by Katie Howard | Jan 11, 2024
Register Now for NRA-ILA Legislative Updates
Iowa Firearms Coalition members know that IFC has done a great job over the years at keeping its members aware of legislation in Iowa that affects the Second Amendment. IFC also has presented a robust slate of proposed legislation for the Iowa Legislature every year and follows all 2A bills. We have been successful in expanding Iowans’ 2A rights and also keeping bad bills from passing. This often tedious work takes a lot of hours and dedication, in every legislative session – and even between sessions.
But what about federal legislation and court cases? That is where the NRA-ILA (National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action) comes in. The reality is that if enough adverse 2A legislation is passed at a federal level, even Iowans – with our significant Second Amendment advances this past dozen years – will be adversely impacted.
What Happens on the NRA-ILA Calls?
Every year, the NRA-ILA schedules a series of calls, per region of the country, that interested people can sign up for to hear about pending court cases and federal legislation (and some state legislation) within their region. These calls are generally one hour in length and include a summary of the bills underway and an attorney’s legal analysis of the potential impact, as well as legal strategies. I have found these once-a-month calls to be very insightful.
Here is your invitation to Register Now for the upcoming NRA-ILA calls:
It’s a New Year – a huge election year – and the battle for our Second Amendment rights is more important than ever! Make plans now to attend an NRA-ILA Grassroots Webinar on January 17th, at 7:00 p.m. EST, focused on critical legal updates regarding your Second Amendment rights, and featuring NRA-ILA Director of Litigation Counsel, Mike Jean. Be sure to RSVP below for the webinar link:
REGISTER HERE
The fight to protect our rights at all levels hinges on active patriots who remain educated on important Second Amendment issues. Your NRA-ILA team looks forward to sharing important updates on the battle to protect the Second Amendment in the courts, hearing your questions, as well as providing the grassroots tools you need to make your voice heard.
Stay tuned to your inbox for more on upcoming NRA-ILA Webinars! All NRA-ILA webinars are Webex based and can be accessed via desktop computer, smartphone, or via call-in. You can find more information on Webex at www.webex.com
We hope you’ll join us January 17th!
Yours in Freedom,
Nathan Cross
NRA-ILA Grassroots
Why It Matters
Second Amendment protections, both at federal and state levels, are under threat. As you know, there is enormous pressure, and a well-funded effort, to erase or reverse our Second Amendment rights. Some recent efforts include:
- Efforts to restrict ammunition
- Pressure on firearms manufacturers
- ATF shutting down gun shops for minor clerical errors on Form 4473
- Threats from insurers to discontinue liability coverage for firearms manufacturers, gun shops, and shooting ranges
- Ever-changing and vague changes of regulations and penalties from the ATF, without approval by Congress – some of which (like the pistol brace debacle), carried a penalty of becoming a felon
- Insurers declining to renew insurance for public schools that want to put in place a policy of arming select staff
- Endless efforts by gun-control lobbies, to eliminate access to or outlaw certain firearms or accessories
- Financial industries being asked to code all firearms-related purchase transactions with a special code to identify the purchaser
- …and the list goes on.
We are lucky, indeed to live in the great free State of Iowa. However, the rights we enjoy today could easily be stripped away if the wrong people get elected. We must be vigilant. We must be active. We must be informed.
Register to join the NRA-ILA calls to help you better understand proposed legislation, the status of current court cases, and the impact of regulatory changes. Be active and get engaged!
The Connection Between NRA & IFC
In 2019, IFC earned the official designation of NRA State Organization status for its continuous efforts working on many Second Amendment issues through the years. We are the only Second Amendment organization in Iowa to hold this status. In 2020, IFC also earned the Outstanding State Association award from NRA. This was followed in 2021 with the award of NRA’s Distinguished Advocate award which was bestowed upon Richard Rogers, IFC Board member and volunteer Lobbyist.
Finally, in 2022, IFC was again awarded the Outstanding State Association award from NRA.
You should be proud to be a part of such a great State Association.
The success of the Freedom Amendment which passed in 2022, added 2A protections to Iowa’s State Constitution. This was the result of hard work by IFC volunteers, together with assistance from NRA-ILA.
