NRA is running a limited-time offer for just $18.71! I’ll give you three guesses of the significance of 1871, and the first two don’t count. 😉 Looks like you’ve got less than a month to enjoy a discount on your annual membership. HERE is the offer if you wish to download it.
As NRA’s only state association in Iowa, IFC is pleased to be able to continually partner with them. Come back and join!
IFC Warrior Wednesday EP93 – Peter Churchbourne with NRA Hunter Education – Did you know the cream of the crop in FREE interactive hunter education is provided by NRA? Did you know Iowa DNR doesn’t recognize it and instead forces you to buy this training for $49.95? Did you know Iowa DNR will accept NRA Hunter Education from citizens in other states? Did you know Iowa DNR could apply for funding to bolster hunters into the outdoors by simply applying for them if they used the NRA Hunter Ed? There’s more… Peter Churchbourne joins us from NRA to take a deep dive into what they’ve done across the nation. DOGE isn’t the only entity that can fish out waste and bureaucracy.
This is what IA DNR forces on you today:
And this is the possibility before you from NRA:
Take a deep and informative dive into this and decide for yourself what should be done after watching this video exclusive with IFC:
In Libertatem,
Michael Ware – IFC Board
The images above originated from the IA DNR’s current Hunter Ed provider.
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.
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.
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.
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
Well, the ATF ignores the Courts, the NRA cleans house, and 24% of November voters carry guns. This last week has been a mixed bag of 2A News for this week’s 2A Wrap-Up, so here we go!
AmmoLand reported that the ATF just sent a letter to an individual member of Gun Owners of America that states the ATF can still enforce the ban on pistols equipped with stabilizing devices.
“On December 12, 2024, a member of Gun Owners of America received a response to the question posed to ATF, signed not by any identifiable ATF official, but rather generically ‘FIPB,’ standing for ATF’s Firearms Industry Programs Branch (attached with personal information redacted),” GOA Senior Vice President Erich Pratt wrote to Assistant Director, Office of Enforcement Programs and Services Megan Bennett. “In this December 12, 2024 email, FIPB adopted a legal position about pistol braces that is (i) at odds with the opinions of various courts to have considered the Rule, (ii) likely in violation of various injunctions against ATF’s enforcement of the Rule, and (iii) in conflict with the statute and even the Final Rule itself.”
Remember that this is the agency that has killed people in pre-dawn raids when a simple call to them would have accomplished the goal of searching the home. They also gave its outgoing Director an 80% Lower, as a parting gift. We at IFC will monitor this story and update you as it develops.
As reported at The Reload, the NRA BOD has ended its relationship with the erratically effective Brewer Law Firm.
The partnership between the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the architect of its legal strategy for the last half-decade is now ending.
Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors announced late last month it will no longer represent the NRA going forward. The firm and its namesake, William Brewer, have been instrumental in direction-defining decisions the gun-rights group has made since its corruption scandal broke into public sight in 2018. Those decisions resulted in the NRA splitting from its top contractor, filing for bankruptcy, wiping out its top leadership–including Wayne LaPierre, and being found liable by a New York jury for failing to protect whistle-blowers during a years-long civil trial.
However, as Brewer noted, they also secured a unanimous victory at the Supreme Court and prevented the group’s total dissolution or even the appointment of a government overseer.
“With resolve befitting its mission, the NRA stood and fought,” the firm said in a statement on its website. “Six years later, the NRA still stands – and so do the freedoms for which it has long fought. The Firm is proud it represented the NRA in its blockbuster 9-0 Supreme Court victory, its defeat of the NYAG’s ‘corporate death penalty’ and compliance-monitor claims, its separation from corrupt vendors, and dozens of other matters.”
“The greatest reward of this work arrives now: with major litigation threats defeated, the Firm’s work is nearly done,” it added.
Not everyone inside the group agrees, though. While NRA President Bob Barr, former President Charles Cotton, and other longtime board members have remained staunch Brewer supporters through the firm’s tenure, a growing number of board members have questioned Brewer’s legal strategy–with many effectively voting against the firm’s representation in the group’s last meeting. Jeff Knox, an NRA board member and reform leader, said Brewer’s statement showed the firm “would rather ride off into the sunset than be tossed out into the street,” while Rocky Marshall, another reformer board member, labeled it “comical.”
