by Michael Ware | Mar 10, 2025
13 States Ban Machine Guns in America, INCLUDING IOWA – Why doesn’t Iowa legalize machine guns when they’re federally legalized? Doesn’t that strike you as odd? Why are these still banned in a state with the motto: Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain?
That’s right. Even though federal regulation makes ownership possible nationwide, Iowa joins the following states in banning machine guns by categorizing them as “offensive weapons” in Iowa code: CA, CO, DE, HI, IL, LA, MA, MN, NJ, NY, RI, & WI. Take a look at that gaggle of despot-laden oppressive states. Most of them make your nose hair curl when you consider just how wretched they treat their citizens. And Iowa is joining them in disarming you. Did you ever think you’d enjoy the kind of tyranny Californians and New Yorkers suffer under daily? If you like to ignore Supreme Court decisions like Bruen, you’re probably feeling pretty content right now. But, if you’re liberty-minded, then you know that Iowa has it 100% wrong to ban something from you that is federally legal, especially in the realm of the Second Amendment.
Again, this year, we had support for this in the Iowa Legislature, but unfortunately, not enough to get a bill number assigned. Here is the draft:
Offensive weapons repeal bill draft
What do you think should happen? I’m curious…
In Libertatem,
Michael Ware – IFC Board
by Michael Ware | Mar 8, 2025
Guest Blog? You bet!
Many of you remember IFC’s over-a-decade-long push to add the Right to Keep and Bear Arms to our state’s constitution – known as the Freedom Amendment. While reading Iowa Speaker Pro Tem John Wills‘ update from the statehouse, I asked him if he’d be willing to publish it here as a guest blog. So, here you go:
Friends,
Last week, I started out my newsletter with the first right in the Iowa Constitutions, Bill of Rights. I got a lot of comments. A few were, “I didn’t know Iowa had a Bill of Rights” or “The first Right in the Iowa Bill of Rights is pretty inclusive”. So, I thought, why not continue to discuss our State’s Bill of Rights.
This is a good time to tell you how our State Constitution can be amended. An amendment starts out in both the House and the Senate of the Iowa Legislature who passes a Resolution in two general sessions. The Iowa Legislature functions on a two-year general session and so a resolution must be passed during one General Session and then passed again in a second General Session. This process takes a minimum of 3 years and many times a full 4 years. When passed the second time the proposed amendment is placed on the next general election ballot, which could be 1 or 2 years later, for the qualified voters in the State to weigh in on the measure. The process is tough as it should be because changing or modifying our Constitution should not be taken lightly.
Recently, voters in Iowa added a new right to the Bill of Rights following the Amendment Process I described above. That Amendment is Section 1A the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The sovereign state of Iowa affirms and recognizes this right to be a fundamental individual right. Any and all restrictions of this right shall be subject to strict scrutiny.
This amendment was added to make Iowa like other States and the Federal government in having this right in the Bill of Rights. By adding this right to the Iowa Bill of Rights we now have a “Second Amendment” to our State Constitution and are protecting the right to own and bear arms in this state and our Right to Keep and Bear Arms is protected to the highest level in our state law.
The Iowa Bill of Rights, has a broad 1st right that says you have the right to happiness and several other things but in Iowa the Right to Bear Arms is the second right that we are given. Just as in the U.S. Bill of Rights, the Iowa Bill of Rights takes away the rights of the Government and gives them to you, the people. In the Iowa Bill of Rights we see some really interesting rights that as we go more into discussion of the Iowa Bill of Rights you will see a theme of a broad sense of our founding fathers wanting to protect Iowans rights and to have a free-standing public.
After the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, is the 2nd right in the Bill of Rights, which is Political Power. In Section 2 of the Iowa Bill of Rights it specifically states: “All political power is inherent in the people. Government is instituted for the protection, security, and benefit of the people, and they have the right, at all times, to alter or reform the same, whenever the public good may require it.”
What a great segway from the first 2 rights in the Iowa Bill of Rights. With the first Right stating that we are all free and equal in our State and you have the right to keep and bear arms, but that all power, political in nature is held by the people. To me these first few rights in the Iowa Bill of Rights is masterful in telling each resident of the State that you are worthy, you have rights, and you are in control of this state.
What the Political Power right in the Iowa Bill of Rights says to me is there are reasons for the state government to exist but that the people have the right to change that when needed. There are several ways for the public to do that but mainly that is done through representation through the Iowa House and Senate. As we go through the Iowa Bill of Rights, I hope that you find this foundational knowledge to be something near and dear to you. The rights that we will talk about over the next few weeks are what makes Iowa such a great place to live and makes Iowa’s government such a responsive body.
Sincerely,
by Dave Funk | Mar 7, 2025
LEMON AND THE EPA?
What do Lemon and the EPA – the Environmental Protection Agency – have to do with 2A Rights? A lot more than you might expect. Let me explain in this Week’s 2a Wrap-Up.