NEXT WEEK: IFC’s Annual 2A Lobby Day at the Capitol and the IFC-PAC Supper!
Also, be sure to attend the 2A Lobby Day at the Capitol – NEXT WEEK! This free event is being held next Thursday, January 18th. Arrive by 9 am — there will be a shuttle service from the designated parking area at the Capitol — look for IFC flags.
Meet our Event Sponsors and some of our Trusted Partners who will be on hand to show you what they are offering and to tell you about the discounts available only to IFC members.
The official program begins at 10:00 and concludes at noon. Our special guest speaker, Gabby Franco, is a treat to listen to and her harrowing tale of what happened in Venezuela, where citizens are no longer allowed to have firearms, is a sobering story that you will want to hear.
Lobby Day is a ‘show of force’ for our state legislators, emphasizing
just how important Second Amendment rights are to Iowans.
Also, that evening, beginning at 5:30, the annual IFC-PAC Supper will be held at the Za-Ga-Zig Shrine at 1100 Shriners Parkway, in Altoona. IFC is serving up a prime rib dinner with all the fixings, good company, information about current state legislation, and lots of fun (and some raffle prizes!). Gabby Franco will again be there, in a more intimate setting, to provide a deeper understanding of what prompted her to leave Venezuela and eventually become a US citizen. Get your tickets here!
You don’t want to miss these events. We’ll see you there!
Second Amendment Matters
by Katie Howard | Jan 8, 2024
IFC Hit the Ground Running
IFC hit the ground running today on behalf of its members! Today, January 8th, marked the first day of the 2024 Legislative Session at the Capitol, and IFC was there. More specifically, our esteemed volunteer Lobbyist, Richard Rogers was there. If you are a member and have not yet met Richard, be sure to introduce yourself at the upcoming 2A Day at the Capitol. Richard is a fixture at the Capitol during the legislative session, always working to further our goals. He also works hard for IFC members throughout the year, as do all of our Board members. Richard focuses on building relationships with legislators and helping to bring them up to speed on Second Amendment issues. He religiously follows Second Amendment court cases and posts frequently, not only to bring them to your attention but also to explain why they are important to all of us who are concerned and involved in 2A issues. He’s very active on Facebook so be sure to follow him there.
Richard was joined today by Chris Lee, representing the National Shooting Sports Foundation, our close friend and ally. NSSF is also very active at the Iowa State Legislature, protecting and furthering our Second Amendment rights. Here is a link to a short video they recorded today while at the Capitol, discussing the legislative focus for NSSF this year.
If you want an update on IFC’s legislative agenda (indeed, on “all things IFC”), be sure to attend the 2A Lobby Day at the Capitol, being held this year on Thursday, January 18th. We are starting in the morning this year, so be sure to get there by 9:00 a.m. — there will be a shuttle from the parking area, as in the past. You will have the opportunity then to meet our event Sponsors and some of our Trusted Partners. Check out the discounts or special offers available to you as an IFC member.
The official program begins at 10:00 a.m. until noon. It is during this time that you will hear about IFC’s legislative proposals for 2024, some of which are carried forward from efforts that began last year. You will also have the opportunity to hear from our featured speaker, Gabby Franco, a Top Shot contender. Gabby represented Venezuela in the Olympics; in fact, she was the first woman Olympian for that country in shooting sports. She eventually left Venezuela, largely because of their prohibition against civilian gun ownership, and became a U.S. citizen. She has written a book, TroubleShooting, and is a highly acclaimed firearms instructor. She also speaks to groups around the country about what it is like to LOSE your right to keep and bear arms. Her message is sobering and should be a wake-up call to all of us.
After the program, you will have an opportunity to meet with your legislators, if you like. IFC volunteers can walk you through the process, which is really easy. Legislators pay attention when a constituent shows up at ‘their house’ to talk to them.
So, What Does Our Lobbyist Do For IFC?
