Expert shooter Riley Bowman shares tips on training visual awareness to become a more accurate and faster shooter. IFC chair John McLaughlin shares his recent experience taking Bowman’s “Pistol IQ” class. Learn more at https://www.rileytbowman.com/
IFC Chair, John McLaughlin, interviews Mike Davis of the Article III Project on Biden’s new Executive Order. “Gun Control” is the goal, which translates to “People Control” in practical application. The only folks who opt into the myriad of laws are the good guys, not the bad guys.
When will it be enough?
If you are not an NRA-ILA member (NRA-Institute for Legislative Action), it is time to join! Protect your Second Amendment rights at the federal and state levels. Read on to learn why.
The NRA can teach you a lot about gun culture, teach you about firearms and related gear and offers courses to train you in just about any firearms use. It also brings us stories of good guys with guns as well as great stories of current interest to those who support the Second Amendment. We are all familiar with NRA, but many people are less familiar with NRA-ILA, which I would argue is at least as impactful as the NRA.
The NRA-ILA was formed in 1975 because it became apparent that our elected officials often don’t know much about firearms, or think they are an abomination. This means that the legislation crafted by those officials is often riddled with errors, based on false assumptions, or influenced by those who want to make all firearms go away.
Electing the right candidates is easier than to try to sway the opinions of those who are already elected. For example, try to change the mind of an elected official who “hate guns”, is afraid of them or simply does not understand why anyone would need a firearm. The NRA-ILA exists to:
“Over the past few years, NRA-ILA members and the NRA have decidedly changed politics in America. Across the country, from the presidential race to Congress to state legislative races, there has been a noted increase in ads proudly proclaiming candidates’ pro-gun credentials.” [NRA-ILA website]
To be an effective advocate to protect your Second Amendment rights, and to be informed and aware of laws and court cases that will affect you, join the NRA-ILA. Iowa has two NRA-ILA Frontlines Activist Leaders (FAL):
Todd Rasmussen, Boone Contact Todd
Ed Dolan, Central City Contact Ed
NRA-ILA has two conference calls coming up, this week and next. You can register for the calls by clicking on the links below:
East & Central Region March 22, 2023 @ 6:00 p.m. Central Time
Mountain & Pacific Region March 27, 2023 @ 8:00 p.m. Central Time
And, while you’re at it, if you are NOT YET a member of Iowa Firearms Coalition, Join Here!
Gabby Franco is our guest on IFC Warrior Wednesday Episode 54! Top Shot contender, Olympian, wife, mother, and new college graduate. IFC chair John McLaughlin introduces us to this strong supporter of the second amendment.
Gabby Franco was the first female shooter to represent Venezuela in the Olympics. As an accomplished author, speaker, competitive shooter, and instructor, she is recognized worldwide for her shooting skills and advocacy for the right to own and bear arms. Gabby’s 25 years of experience in Olympic, self-defense, and practical shooting have served as a platform to educate and empower thousands of people through live and virtual training across the United States and Puerto Rico. For over eighteen years, Gabby has shown her commitment to promoting shooting sports by not only participating and winning medals in various competitions, but also sending a message of dedication, sportsmanship, and a positive attitude.
Gabby Franco was featured in Season 4 of the hit TV Series, “TOP SHOT” shown on the History Channel. Following her success from Season 4, Gabby was the single woman to participate in the “All-Star season” of TOP SHOT.
If you like our Warrior Wednesday content and would choose to support IFC, the best way is through membership. Please join IFC today.
The Safer Families Act – HSB173
Below is an explanation of the House Study Bill IFC has been working on with House Members for months. IFC would like to see several changes to HSB173 from its current state. We’re looking forward to amendments that will correct and strengthen this vital legislation. Don’t misunderstand, we’re excited to see our bill move forward, but it does require corrections before we can fully support it. IFC has registered “UNDECIDED” on HSB173 at this time. IFC continues to work on this bill on a daily basis. We need the cooperation of the Legislature to fix the few problems in this bill and we’re excited to move this forward!
DIVISION I
EMPLOYER POLICIES REGARDING FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION — DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND OTHER DETENTION FACILITIES — PARKING LOTS
This division incorporates the provisions of the “Employee Privacy Act” that IFC has advocated for in past years, protecting the jobs of Iowans who choose to make the lawful and moral choice to carry a defensive firearm. It prohibits employers – public or private – from firing employees who lawfully possess firearms or ammunition in their locked private vehicles in the employer’s parking areas. It includes some liability protections for employers. The division also will allow such firearm storage in vehicles on the publicly accessible, non-secured parking lots of correctional facilities. That is currently against Iowa law.
