcement of community spread in Iowa. The decision was made in consultation with the Department of Public Health and Governor’s Office based on recommendations from the Center for Disease Control related to gatherings of more than 250 people and to protect vulnerable populations.
The House and Senate will convene on Monday at regular scheduled time to consider resolutions regarding continuity of government to ensure delivery of essential services to Iowans. Previously scheduled subcommittee and committee meetings have been cancelled. Standing committees will be on-call as needed.
The Capitol building will open on Monday at 11:00 am, with entrances open on the south and west sides. Prior to entering the Capitol all persons will be required to undergo a health screening administered by the Department of Public Health (this includes filling out a health questionnaire and temperature reading). All scheduled events, tours, and receptions at the Capitol are cancelled until further notice.
Members of the public over the age of 60 or with underlying health conditions (heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease) are encouraged to avoid the Capitol.”
What does this mean for us? It would be logical to assume this was as simple as tapping the “pause” button on things, in order to resume in the near future. However, we’re going to remain engaged and report out what we learn as this process unfolds.
by admin | Mar 9, 2020
IA DNR sale set for March 21st!
DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will hold the 2020 spring auction on March 21, in the Livestock Pavilion on the Iowa State Fairgrounds, in Des Moines. Doors will open at 7 a.m., and the auction will begin at 8:30 a.m.
The public may view the items for sale and pre-register for the auction from 4 to 6 p.m., on March 20.
There will not be any buyer’s premium fee added to the sale.
Items up for auction include more than 600 firearms, bows, gun barrels, scopes, gun cases and other assorted equipment. The items are sold “as is” with no guarantee or warranty.
Any person interested in purchasing a firearm at the auction must have either a valid Iowa ID and a permit to acquire a firearm, federal firearms dealer license or a conceal carry permit. The Iowa right to carry permit can be obtained from a sheriff’s office. Allow two to three weeks to receive the permit. No permit is necessary to purchase other items.
Payment must be made on auction day. All sales are final. All items must be removed from the site within one half hour after the sale completion.
The Iowa DNR reserves the right to reject any bids and withdraw any item from the sale at any time.
A sale bill is available online at http://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting and will be updated if inventory is added. The DNR will not be mailing any sale bills. Inquiries can be made with the auctioneer, Auction Solutions www.auctionsolutionsinc.com.
by admin | Mar 5, 2020
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has scheduled public meetings in Leon, West Union and Decorah after hunter harvested deer in Decatur, Fayette and Winneshiek counties tested positive for chronic wasting disease. It is the first time deer have tested positive in these counties.
Meetings are scheduled for:
- March 10, 7 p.m., in the Central Decatur CSD, 1201 NE Poplar, in Leon
- March 25, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Holy Name Catholic Church Meeting Hall, 128 North Walnut Street, in West Union
- March 26, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Valders Hall of Science Room 206, 700 College Drive, Luther College, in Decorah
Chronic wasting disease is a neurological disease belonging to the family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, or prion diseases. It attacks the brain of infected deer and elk causing the animals to lose weight, display abnormal behavior, lose body functions and die. It is always fatal to the infected animal.
The Iowa DNR has tested nearly 74,000 deer tissue samples for chronic wasting disease since monitoring began in 2002. The disease first appeared in Iowa’s wild deer herd in 2013. So far, there have been 89 positive tests.
Any person attending the public meeting and has special requirements such as those related to mobility or hearing impairments should contact the DNR or ADA Coordinator at 515-725-8200, Relay Iowa TTY Service 800-735-7942, or Webmaster@dnr.iowa.gov, and advise of specific needs.
The meetings are open to the public.
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