The work of a lobbyist is NOT easy. Every single person who approaches a legislator wants something. Lobbyists must build and maintain relationships with an ever-changing slate of legislators and often must bring the newly elected legislators up to speed on Second Amendment issues. This includes education about the constitutional protections we have, about ongoing court cases, as well as about proposed legislation.
There is immense competition for legislators’ time and Second Amendment issues can be very detailed and contentious. You should be very grateful that Richard is willing to continue this work for all of us — he’s been doing it for many, many years. If you do run into him at 2A Lobby Day, be sure to shake his hand, and thank him for his tireless service.
Unable to get to the event at the Capitol? Then join us for the evening IFC-PAC Supper! The prime rib dinner is being served up at the Za-Ga-Zig Shrine in Altoona, from 5:30 – 9:00 p.m. There, you will hear again from our featured speaker, Gabby Franco, with a more in-depth and personal telling of her story. You will also hear from the folks on the IFC Board. This is where you will get the “inside scoop” about why certain legislation is being proposed, what we’re trying to accomplish for our members — in fact, for all Iowa gun owners — and some of the strategy necessary to accomplish these goals.
The first time I attended 2A Lobby Day and then the IFC-PAC Dinner, I thought it was strange that they had the same featured speaker for both events. However, having attended both events the past three years, I can tell you that the evening event is ALWAYS riveting. The speakers are free to truly tell their stories at the evening event. They aren’t standing in the Rotunda of the State Capitol. Everyone who attends the Supper is a “friendly”; there is no reason to be cautious about what they are saying and they aren’t as constrained by a tight schedule. It’s a much more casual gathering. Good food, good content, good people and good fun. Your only requirement? Show Up! (Especially all you women shooters. I KNOW you’re out there!)
Your “To-Do” List!
- Attend the 2A Lobby Day at the Capitol, if you can. We must make an impression on the Legislature and strength is shown through the number of people who show up and voice their concern for Second Amendment issues. When our loud voices ring through the Rotunda, you can bet it gets the legislators’ attention! As you know, we face constant opposition. The legislators need to see our members and hear from them.
- Join your friends, or make new ones, at the IFC-PAC Supper that evening! It truly is a fun event, as well as being informative! Click here for Tickets
- Find Richard Rogers at one of these events and tell him just how much you appreciate what he does for us. His job is often thankless! 🙂
Happy New Year!
Second Amendment Matters
by Katie Howard | Oct 31, 2023
You Do NOT Want to Miss This!
Just 79 days from today, on January 18, 2024, Iowa Firearms Coalition is holding its annual 2A Lobby Day at the Capitol! IFC has every reason to be proud of its signature event. Prior years have included featured speakers such as Kris “Tanto” Paronto (Benghazi/13 Hours) and Stephen Willeford (“The Barefoot Defender”/Sutherland Springs Church Shooting). IFC makes a special effort to bring speakers to you not just for what they have done, or what they know, but for the hard experiences they have had and the wisdom they can share with us. And I’m sure you know by now that Gabby Franco is our featured speaker for this year’s big event!
Why Gabby Franco? Is it because she was the first female shooter to represent her home country of Venezuela in the Olympics in shooting sports? Is it because she was the only female Top Shot contender who made it to the final stage of the competition (Season 4), and and the only woman to compete in the “All-Star Season” of Top Shot? Or is it because in 2013 she published a book Troubleshooting: Mastering Your Pistol Marksmanship? Well…yes — partially.
For 30 years, Gabby has been a successful competitive shooter, an instructor, a speaker and a die-hard volunteer. She is an avid fighter for freedom, advocating for the right to keep and bear arms, and protecting our constitutional rights. Her shooting skills are legendary and widely acclaimed. She has been featured on IFC’s Warrior Wednesday Episode 54 (March 1, 2023) with John McLaughlin, and Episode 69 (October 25, 2023) with Michael Ware.
The Rest of the Story
Back on February 8, 2021, Gabby participated via Zoom in an IFC hosted panel discussion with Iowa State legislators to describe what it was like growing up in Venezuela and how their citizens’ rights were incrementally stripped away. Citizens could not own guns any longer, and Venezuela became a very dangerous country. It was the drastic changes in her home country that drove Gabby to the US, where she became a citizen. Her story is a cautionary tale and one that bears a striking resemblance to many of the gun-control efforts taking place in the US today. And THAT is why you need to hear her story. That is why Gabby Franco is our featured speaker for the upcoming 2A Lobby Day.
