248 years ago our Declaration of Independence was signed. Will America make it to 250 years? I believe so, but like those men and women who threw off King George, every American needs to stand ready to defend our great nation.
Never forget it was armed civilians who defeated the most powerful army in the world at the time, demanding freedom. These were men who understood the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, had studied world history, and understood that all men were born to be free — not oppressed by a dictator in a far-away land. Today that dictator is our own over-reaching Federal Government and the executive branch of our government. They have spent the last 100 years consolidating power in Washington D.C.
Fortunately we have started to turn that ship around. But it won’t be easy! This July 4th, when you’re watching the fireworks, remember what they really stand for.
To help get you in the spirit of independence, watch this short four-minute history channel video. Refresh your memory about what is at stake.
Please stay Ready at All Times, and help us defend all of Iowa’s rights by joining or renewing your IFC membership here today.
Shoot Straight, Speak The Truth, and Never Surrender Our Liberties.
Thank you Brownells, indeed! Second Amendment supporters should be thankful that Brownells is such a champion of 2A issues. We had the opportunity to again experience this first-hand last Saturday, when a team from IFC attended GunCon at Brownells. This is the third year Brownells has hosted media influencers from around the country to hold live-streamed panel discussions on various 2A topics, showcase a variety of quality guns and gear available on site from many different vendors, and provide a forum for both national gun rights organizations and Iowa’s own Iowa Firearms Coalition, to meet with people.
[Photos and comments about GunCon were contributed by all IFC team members.]
The Panelists & Sessions
Typical of Brownells and The Gun Collective, the event was a huge success and very well attended. Doors opened at 10 a.m. Our team arrived at 8 a.m. to set up, and there were already lines of people waiting outside the entry doors. Audience members were able to ask questions of the panelists, and those tuned into the live stream could also submit questions to be answered. Check out this link, and scroll down to see a list of featured panelists and the vendors at GunCon. Our own IFC volunteer Lobbyist, Richard Rogers (pictured in the red shirt, above) participated in panel discussions. Richard has a vast knowledge of the history of 2A legislative and case law developments, both nationally and in Iowa, and we were proud to have him represent IFC.
IFC TRUSTED PARTNERS
In addition to Brownells, two other IFC Trusted Partners were at the event also. Trusted Partners add value for our members by offering discounted prices on goods or services, when purchasing them with a discount code through IFC’s website. In fact, you can more than pay for your annual membership fee by purchasing discounted goods through our Trusted Partners — buying quality goods that you would have purchased anyway. Vice President and volunteer, Billy Wilson, made sure to thank our partners, on behalf of our members.
Old Friends
But it was not all serious discussion! Stephen Willeford, representing Gun Owners of America (GOA), had some fun with their photo board and props. GOA was in the booth next to ours. Other 2A rights organizations represented were FRAC and the Second Amendment Foundation. Stephen (pictured on the right in this photo) is best known as “The Barefoot Defender” in the Sutherland Springs church shooting in Texas a few years ago. IFC invited Mr. Willeford to speak to our members at the 2A Lobby Day a couple of years ago, and again at the IFC-PAC Supper that evening. The events of that day had a profound effect on Mr. Willeford and his impactful story is raw still.
Speaking of 2A Lobby Day–our Lobby Day event in 2025 will be held on February 18th, from 1:00-4:00 p.m. at the Iowa Capitol, as always. The keynote speaker is Iowa native, Jeff Struecker, known from Black Hawk Down. You won’t want to miss this event. We’ll let you know when tickets go on sale.
Takeaways
Talking with the IFC team after the event, the things that most impressed us were:
There were people from everywhere! We talked with folks from Denver, from Florida, from Nebraska, Missouri, and certainly from Illinois! (Kansas State Rifle Association had their big annual meeting on the same day as GunCon this year, so we didn’t run into many from Kansas this year.) Eric Hansen, our Events Coordinator, said that the folks from Illinois all told him the same thing: they are looking at options for moving across the river. Illinois gun laws are driving them to greener pastures – like Iowa!
People were willing to drive six to ten hours to attend the event. It is important to them and the event offers something for everyone. The benefit of learning from the various panelists firsthand was a big draw for attendees.
There were all kinds of people at the event. People of all ages and backgrounds; people with varying degrees of firearms experience and different interests. Although still a predominantly male crowd, there were many women in attendance and they were not just companions along for the ride! The involvement of women with guns was a frequent topic mentioned by the panelists.
The folks who stopped by our booth — and there were MANY! — were very appreciative of the work done by IFC since its inception. The degree of interaction with them, the length of discussions, and the concerns they have about protecting gun rights, were impressive.
What Next?
All in all, it was a great day! Getting to interact with hundreds of people from all walks of life, with common concerns and interests, was rejuvenating! As you can see, we are growing our presence and outreach, and we could really use your talent. We are an All-Volunteer organization. Volunteer and discover all the fun you are missing! The folks at IFC are great to work with and very helpful.
Also, if you are not yet a member of IFC, or if your shooting friends are not members, what are you waiting for? One of the appalling statistics I heard from the 2A Rights panel was that over 126,000 Iowa gun owners are NOT registered to vote! And, looking at gun owners nationally, over 9 million gun owners are not registered to vote. That does not bode well in terms of protecting our interests.
Our Second Amendment rights are under serious attack. For heaven’s sake: JOIN IFC & VOTE!