Division II
FIREARMS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY
This division is the “School Parking Lot” bill for which IFC has lobbied hard for several years. It will allow persons who possess a valid Permit to Carry Weapons to have a concealed pistol or revolver in their vehicle while dropping off or picking up a person or item from a school, so long as the firearm remains inside the vehicle and the vehicle remains on the driveways and parking areas of the school.
This division also provides that a driver of school transportation may allow firearms on a school bus or other school transportation vehicle when authorized or directed to do so by the school. (In other words, current law is being changed to allow for armed school security to accompany students on field trips, to athletic events, etc.)
Finally, certain retired law enforcement personnel will now be allowed to carry firearms at schools.
DIVISION III
DANGEROUS WEAPONS IN VEHICLES AT REGENTS’ UNIVERSITIES AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUSES
This division will bar state universities and community colleges from adopting or enforcing any policy or rule that prohibits the carrying, transportation, or possession of any dangerous weapon, as defined in Iowa Code 702.7, in a personal vehicle on the grounds of such a college or university if the dangerous weapon is not visible from the outside of the vehicle and such carrying, transportation, or possession is not otherwise unlawful.
DIVISION IV
INSURANCE COVERAGE —— FIREARMS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS
This division will prohibit insurers from denying property and casualty insurance coverage to schools on the basis that the school has authorized a person or persons to be armed at the school. (IFC notes that the Spirit Lake and Cherokee school districts have already been threatened with loss of insurance coverage since announcing last year their intent to train and arm staff members.)
DIVISION V
GUNS IN VEHICLES ON PUBLIC HIGHWAYS
This division fixes the potential “manner of conveyance” problem that cropped up after the adoption of permitless carry. This repeals an old hunting law – and the associated fine for violation – that required long guns to be unloaded and cased or broken down in a vehicle on a public highway. There was a general belief that having a permit to carry provided an exception to this law, though that was probably never actually the case.
DIVISION VI
SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION OF PERMITS
After seeing significant last-minute changes to this division, IFC asked that it be deleted before filing. That request came too late for the Legislative Services Agency to react. Because this division and Division VII remain in the bill (for the time being) IFC has been forced to declare as “Undecided” on HSB173.
As filed, this division is a mess – and the meager remains of what was a lengthy and well-considered division that greatly altered Iowa Code 724. The current text seems to be a result of a drafting error by the Legislative Services Agency. As written, it fixes nothing and causes new problems.
The original language would have corrected a significant single-word error in HF756, the 2021 bill that repealed the requirement for a permit to carry weapons. It also would have eliminated some unintended consequences of that bill and would have better aligned Iowa’s weapons laws with the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Second Amendment decision in the Bruen case.
It is vital that, at the very least, those technical corrections be reinserted into HSB173. IFC will lobby strongly for that result.
DIVISION VII
CARRYING WEAPONS ON STATE FAIRGROUNDS
IFC also asked that this division be deleted before filing. This division originally barred the Iowa State Fair Board from prohibiting the otherwise lawful concealed carry of any weapon at the Iowa State Fair, including in the buildings. That language was removed and what replaced it is of no help to Iowans who wish to protect themselves and their families at the Fair and while traveling to and from the Fair. In fact, this now merely puts into Iowa Code the present situation, which is that the Fair has its own police force and has set up (far less than effective thus far) screening for weapons at the entrances to the Fair. IFC will not support this language. It needs to be deleted or significantly amended.
DIVISION VIII
CARRYING FIREARMS ON SNOWMOBILES AND ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES
This division merely deletes a large amount of confusing and unnecessary language from the Code sections regulating carrying of firearms on ATVs and snowmobiles. It is generally lawful for Iowans to carry firearms on these vehicles. The general ban on discharging a firearm from such a vehicle will remain in place.
DIVISION IX
FIREARMS ON PROPERTIES LICENSED TO CONDUCT GAMBLING GAMES OR SPORTS WAGERING
This division lifts the state’s ban on carrying firearms on the premises of licensed gambling facilities. It does not prevent a licensee from prohibiting firearms on their property.
PLEASE JOIN IFC TO HELP US CONTINUE ADVANCING AND DEFENDING YOUR FREEDOMS
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