But, besides her accomplishments, Gabby demonstrates a quality of character and perseverance that is admirable. It is not as much what she has done as who she is that makes her so very impressive. I want to share something with you that shows her spirit, her determination and her drive. She credits her Olympic training for her abilities to “dig deep”, put failures behind her and move forward with optimism:
Tough Times Turned Around
If you’d like to read the entire NSSF article, here is the link.
“It’s that mindset learned through Olympic shooting that help get Franco through one of those tough patches we all hit in life.
“I lost my job. My ex-husband left me. I was at rock-bottom — dead,” she says. “I remember sitting and crying and not knowing what to do. [But] the mentality of shooting that I learned in Olympic shooting is that you don’t dwell in the past. If you have a bad shot, you don’t worry about the bad shot. You don’t even worry about the future. You don’t worry about what the next shot is going to be, that is not your concern.”
With that lesson learned through shooting, Franco didn’t dwell on the past or anguish over the future. Instead, she focused on the here and now, asked herself what Gabby the shooter would do and made a plan.
“I started thinking,” she says. “I was like, ‘Okay, I can cry all I want over what’s happening to me, but what can I do right now to get out of this situation?’”
Franco knew she could shoot; she had made it to the Olympics after all. She remembers thinking, “I think I can teach one or two things to people about how to shoot well, and that is when I decided I was going to be an instructor.””
I could go on and on with accolades about Gabby’s achievements. Instead, I will share the links below with you so you can explore for yourself, while you wait the next 79 days to meet her in person @ IFC’s 2A Lobby Day! I am beyond excited to meet this remarkable woman! I hope you will join us for a great event to give Gabby Franco a very warm welcome.
Please note: this year’s 2A Lobby Day event begins at 9AM.
The program is from 10:00-12:00.
See Flyer for additional information.
Further Information About Gabby
Gabby on Walther Arms Performance Division (Shooting Team)
Gabby’s website
Gabby on YouTube (you’ll find videos, competitions, training & tips, etc.)
Gabby on Facebook – check out her Reels & Videos (found under “About Gabby”)
Join the fight for our Second Amendment rights. Join IFC. We need every voice. The threats are increasing every day.
Second Amendment Matters.
by Katie Howard | Oct 10, 2023
Israel – a Case Study In Gun Control
Israel provides us a live Case Study arguing against gun control, given the events of these past few days.
Our world is not a “safe” place. Any illusion of safety we Americans had was destroyed in an instant over 20 years ago. Our large cities are no longer safe and our rural areas, especially along the border, are equally dangerous. It is no wonder that Americans from all backgrounds and ethnicities have been buying record numbers of self-defense firearms and other tools, for the protection of themselves, their families, and others. Women and minorities, in particular, have been showing up at gun shops and training courses all across the country, closing the gap in what was once a male dominated field. Why is this?
People have to feel safe. We can no longer delude ourselves that the police are going to be there to protect us. Realistically, they often cannot be. There are too many of us, not enough of them and too much crime. It is up to us to protect ourselves, and each other. If the police arrive in time to take over – great. But you cannot count on that.
In 1943, Abraham Maslow established a model to represent human needs. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and it looks like a triangle. At the base of this model – it’s foundation – are Physiological Needs (shelter, water, food) and next in line: Safety. In his studies of the human condition, Maslow determined that when our security is threatened, everything else takes a back seat.
Events in Israel
And Saturday, our world became even more dangerous, our safety was threatened. Israel’s certainly was. Make no mistake, when this is over, the world and its alliances will look different than they did on Friday of last week.