As the Iowa Official NRA State Association, we work closely with NRA staff on a near-daily basis. As the New York AG attack on the NRA is over, it’s heartening to see that the NRA BOD is cleaning house and more effectively administrating its operations.
From Dr. John Lott’s January 3rd Newsletter:
“Another survey that we commissioned asked about how often people carry concealed handguns. Nationwide, 13.1% of general election voters carry all or most of the time, and another 11.2% carry some of the time or rarely (so that comes to 24.3% carry).”
Taking rights away from an educated public that is actively exercising those rights daily. Dr. Lott is a real asset to the 2A Community and you can follow him on X here.
At Crossroads Shooting Sports; We know that buying a firearm can be intimidating and uncomfortable, especially if it will be your first purchase. Using an online new pistol buying guide can help you sort out the jargon and find out what you need to know before buying, but you’ll still need training and one-to-one support to help you.
When we envisioned CrossRoads Shooting Sports, we had a different model in mind: open, modern, and clean with no attitudes, no pressure, and no gimmicks. Whether it’s your first time holding a firearm, or you’re an experienced shooter looking for that latest piece of gear, you will be met by professionals whose only goal is to serve you with a humble spirit. With nearly 17,000 square feet of total space, classroom facilities, and a state-of-the-art indoor shooting range, CrossRoads Shooting Sports is here to meet your needs, at your level, when you are ready.
Please take advantage of your IFC Member discounts when patronizing this great IFC-supporting business.
2A Day on February 18th at the State Capitol is fast approaching. Don’t forget to get your tickets now, for the IFC-PAC BBQ Dinner that evening with Iowa Hero, Major Jeff Streucker of Black Hawk Down Fame.
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
Not Just For the GuysNot just for the guys…I was fortunate that IFC sent me to the NRA Annual Meeting this year, in Dallas, about three weeks ago. Although I have been a Life Member of NRA for many years, it was the first time I had attended the NRAAM. 
Registration to the event is free, if you are an NRA member. Also, most of the seminars and educational sessions were free to attend as well. I highly recommend that you go. Next year’s event will be in Atlanta, Georgia (a little closer to home), on April 24-27th. Hotels are available to book now: https://www.nraam.org/.
Just a quick word about logistics. I have attended many large conferences in my life and the organization for this event was stellar. It is obvious that the NRA has invested heavily in their annual flagship event. Everything from the shuttle buses to the hotels, to the on-site assistance available, signage, sticking to the schedule…it was all handled superbly. Kudos to the NRAAM personnel.
Because I had heard about the “14 Acres of Guns & Gear”, I wore my hiking boots — and was very glad I did! The first thing that strikes you is the sheer enormity – the scale – of the event. The famous “Wall of Guns” had drool-worthy classics on display. Every conceivable vendor was on hand to show you their latest guns, gear and gadgets. There was an entire aisle devoted to safari and US-based hunting trips. Ammunition and gun manufacturers competed for your ear, each one seemingly one-upping the other. There were trainers for every shooting sport, and hands-on displays for dry fire systems. Booths featured specialized targets, home defense, and self-defense. Sales staff were on hand to share their product knowledge, and strategies for use. Suppressors, scopes, RDS, weapon mounted lights, tactical lights, slings and cases…on and on. Literally there was just about everything firearms-related available!
While in the Exhibit Hall, I stopped to chat with the good folks at Firearms Legal Protection, one of IFC’s Trusted Partners and they obliged with a photo. 
Always good to see friends when away from home. Check out their services at the link above.
And women — women were everywhere. Women are the fastest-growing demographic for new shooters and first-time firearms purchasers in the country, and they are an enthusiastic bunch! Shoot Like A Girl was there with their semi-trailer where you could shoot any of the guns they had on hand, free of charge.