LEMON
Lemon v. Kurtzman is a legal case you might not know of by name, but you surely know its impact on everyday American life. The question was, “Do statutes that provide state funding for non-public, non-secular schools violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment?” For decades after the 1971 Lemon ruling, there has been a schizophrenic wall between anything government and religion-related.
However, the 2022 Kennedy v. Bremerton School ruling asked the question: “Is a public school employee’s prayer during school sports activities protected speech, and if so, can the public school employer prohibit it to avoid violating the Establishment Clause?” The Supreme Court clearly overruled its previous precedent in Lemon.
From an American Thinker article written by Nate Kellum and Andera Justus, I quote:
“The Court’s decision in Kennedy, written by Justice Neil Gorsuch, explicitly rejected the Lemon test, stating “But — given the apparent “shortcomings” associated with Lemon’s “ambitiou[s],” abstract, and ahistorical approach to the Establishment Clause — this Court long ago abandoned Lemon and its endorsement test offshoot. In place of Lemon and the endorsement test, this Court has instructed that the Establishment Clause must be interpreted by “‘reference to historical practices and understandings,” solidifying the shift away from its flawed framework in favor of a historical understanding of the Establishment Clause.”
The highlights here are mine, and my explanation of why, in just a moment. Read on!
THE EPA
The US Supreme Court just slapped down the EPA again. This time of all plaintiffs, it’s the City of San Francisco, arguing that the EPA’s 10 Billion dollar fine on the city was based on moving targets on treated sewer water discharge standards under the Clean Water Act that are so vague no one can meet them. The City’s attorneys argued:
“We simply want to understand our prohibition limits so we can comply with them,” Tara M. Steeley, the San Francisco deputy city attorney, told the justices.”
It turned out that SCOTUS does not allow moving targets or “end result” regulations. Justice Alito writing for the majority, stated:
“Determining what steps a permittee must take to ensure that water quality standards are met is the EPA’s responsibility, and Congress has given it the tools needed to make that determination. If the EPA does what the CWA demands, water quality will not suffer.”
This is the third major decision against the out-of-control EPA by the current SCOTUS.
THE TREND –
Establishment Clause must be interpreted by “‘reference to historical practices and understandings”
The trend is that our current court is reining in the Federal Bureaucracy and out-of-control States. The destruction of the artificial wall constructed in Lemon means instead States must follow the Establishment Clause as it was understood at the time of the Founding when related to the 1st Amendment. The government must follow the 2nd Amendment regarding “arms” regulations as understood at the time of the Founding (ATF, I’m looking at you). Now the EPA must follow the laws as laid down by Congress and not vague, capricious, and illegal “reinterpretations” of the federal law by unelected bureaucracies.
These are huge wins for freedom.
IOWA LEGISLATIVE NEWS
As we approach Funnel Week, there is a lot of activity happening in Des Moines regarding your 2A Rights. I’ll refer you to the IFC-PAC Bill Tracker. Also, watch our social media for the latest updates and Action Alerts. The Action Center will have the latest Action Alerts when it’s time to reach out to your respective Representatives.
IFC TRUSTED PARTNER OF THE WEEK : MOUNTAIN MAN MEDICAL
Listen to IFC Board Chairman talk about ‘why Mountain Man Medical’ and tell you about these Professional trauma kits assembled to the specifications of the Iowa Firearms Coalition.
I have several MMM IFC kits and carry one in each of my vehicles and in my Bug Out Bags. We suggest you consider doing the same.
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 Michael Ware | Mar 6, 2025
Protecting Your Hearing Shouldn’t be a Crime is the underlying idea in a recent Americas 1st Freedom article.
Dr Timothy Wheeler joins IFC today to raise an important health note. Suppressors are preventative medicine! I was reading an article in one of my many NRA magazines, America’s 1st Freedom, titled “Suppressors Are Preventative Medicine,” and the NRA helped link us up for this recording.
Dr Wheeler is a retired ear, nose, and throat surgeon and the past director of Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership. Listen in as we tackle suppressor ownership and legality from a different angle.
by Dave Funk | Feb 28, 2025
ATF-FBI?
What’s going on with the ATF-FBI? Saying “lots” would be an understatement. With the ratification of Kash Patel as the new FBI Director and his appointment as the acting Director of the BATFE, major changes look to be in the works. It is readily apparent that President Trump’s appointment of Dan Bongino as the FBI Deputy Director fits into the strategy of holding these agencies accountable for past behavior.
FBI AND ITS MISSING INTEGRITY
Anyone who has paid attention to how the FBI has conducted itself since 2009 knows that the agency has been politicized against both Obama’s and Biden’s enemies. For example, one of the often under-reported problems has been with crime data. From Dr. John Lott over at the Crime Prevention Research Center:
“Our new research takes a deep dive into the FBI’s active shooting reports. Over the past decade (2014–2023), police officers stopping these attacks accidentally shot and killed two fellow officers and two civilians—just 1.14% of cases.”