Saturday, Hamas launched an unprovoked attack against Israel by land, through tunnels, by sea and even using paragliders. They killed 260+ civilians at a music festival. They killed families in their homes. They abducted some untold number of innocent civilians—women, children, and elderly— dragging some through the streets. Reports are coming out now that the hostages are being summarily executed by Hamas. Eleven American citizens and one British national are confirmed dead. Hezbollah has also fired rockets and artillery at Israel. A Hamas official announced today that Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah are “ready to join the battle”.
Global Impacts
Deaths from both sides are nearly 2,000 at this point (and thousands more injured) in this 3-day-old war. The Israeli Prime Minister has responded with counteroffensive attacks without restraint. He has mobilized 300,000 reservists. He has laid siege to Gaza. Water, food, electricity, and the internet have been cut off to the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian President is scheduled to go to Moscow to visit with Putin. Saudi Arabia has reassured Palestine that it will continue to support them. People are demonstrating in Paris, in London, in New York, in Chicago, and even in San Diego. Arrests have been made.
U.S. military aid is enroute to Israel with an aircraft carrier strike force, the lynchpin of which is the USS Gerald R Ford—the largest aircraft carrier in the US fleet. This is not a regional conflict. These are dark days for us all. And, just like 9-11 was a colossal intelligence failure for the US, this surprise attack by Hamas represents a massive intelligence failure by Israelis. In both instances, the intelligence apparatus of the government failed to keep its citizens safe.
The Impact of Israel’s Gun Control Laws
So, what does a war half-way around the world have to do with gun control? There should be a learning lesson for our country, from the events in Israel today. In a Truth About Guns article by Konstadinos Moros, “The Israeli Terrorist Attack Should End the Gun Control Debate in the US…But It Won’t”, he states:
Israel foolishly does not have a right to bear arms, meaning there could be no immediate resistance to the Hamas invaders. They had free reign to slaughter men, women, and children until IDF could respond.
Mr. Moros points out that Israel has a much smaller population than the US. If an organized terrorist attack happened here, the comparative number of deaths in the US (adjusted for our much larger population), would be around 24,000 people. In the initial attack. Israel has been hit hard, most definitely.
Imagine if Israel had laws allowing its citizens to own firearms, as in the US. Do you think those people might have fought back? That some of them, at least, would have been able to protect their families?
How Do Israel’s Gun Control Laws Compare?
In another article published in Bearing Arms, entitled “Israel’s gun control policies worsened the death toll”, written yesterday by Ranjit Singh, he argues that “the death toll wouldn’t have been so insanely high if not for Israel’s gun control policies”. His article includes a link to The Library of Congress listing of gun control policies in countries from around the world, including Israel. Then he provides a list of what the Israeli policies are, concluding that “Israel’s gun control looks a lot like New York’s or California’s gun control…except it’s much worse“.
He says that some of those who attended the music festival where 250 people were slaughtered, DID fight back. They grabbed the attackers’ guns and fought back, killing some of them. How many of those 250 festival goers would not have died if they had possessed firearms in the first place? How many others could they have saved? Read the article, please.
A Newsweek article “Israel Festival-Goer’s “Defenseless” After Gun Ban”, written by Katherine Fung, describes the scene:
Thousands of people were dancing at the Supernova festival early Saturday when the surprise assault on Israel took place. After hearing sirens and rockets go off, festival-goers heard a barrage of gunfire that halted the music and sent crowds scrambling to get to safety. At least 260 bodies have been recovered from the festival site in the Negev Desert in southern Israel, according to rescue agency Zaka.
Conservative commenter Katie Pavlich is quoted in that article which then states, “Responding to Pavlich’s tweet, an X user wrote, “Another example of gun free zones being the worst place to be.”” Sums it up perfectly.
Change in Response to The War
Now, however, Israel has now changed its tune, somewhat. In a Townhall article written yesterday by Matt Vespa, “Amid New War With Hamas, Israel Loosens Regulations on Firearm Ownership” he says, “The right to gun ownership and self-defense were highlighted as many of these civilians killed and kidnapped had no means to stop these heavily armed Islamic radicals”. He states that Itamar Ben-Givr, minister for National Security, has now loosened those restrictions:
Today I directed the Firearms Licensing Division to go on an emergency operation, in order to allow as many citizens as possible to arm themselves”, and the outlines of the plan follow his statement.