Yes, we’ll celebrate 2A Day this year with Iowa native, Jeff Struecker, known from Black Hawk Down. Jeff is our keynote speaker at the Capitol building and also our speaker at the IFC-PAC Supper that same night.
Jeff Struecker was a decorated soldier. At age 18, he enlisted in the United States Army as an Infantryman and retired as a chaplain with over 22 years of active federal service. In 2017, he was inducted into the US Army Ranger Hall of Fame.
He served for ten years in the 75th Ranger Regiment in positions from Private to Platoon Sergeant. While serving in this unit, Jeff competed in and won the David L. Grange Best Ranger Competition in 1996. He taught ROTC at the University of Louisville and was recognized in 1998 as the US Army ROTC, Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. Jeff spent his final ten years in the US Army serving as a chaplain in Airborne and Ranger units.
Throughout his career, Jeff has attended numerous professional military schools and has received many awards and commendations. Some of his awards include the Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Master Parachutists Wings, Military Freefall Master Parachutist Wings, several foreign jump wings, and the Combat Action Badge. He has been awarded other commendations and decorations throughout his military career.
His combat experience includes participation in the invasion of Panama, Operation Desert Storm, Black Hawk Down in Somalia, and more than a dozen combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Jeff has been awarded medals for valor in combat and has received many medals as recognition for his service in the US Army.
Jeff holds a Ph.D. from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. He also has several other earned and honorary degrees. He is the lead pastor of 2 Cities Church in Columbus, Georgia.
He is an award-winning author with five books in print. He and his wife, Dawn, have five children and four grandchildren.
Mike Mihalski of Sons of Liberty Gun Works? Who is he and why is he so likable? Refresh yourselves with the spirited conversation between Michael Ware of IFC and Mike Mihalski of Sons of Liberty Gun Works. GET OUT AND VOTE, by the way. TAKE OTHERS WITH YOU, by the way. Mike builds a really great AR15 and is wired right to boot! Tune in!
SCOTUS Strikes again! The Supreme Court of the United States has struck down the “bump stock” rule. It was a long time coming. We also saw a Fifth Federal District Court of Appeals Judge demolish the pistol brace rule, because of previous SCOTUS rulings.
Let’s cover the logic between these two rulings and how they affect our Second Amendment rights.
Bump Stocks
In the very emotional time after the Las Vegas attack, the bump stock rule was created. As the left does, by never letting a crisis go to waste, Americans were bullied into an emotional reaction to a violent attack. Fortunately, SCOTUS pointed out the important fact that only Congress has the authority to create law. The BATFE cannot just make things up as they go along, period. As the Second Amendment Foundation explained:
“This is a significant victory for gun owners because it reminds the ATF it simply cannot rewrite federal law,” said SAF Founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “The agency has just been reminded that it can only enforce the law, not usurp the authority of Congress.”
Pistol Braces
When it came to the pistol brace reinterpreted rule redefining millions of pistols as short-barreled rifles, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals slapped down the BATFE for the exact same reasons. The trial judge then followed the Supreme Court’s guidance and declared the rule null and void. As Streiff over at Red State observed:
Today’s decision was a clean sweep for the plaintiffs. Judge O’Connor slammed the BATFE for violating rule-making procedures and exceeding its regulatory authority. He stopped just short of asking the BATFE to provide written evidence that they had a clue or were capable of finding one.
Essentially what the BATFE did in creating both rules was make vague and illegal rules “interpretations”. It also violated the Administrative Procedures Act.
Both the previous ruling limiting the Chevron Deference (hopefully soon to be struck down completely by SCOTUS), and the Bruen decision, are having major impacts in reining in an out-of-control federal administrative state.
Please stay Ready at All Times, and help us defend all of Iowa’s rights by joining or renewing your IFC membership here today.
Shoot Straight, Speak The Truth, and Never Surrender Our Liberties.
Sign up now for our e-mail alert list to stay plugged into what's going on with your 2A rights here in Iowa.
IFC will never sell, rent or share your personal information, including your e-mail address, with any third parties for any purposes without your express permission. IFC may share your personal information for the purpose of delivering our e-mail to you or as required by law.
showcase a variety of quality guns and gear available on site from many different vendors, and provide a forum for both national gun rights organizations and Iowa’s own Iowa Firearms Coalition, to meet with people.
Vice President and volunteer, Billy Wilson, made sure to thank our partners, on behalf of our members.
But it was not all serious discussion! Stephen Willeford, representing Gun Owners of America (GOA), had some fun with their photo board and props. GOA was in the booth next to ours. Other 2A rights organizations represented were FRAC and the Second Amendment Foundation. Stephen (pictured on the right in this photo) is best known as “The Barefoot Defender” in the Sutherland Springs church shooting in Texas a few years ago. IFC invited Mr. Willeford to speak to our members at the 2A Lobby Day a couple of years ago, and again at the IFC-PAC Supper that evening. The events of that day had a profound effect on Mr. Willeford and his impactful story is raw still.
All in all, it was a great day! Getting to interact with hundreds of people from all walks of life, with common concerns and interests, was rejuvenating! As you can see, we are growing our presence and outreach, and we could really use your talent. We are an All-Volunteer organization. Volunteer and discover all the fun you are missing! The folks at IFC are great to work with and very helpful.
Recent Comments