But did you know that among the 180 concealed handgun permit holders who intervened in active shootings, only one accidentally shot a bystander? Not once has a permit holder interfered with police stopping an attack. Any guesses on how often permit holders or police officers are killed while stopping these attacks? I think you’ll be surprised by our findings.
It pains me that this has happened within the FBI. I know many great Agents who hate what the Bureau has become. Hopefully, Director Patel can make this the agency all that it can be again: one that serves with integrity that we can all trust and be proud of.
THE ATF CONNECTION
We all know that the ATF enforcement division has been a problem for lawful American gun owners since the Gun Control Act of 1968 was passed into law. Epic failures, like Ruby Ridge, Waco, Fast & Furious or, most recently, the unnecessary killing of the Little Rock Airport Director over what was essentially a misdemeanor licensing question.
BATFE has legal responsibility for alcohol and tobacco tax collection, firearms law, and explosives. Splitting those responsibilities into different Departments appears to be the track President Trump is on.
Alcohol and Tobacco can be sent over to the Treasury Department where other taxes are collected. Explosives (whose activities consist mostly of training arson and explosive investigators) can move over to the FBI Academy. That leaves firearms. As long as we have the National Firearms Act and GCA of 1968 we will have to have the Technical Branch and NFA Registry. The logical place to send that group to is the US Commerce Department. They already handle firearms import and export licensing. Commerce can be tasked with the licensing of all Federal Firearms Licensees and explosive users/dealers.
That leaves us with the ATF’s Special Agents. Most of these have recently been assigned to the US Border Patrol under “ICE” to beef up the closed border efforts. It looks like the blueprint is being put into place to dissolve the agency. Mark A. Smith over at the Four Boxes Diner has a really good video that you can, as he says, “Geek Out” on this very subject.
IFC TRUSTED PARTNER OF THE WEEK: VOLQUARTSEN FIREARMS
Volquartsen Firearms engineers the world’s finest rimfire rifles, pistols, and parts. Manufactured and precision-built from start to finish, exclusively at their facilities in Carroll, Iowa. The full line of Volquartsen products has become some of the most sought-after in the industry. Trusted by competition shooters, plinkers, hunters, and everyone in between. Made in America since 1974. I’ve owned, and still own, at least seven of their firearms, dating back to my NRA Bullseye Pistol shooting days in the early 1990’s.
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 | Feb 21, 2025
IFC 2A LOBBY DAY!
2025 IFC 2A Lobby Day and the IFC-PAC Dinner were a big success. Over a hundred people were in attendance at the event at the Capitol Building to hear both Major Jeff Struecker and NRA Executive Vice-President and CEO, Doug Hamlin, speak. Attendees also heard from State Legislators (Senator Amy Sinclair featured in photo above and below), and from the IFC leadership. Youth were well-represented and welcomed — they are our future! Of course, we had cold weather outside, and the typical leftist screams in the building along with us for a short while — but it did not quell the enthusiasm for the message.
IFC-PAC Dinner
The IFC-PAC Dinner saw a record crowd enjoy an award-winning BBQ from Smoky-D’s. Jeff’s message at the dinner was greatly personalized through an interview Q&A with IFC Chairman John McLaughlin.
After the Rifle Raffle, door prizes, and a few live auction items, IFC-PAC raised more than $10,000 for future efforts to educate our fellow Iowans about who supports their 2A Rights in the Iowa State House.
2025 IOWA LEGISLATIVE SESSION
As the 2025 Legislative Session grinds on, I’ll describe the efforts for 2A Legislative gains as “a bit of a moving target”. I’ve nothing to report as our lobbying team works with leadership as of this writing; however, we are optimistic that we will see progress before the first funnel in two weeks.
IFC TRUSTED PARTNER OF THE WEEK: BROWNELLS
Although Brownells was just featured a few weeks ago, this week is Brownells’ National 2A Day. This means it’s your chance to help out both Brownells & IFC. Brownells is donating 4% of sales to IFC and two other 2A national groups! So before time runs out on February 23rd, get your orders in!
Celebrate 2A Day with Brownells
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
IFC TRUSTED PARTNER OF THE 
2025 IFC 2A Lobby Day and the IFC-PAC Dinner were a big success. Over a hundred people were in attendance at the event at the Capitol Building to hear both Major Jeff Struecker and NRA Executive Vice-President and CEO, Doug Hamlin, speak. 
Attendees also heard from State Legislators (Senator Amy Sinclair featured in photo above and below), and from the IFC leadership. Youth were well-represented and welcomed — they are our future! Of course, we had cold weather outside, and the typical leftist screams in the building along with us for a short while — but it did not quell the enthusiasm for the message.
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