by Dave Funk | May 9, 2025
Liberals and guns? Yes, despite what the leftist media might have you believe, there is a large segment of American liberals who own firearms in America. I want to highlight just a few points that author David Yamane, a self-described San Francisco gun-owning liberal, has to say on this subject.
Mr. Yamane makes several historical observations in his short article published on May 1st in The Conversation. His points are surprisingly well thought-out and researched. He is pretty much on target, and in agreement with most of us in the 2A Community:
Gun Ownership is Normal
“About 86 million American adults – 1 in 3 – own at least one of the estimated 400 million firearms in the U.S. today.
Imagine if everyone who uses TikTok in the U.S. owned a gun – and then add the population of New York City. That is enough gun owners to fill over 1,000 NFL stadiums.
Humans have used projectile weapons like rocks and spears from the beginning. This unbroken history continues in every society, with firearms as the weapon of choice in all but the most isolated communities. People who could legally own guns in colonial America commonly did so. Even today, civilian firearms ownership remains exceptionally high in the U.S. compared with other industrialized nations.
The right of everyday Americans to own guns is a deep part of American culture, enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and many state constitutions.”
Our past IFC Chairman and current BOD member, Michael Ware, makes the case that, in actuality, there are over 1.5 billion firearms in private hands in America. I agree with him.
Guns are Paradoxical
“Despite high rates of firearm suicide and homicide, most guns in the U.S. will not kill anyone, and most American gun owners will not commit violence against themselves or others. My calculations, based on the 2023 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, indicate that just one gun death occurred per 8,560 firearms and 1,840 gun owners – meaning at least 99.99% of guns and 99.95% of gun owners were not directly involved in fatalities that year.
These observations collectively point to a final insight: Guns resist simple categorization and embody multiple paradoxes.
To different people, they are fun and frightening, dangerous and protective, diffuse and concentrated, unifying and divisive, attractive and repulsive, interesting and controversial, useful and useless, good and bad, and neither good nor bad.
This is to say, guns are not inherently anything. They take on different meanings according to the various purposes to which people put them.
A realistic view requires maintaining a clear-eyed understanding of the lethal capabilities of firearms. But the tendency to focus exclusively on firearms-related harms, while understandable, becomes a problem, in my view, when it fails to acknowledge the normality of guns and the diversity of gun owners.”
To his last point, I would remind readers that guns, like cars and baseball bats, are inanimate objects. The simple labeling of any use of a firearm as “gun violence” is a ridiculous notion. We don’t call cars that hit and kill people “car violence”, or say that people who are killed with baseball bats are the victims of “bat violence”, do we? So we should all reject the automatic placing of the blame for the use of any inanimate object to injure or kill someone. Instead, human behavior needs to remain our first response.
IOWA LEGISLATIVE NEWS
With the Iowa Legislative session in overtime, it’s more important than ever that we get out the word to our elected representatives on the Gadsden Flag bill. Please go over to the IFC Action Alert system to send a message to your legislator today.
IFC TRUSTED PARTNER OF THE WEEK: AVERAGE JOE’S HOSTING
Average Joe’s Hosting is a 2A Friendly Web Hosting service. They can build you a 2A website, domains, sites, and emails. 10% off with our coupon code; Iowafc-member.
Please stay Ready at All Times, and help us defend all of Iowa’s rights by renewing or joining IFC today.
Shoot Straight, Speak The Truth, and Never Surrender Our Liberties.
Dave Funk
Member, Board of Directors
Iowa Firearms Coalition
#2A4IA
by Dave Funk | Apr 18, 2025
NO ONE’S ABOVE THE LAW
No one’s above the law, right? Well, that’s what New York Attorney General and Second Amendment Nemesis Letitia James has said for years. Remember, she came after the National Rifle Association and President Donald Trump with fake charges. She may have won those rounds but ultimately will lose in the long run on the charges against our sitting President on appeal.
SAY IT ISN’T SO LETITIA
It’s being widely reported that NYAG James is expected to be under investigation for wire fraud, bank fraud, mail fraud, and lying to a financial institution. She even claimed that her father was her husband! President Trump’s Housing Director, Bill Pulte, flagged some of James’ mortgage transactions and has sent a criminal referral to the U.S. Attorney General, Pam Bondi.
From Florida Attorney Jeff Childers and his Coffee and Covid daily newsletter:
“Let she without sin cast the first trumped-up lawsuit and drag people through years of lawfare Hades. As they say, what goes around often turns up drunk in your driveway at 3 am and wants to have a long argument about something that happened back in college. But I digress. Yesterday, the New York Times ran a story dripping with Schadenfreude headlined, “Trump Official Scrutinizes N.Y.’s Attorney General Over Real Estate.” The sub-headline explained, “The head of a U.S. housing agency told prosecutors that Letitia James appeared to have falsified real estate records, a move that could be the start of an investigation.”