Frankly, there are still hoops to jump through and I’m wondering how feasible it is for citizens who are under ongoing attack, to get that taken care of in the midst of war. Nonetheless, I’m sure their motivation to do so will be high. I simply cannot imagine being under a sustained onslaught with no means of defense against armed intruders.
The hardest hitting article I found on this topic was published by The Truth About Guns, called “Terrorist Attacks in Israel Are About to Change the Country and the Way They Think About Guns“. You should read this article. Author Dan Zimmerman concludes it by saying:
…The fear of tyranny may not be the foremost on Israelis’ minds in their desire to own guns, but watching terrorists literally raining down from the sky, wading through blood in the streets, and being slaughtered in their own homes is.
Israelis live in a country that has been under direct threat and sometimes attack since 1948. If this weekend’s atrocities don’t convince the population in general and Israel’s government in particular that Israelis need to have American-style gun rights and the means to defend themselves, nothing ever will.
As our esteemed President, Dave Funk, is always reminding us, be Ready at All Times.
Second Amendment Matters
by Katie Howard | Aug 22, 2023
Governor Newsom wants California Gun Control for all of America and to turn America into the mucked-up mess that California has become. Sometimes you read an article so good, all we can do is pass it along in its entirety. So here goes an editorial from AmmoLand.com:
“Gov. Newsom Wants To Export California Gun Control Across America”
Ammoland Inc. Posted on August 19, 2023 by F Riehl, Editor in Chief
Opinion By Mark Oliva
Gun control politicians really are coming for America’s guns. There’s no denying it after California Gov. Newsom made his proposal for a 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution official.
Gov. Newsom wants to export strict California gun control to the rest of America. He introduced a proposal for a Right to Safety – an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would strip Second Amendment rights from individuals and instead make the government the arbiter of which firearm “privileges” would be allowed. That’s a recipe for disaster. California is more than just the canary-in-the coal mine for what happens when gun control politicians run rampant on rights without proper checks against abuse of authority. The state is also a harbinger for what happens when law-abiding citizens are stripped of their ability to lawfully defend themselves and more protections are afforded to criminals than to their victims.
The proposal was introduced by California state Sen. Aisha Wahab and Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer as Senate Joint Resolution 7. The resolution “calls on the U.S. Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the Constitution of the United States for the purpose of proposing a constitutional amendment.” The intent is to affirm that state and local governments can negate Second Amendment rights and write their own gun restrictions, creating a patchwork of varying gun control across the nation and impose a series of gun control restrictions that California already has in place which have proven impotent in stemming the tidal wave of crime.
California Crime
Just one day after dropping this brick on the feet of the American public, federal workers in San Francisco were instructed to work remotely due to rising crime. Traveling into the city has become so risky, that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a memo to employees stating, “In light of the conditions at the (Federal Building) we recommend employees … maximize the use of telework for the foreseeable future,” according to a New York Post report. That office is in the Nancy Pelosi Federal Building in San Francisco, named for the Speaker Emerita. The building is also home to her district staff and U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) and Department of Transportation (DoT). It is unclear if the other departments issued similar warnings.
The “stay-away” memo reflects the worsening crisis of lawlessness in San Francisco and across California. The City by the Bay has descended in a “promised land of milk and fentanyl” as crime and drugs run unabated. Grocery and drug stores are shuttering over thefts and Gumps, a luxury retailer that’s been in San Francisco for 166 years, warned that this might be their last year because of a “litany of destructive San Francisco strategies…” the retailer wrote to Gov. Newsom and San Francisco Mayor London Breed.
Gov. Newsom is unbothered by the downward spiral of the city where he was once mayor. He’s focused on his gun control 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would codify national age-based gun bans by raising the minimum age to buy a firearm from 18 to 21. It would also mandate universal background checks, which are unworkable without a national firearm registry. That’s prohibited by federal law. Gov. Newsom’s proposed Constitutional amendment would also implement a waiting period for all firearm purchases, immediately delaying the ability of law-abiding Americans to exercise their rights. It would also ban ownership of Modern Sporting Rifles (MSRs), or as California’s antigun politicians call them – “assault weapons.”