Vendors and trainers are finely attuned to this sustained, multi-year trend in new firearms purchasers. Consequently, they are adopting and adapting marketing, training strategies and even changes in manufacturing, to accommodate this huge new influx of women gun owners. Sorry guys. The world of guns and shooting is no longer a ‘good old boys club’. There are an awful lot of women who have a passion for various shooting sports and disciplines and they are pretty impressive. And relentless! More on that later.
Apart from the several exhibit halls devoted to toys that could break even Elon Musk’s bank account, there were multiple tracks of educational and training seminars, also available at no charge. My only complaint was that — despite going ’round the sun many, many times in my life, I have yet to figure out how to be in two places at one time. Choices were difficult even though some sessions were offered more than once. This is a link to the 99 sessions offered during the three days, just to give you a sense of the many opportunities.
I attended two sessions offered by John Correia/Active Self Protection (“Lessons Learned From Analyzing 50,000 Gunfights” 
and “Top 5 Myths Concealed Carriers Believe, Revealed”). John walked us through his analysis of many situations captured on video. He emphasized the importance of making Good, Sane, Sober, Moral and Prudent decisions.
I also attended two sessions offered by Lt. Col. Ed Monk/Last Resort Training (Considerations for Armed Responders to Active Shooter Attacks”). These were provocative sessions designed to get you thinking seriously about “what if”. Mr. Monk described what a person might encounter, what to do (and not do), as well as tactics for how to be effective and survive in such a situation. Very sobering stuff.
(Photo is of three IFC Life Members (from left: myself, Presenter Ed Monk, Dave and Todd)
However, the first session I attended, was the “NRA Clubs & Associations Workshop”. Our very own Dave Funk, President of IFC, was one of the two featured presenters, and he did an excellent job. He discussed the multi-faceted social media approach we used in 2022 to ensure the passage of Iowa’s Freedom Amendment. This was the Constitutional Amendment that added language to the Iowa State Constitution to protect Iowan’s Second Amendment rights from infringement. (Prior to that amendment, Iowa was one of only six states that did not have such language in our Constitution. To remind you of the company we were in, the other states were California, New Jersey, Illinois, etc. You get the drift.)
But a funny thing happened mid-speech…(Only funny, because no one was hurt!) Dave Funk was presenting at a podium on the stage. 
Moriah Day, Executive Director of the Kansas State Rifle Association (also presenting), and NRA Board member, Dave Halbrook (pictured here),
were also seated on the stage – when it collapsed! It literally folded at the middle seam and both of those seated, suddenly were down! They quickly recovered and left the stage. What did ‘our’ Dave do when this occurred? Glanced over, assessed the situation, grabbed the mic, stepped off the stage and continued his slide show presentation, unruffled, while maintenance fixed the stage. This was the first event on the first day and to say it started off with a bang is an understatement 🙂
There were several NRA Board members who attended the Clubs & Associations meeting, along with members from Kansas, Oklahoma, Illinois, California, Michigan,New Mexico, and others I cannot recall. The information exchange was great and I made several new contacts and brought back many useful ideas. If that had been the only session I had attended, the trip would have been worthwhile.
This was the single special event I attended. It was billed as a “unique opportunity to learn about NRA’s programs, outreach efforts and mission as relates to women”, networking, etc. It was all that and more. There were several women NRA Board members in attendance, and sponsors as well. The most beneficial part was the breakout sessions, where you could choose which topic you wanted to learn more about. For example, I am very interested in the NRA’s ‘Women on Target’ program.
The various board members each led a discussion on “their” topic/area of expertise. However, what was really revealing was the introductions among the women participants. We were each asked to briefly describe our interest and background with firearms. There were ex- and current military, law enforcement, competitive shooters of every discipline, firearms training instructors, women’s shooting group leaders, reps from national women’s shooting organizations, state gun rights reps, RSOs, gun shop owners – you name it. As I said earlier – women were everywhere, and enthusiastic, at the NRAAM. It was inspiring.
So, Iowa ladies – I leave you with this question: If you’re reading this, you are likely an IFC member. Are your friends who shoot, also IFC members? Strength in numbers — and I know you are out there! Get your friends involved. Encourage them to join IFC. (It’s not just for the guys!) 🙂
Second Amendment Matters
P.S. – Look familiar?!!!
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