IOWA LEGISLATIVE NEWS: TIME TO TAKE ACTION
Would you like a Gadsden Flag license plate option here in Iowa? Your chance to embrace the universal symbol of opposition to government overreach has arrived.
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. I would agree that “Don’t Tread On Me” was, and is, a simple and apt description of what not to do to any American. Ever.
Everyone who chooses this plate will support Second Amendment education and training for our future. Revenue from license plate sales will fund a program where the monies collected will be used for Second Amendment education, grants, scholarships, training efforts, and more. The legacy embodied by “Don’t Tread On Me” will survive alongside Iowa’s Motto: Our Liberties We Prize And Our Rights We Will Maintain.
Join IFC in pushing this effort over the goal line! Support your legislators in making this dream a reality by supporting this advocacy campaign, then go to the DOT and get your plates when available! This will be a very popular plate, so let’s make it happen!
Please head to IFC’s Action Alerts Center to send your note to our State Legislators today!
Please stay Ready at All Times, and help us defend all of Iowa’s rights by renewing or joining IFC today.
Shoot Straight, Speak The Truth, and Never Surrender Our Liberties.
Dave Funk
Member, Board of Directors
Iowa Firearms Coalition
#2A4IA
by Dave Funk | Apr 4, 2025
Hit vs Miss rates. Did you know there is a huge disparity in law enforcement hit versus miss rates in their shoot-outs with bad guys? Well, I did, and now Professor John Lott has published a piece about active shooters at The Federalist on this issue. As Dr. Lott summarizes:
“…compared such things as the differing rates that civilians and police stop attacks, the relative rates that they accidentally shoot bystanders, the rate that they die or are wounded stopping the attacks, and whether the civilians get in the way of the police. I think that you will find the results very important and see how the media completely distorts defensive gun use.”
Lies, Damned Lies & Statistics
We know from years of statistics that police officers only have about a 20% hit-per-shot ratio. Dr. Lott lays out some incredible information in his article. Here are a few of his major points:
“Not only do permit holders succeed in stopping active shooters at a higher rate, but law enforcement officers face significantly greater risks when intervening. Our research found police were nearly six times more likely to be killed and 17 percent more likely to be wounded than armed civilians.”
That makes perfect sense because the armed citizen has surprise on their side…
Of the 180 total instances where an armed civilian stopped an active shooting, did permit holders end up accidentally shooting bystanders? In just one case! This translates to less than 1% (0.56 percent):
- Did they interfere with the police?
- In zero cases (0.0 percent).
- Did they lose their lives in the confrontation?
- In two cases (1.1 percent).
- Were they injured while saving lives?
- In 44 cases (24.4 percent).
- Did they prevent a mass public shooting?
- In 58 cases (32 percent).
- Did they have their gun taken away?
- In one case (0.56 percent).
These findings highlight a reality that is often ignored: responsible gun owners save lives. Concealed handgun permit holders are not reckless vigilantes. They are law-abiding citizens who step up in moments of crisis when seconds matter and police are minutes away.
As Ed Monk’s research teaches us, the real challenge in a mass public shooting event is “TIME AND MATH”. Someone at EMC Insurance should spend more time doing real risk research and less time on lobbying.
IOWA LEGISLATIVE NEWS
State Capitol Building, Iowa
We are between the first and second legislative funnels at the Iowa State House. A lot is happening right now. There are several bills that have passed from committees to the respective floor for a vote. Several bills have been voted on and passed between chambers for final action. The situation is too fluid to post an accurate and up-to-date accounting.
Please watch our social media for the latest updates. IFC’s Action Alerts Center will have the latest Action Alerts when it’s time to reach out to your respective Representatives.
IFC TRUSTED PARTNER OF THE WEEK: POM INDUSTRIES
POM Industries leverages over 40 years of industry experience in the design and manufacturing of aerosol defense products. We’ve improved the safety, performance, and design of pepper spray to offer our customers the most up-to-date and powerful non-lethal defense product on the market.
Use code IFC10 at checkout for your member discount!
Please stay Ready at All Times, and help us defend all of Iowa’s rights by renewing or joining IFC today.
Shoot Straight, Speak The Truth, and Never Surrender Our Liberties.
Dave Funk
Member, Board of Directors
Iowa Firearms Coalition
#2A4IA
by Dave Funk | Mar 28, 2025
SCOTUS screws it up? If you’re thinking about the Frame or Receiver rule case they just handed down, then you and Justice Clarence Thomas think they did, as he explained in his dissent in the Bondi Vs Vanderstok.
JUSTICE THOMAS DISSENT SUMMED UP
From his dissenting opinion:
Justice Thomas further opines that to allow this would allow an easy jump to say that because someone might be able to convert an AR15 from semi-automatic to fully automatic, then all of the millions of AR15s should be reclassified as machine guns, turning millions of Americans into instant felons. I highly encourage you to read the full decision in the link above.
