Words from Windschitl – 2A Freedoms

Words from Windschitl – 2A Freedoms

by | Apr 14, 2023

This email was sent Friday morning from Representative Windschitl (R) of House District 15.  As House Majority Leader he was the driving force behind HF654.  Below was what he sent out to his constituents and subscribers.  I wanted to share this with you. 

It is one thing for your elected officials to tell you “I support the Second Amendment,” but another to lead on it…  Continually.  In case you’re wondering where your House Representative may fall on this issue, take a look around at the folks who are offering communications about this huge win in the House and take special note of those silent on your civil liberties.  That speaks to what they think about you – the majority law-abiding among Iowans.  If they’re not exceedingly proud about restoring your liberties, eliminating more “Gun Free Zones” (AKA Killing Zones), and the metaphorical handshake associated with increased protection of your human rights, they either need a tune-up from you or shown the door.  -Michael Ware

Take note, unfortunately, no Democrats voted for HF654.  Two Republicans, Gary Mohr (HD 93) and Chad Ingels (HD68) broke with their caucus and ignored their party planks to vote against your civil liberties.  DO NOT VOTE FOR THEIR RE-ELECTIONS.  

From the Iowa House Majority Leader:

2A Freedoms

House Republicans are committed to restoring the freedoms that Iowans once rightfully enjoyed, but have lost over time due to government regulation. One of our priorities is restoring Second Amendment freedoms, which Iowans proved paramount to them at the ballot box last November with their overwhelming support for Proposition 1 which amended our state constitution with strong Second Amendment protections. On Wednesday, House Republicans took steps in expanding Second Amendment rights by passing HF 654, legislation to remove burdensome regulation on law-abiding gun owners.

As the law currently stands, Iowans are not permitted to have firearms in their privately-owned vehicles in many public spaces. Our bill allows firearms in locked vehicles on most publicly-owned property, including K-12 schools, regents universities, and community colleges. In this proposal, Iowans with their permit to carry may have their concealed handgun in their vehicle on K-12 school property while dropping off or picking up a student or staff member at the school without being a potential felon.

At universities and community colleges, all gun owners would be allowed to have their firearms safely stored in their locked vehicles. College students would be able to partake in shooting sports activities off campus, currently impossible with on-campus students having no ability to have their own firearms with them at college. Ultimately, this bill will make it easier for Iowans to enjoy their Second Amendment freedoms while going about their everyday lives.

Another important provision of HF 654 is clean up language to clarify parts of code that have been recently changed to allow more freedom for law-abiding gun owners. First, there is a legal difference between being able to possess a firearm and being able to carry a firearm. This difference has been distinguished in code for years, however when House Republicans eliminated the requirement to have a permit to carry last session phrases “carry” and “possess” were used in wrong areas of code causing confusion. This bill clarifies who can carry a firearm and who can only possess a firearm in the state, providing certainty and freedom for all Iowans moving forward.

Second, there are often times where a person cannot qualify for a permit to carry, but is not prohibited from possession weapons on their own property. HF 654 makes it clear a person can have a weapon on their own property even if they do not qualify for a permit to carry, so long as they are not prohibited from possessing firearms.

Finally, in previous second amendment legislation passed the courts were given power to add people prohibited from possessing firearms to the National Criminal Background Check System (NICS). NICS is administered by the FBI and is heavily regulated. If Iowa courts added a person to NICS they are the only entity that can remove that person. This created a conflict between the Iowa Department of Public Safety and the Iowa courts. HF 654 strikes the Iowa court’s power to add prohibited persons to NICS and returns the power solely to the Department of Public Safety.

IFC Extra Ed Monk & Adam Winch – PT1

IFC Extra Ed Monk & Adam Winch – PT1

by | Apr 14, 2023

In the wake of the Nashville Christian school shooting, IFC Chair John McLaughlin is joined by Active Shooter expert Ed Monk and veteran law enforcement officer and instructor Adam Winch to discuss the event and how to spur churches and schools to action in order to save lives.

 

 

Iowa House Passes Safer Families Act

Iowa House Passes Safer Families Act

by | Apr 13, 2023

(DES MOINES, Iowa) — The Iowa Firearms Coalition (IFC) applauds the passage of House File 654, also known as the Safer Families Act, which will significantly reduce the number of phony and dangerous “No Guns Zones” in Iowa.

As IFC has pointed out for years, signs and rules alone do not create “gun-free zones,” but rather free-fire zones for criminals who wish to harm innocent people. The Safer Families Act takes an important step forward in protecting Iowans’ right to self-defense.

The bill also includes provisions that enhance the ability of schools to provide armed security for their students and staff and eliminates obsolete and confusing language from Iowa Code. Additionally, the bill prevents Iowa’s public community colleges and universities from prohibiting the otherwise lawful carrying, possession, and transportation of self-defense tools in private vehicles on the grounds of those institutions.

While the bill originally included a provision preventing private employers from firing employees who stored self-defense tools out of sight in a locked private vehicle while at work, IFC recognizes that insisting on that mandSafeate at this time would put the entire bill at risk. The amended bill continues to protect the right and ability of government employees, or others who use state and local government parking lots, to choose to carry a defensive tool.

“IFC applauds the members of the Iowa House for their leadership in passing this important legislation and urges the Senate to take up the companion bill, SF543, at the earliest opportunity,” said Dave Funk, IFC President. “The Safer Families Act is an important step forward for the protection of Second Amendment rights in Iowa. IFC thanks all those who worked to pass this bill and we look forward to its swift passage in the Senate.”

The Iowa Firearms Coalition, an NRA state association, is a 501(c4) nonprofit and is Iowa’s only effective pro-Second Amendment rights organization.

IFC WW EP58 “Kaery Concealed” Dudenhofer

IFC WW EP58 “Kaery Concealed” Dudenhofer

by | Apr 5, 2023

Kaery Dudenhofer has taught thousands of women to protect themselves in a non-intimidating, family-friendly setting, completely void of the ego and bravado that often characterize the male-driven firearm industry. Kaery offers IFC Chair John McLaughlin insight into a teaching process that has made her one of the most sought-after firearms instructors in the nation.