Here’s the kicker. Gov. Newsom honestly believes all this can be done “while leaving the Second Amendment intact”.
That’s dishonest – intellectually, politically or any other lens through which to view it. What Gov. Newsom is proposing – and California lawmakers are now considering sending to the U.S. Congress – is nothing short of gutting the Second Amendment.
California Control
These are flagrant civil rights violations. Denying rights to adults under the age of 21 relegates firearm ownership to a privilege – granted and rescinded at a government’s whim. The government would usurp the rights endowed by “our Creator” and assume that role. Gov. Newsom would codify a national age-based gun ban – downgrading the Second Amendment to a second-class right. Free speech, free exercise of religion and free press would be preserved for adults at 18 but not the right to keep and bear arms. It is impossible for Gov. Newsom to claim that his proposal leaves the Second Amendment intact.
Gov. Newsom would also institute a federal government watchlist for every firearm owner in America – simply for exercising a civil liberty. Universal background checks won’t work without a national firearm registry, which is prohibited under federal law. To follow a firearm from creation to destruction requires that the owner of that firearm be listed on a searchable national database. That’s also called a government watchlist. There would be no tolerance for watchlists of who attends a church, mosque or synagogue. Yet, Gov. Newsom doesn’t believe this requirement tramples rights.
Gov. Newsom believes that anyone wanting to exercise their right to lawfully purchase a firearm should be required to wait – without defining what that wait time is. California currently has a 10-day mandatory waiting period, despite the fact that every gun buyer in that state passes the same background checks and fills out the same Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Form 4473 as a gun buyer in Virginia. Using the same First Amendment analogy, there would be no national appetite for telling Americans they must wait 10 days to “cool off” before making a redress against their government.
Gov. Newsom’s proposed ban on MSRs – or so-called “assault weapons” isn’t a ban in future sales. It’s a ticket for the government to seize lawfully-owned and possessed rifles. The text of the proposal is a “prohibition on the private possession” of these firearms. There are more than 24.4 million MSRs in circulation since 1990. They are the most-popular selling centerfire rifle in America. Gov. Newsom would institute not just a ban on selling these rifles but would necessitate a government seizure of them as well.
California Dreaming
Critics say this isn’t about actual gun control but political posturing. Call it gun control “peacocking” for when Gov. Newsom could potentially throw his name into the ring as a possible 2024 Democratic presidential nominee. That is, if President Joe Biden is unable to compete for re-election.
“Newsom right now is trying to appear to be a presidential as possible for either a 2024 or 2028 run at the White House,” said Washington-based candidate advisor Erica Taylor to the California Globe. “This amendment thing, it is pretty obvious to be a ploy. You put out a proposed amendment like this for attention. You don’t put out a press release on it after every little thing you do with it.”
Just over a year ago, Gov. Newsom “unexpectedly” dropped by The White House while President Biden was out of the country. He later told media he wouldn’t challenge President Biden in 2024. However, his unplanned White House visit caught the attention of many as him measuring the drapes and envisioning himself occupying the Oval Office.
The notion of all the drama of a 28th Amendment being nothing more than show might not be out of the question. After all, it is not much more than window dressing that would never garner national support.
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About The National Shooting Sports Foundation
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations, and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org”
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I wish I could say it as well! Remember to be Ready at All Times and never forget that those anti-freedom dangerous quacks are playing a long game but so are we at IFC. Help us by joining or renewing your IFC membership here today.
Shoot Straight, Speak The Truth, and Never Surrender Our Liberties.
Dave Funk
President, IFC
Richard is a fixture at the Capitol during the legislative session, always working to further our goals. He also works hard for IFC members throughout the year, as do all of our Board members. Richard focuses on building relationships with legislators and helping to bring them up to speed on Second Amendment issues. He religiously follows Second Amendment court cases and posts frequently, not only to bring them to your attention but also to explain why they are important to all of us who are concerned and involved in 2A issues. He’s very active on Facebook so be sure to follow him there.
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