IOWA LEGISLATIVE NEWS
Lots of news out of the Iowa State House from our volunteer lobbyist Richard Rogers:
“The latest HF924 passed in the Iowa House earlier today (March 25th) with a strong bipartisan vote of 78-18. It now moves to the Senate, which is expected to act upon it quickly. I do not expect any further changes to be made and I do expect that Governor Reynolds will sign the bill into law.”
You can watch our social media for the latest updates. IFC’s Action Alerts Center will have the latest Action Alerts when it’s time to reach out to your respective Representatives.
Also, ICYMI, about a month ago, IFC’s Michael Ware and Richard Rogers discussed recent court cases HERE. You should be proud that IFC has such a knowledgable, persuasive and effective lobbyist to represent your interests at the State Legislature.
IFC TRUSTED PARTNER OF THE WEEK: FIREARMS LEGAL PROTECTION
If you carry a weapon for self-defense, or defense of others, you need to consider the purchase of legal protection in the event you are involved in an self-defense incident – even if you did not fire your weapon. Prepaid Self Defense Benefits with Uncapped Attorney Fees Exceeding the Benefits of Concealed Carry Insurance (firearmslegal.com)
Watch the informative video about coverage offered and why it is important, HERE:
Please stay Ready at All Times, and help us defend all of Iowa’s rights by renewing or joining IFC today.
Shoot Straight, Speak The Truth, and Never Surrender Our Liberties.
Dave Funk
Member, Board of Directors
Iowa Firearms Coalition
#2A4IA
by Dave Funk | Mar 21, 2025
DON’T COUNT ON DISTRICT COURTS TO GET IT RIGHT
We, as Second Amendment guardians should never rely on the Federal District or Appellate Courts to get Second Amendment issues right every time. Two recent 2A cases, and the Law-Fare conducted by those courts against the Trump Administration, show us why.
WHO ARE ADULTS? WRONG DECISION BY THE 11TH FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT
After a long fight brought by the National Rifle Association against Florida’s terrible overreaction to the Parkland, Florida high school shooting, which barred 18-20-year-olds from purchasing any firearms (not just handguns), the 11th Federal Appeals Court completely got it wrong on what qualifies as an adult!
“Saying the restriction is “consistent with our historical tradition of firearm regulation,” a federal appeals court on Friday upheld the constitutionality of a Florida law that raised the minimum age to purchase rifles and other long guns from 18 to 21.
The 8-4 ruling by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals came after seven years of legal wrangling in the National Rifle Association’s challenge to a 2018 law passed after a mass shooting at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that killed 17 students and faculty members.
Nikolas Cruz, who was 19 at the time, used a semiautomatic rifle to gun down the victims at his former school. The NRA filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the gun-age restriction shortly after the law passed.
Friday’s ruling by the full Atlanta-based appeals court upheld a three-judge panel’s decision and outlined the history of the nation’s gun laws, from its founding to recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions setting guidelines for determining how to apply the Second Amendment. While the law barred people under 21 from buying rifles and long guns, they still can receive them, for example, as gifts from family members.
“From this history emerges a straightforward conclusion: the Florida law is consistent with our regulatory tradition in why and how it burdens the right of minors to keep and bear arms,” Chief Judge William Pryor wrote. “Because minors have yet to reach the age of reason, the Florida law prohibits them from purchasing firearms, yet it allows them to receive firearms from their parents or another responsible adult.”
To Chief Judge William Pryor, I say, “Your Honor, you’re wrong. Eighteen-year-olds are legally adults in the United States; therefore, they have all of the rights guaranteed by our Constitution.” Hopefully, the US Supreme Court will reverse this decision. I’d suggest you read this article to review how Congress can reign in the out-of-control Judiciary.
IOWA LEGISLATIVE NEWS
As I write this, the major news this week started on Monday with SF106 – which repeals the manner of conveyance and ATV/snowmobile firearms restrictions, passed in the Senate today in a bipartisan vote of 39-7, with 4 Senators excused. It now moves to the House, where similar legislation has completed the committee process. You can watch our social media for the latest updates, and IFC’s Action Alerts Center will have the latest Action Alerts when it’s time to reach out to your respective Representatives.
IFC TRUSTED PARTNER OF THE WEEK: AT GUNWORKS, LLC
AT Gunworks is a family-operated local business specializing in Cerakote refinishing. Austin will take your dream and make it a reality!
See examples of their work at: AT Gunworks on Facebook
IFC Members enjoy 5% Off!
Please stay Ready at All Times, and help us defend all of Iowa’s rights by renewing or joining IFC today.
Shoot Straight, Speak The Truth, and Never Surrender Our Liberties.
Dave Funk
Member, Board of Directors
Iowa Firearms Coalition
#2A4IA
Recent Comments