National African American Gun Association on Amendment
Philip Smith, President and Founder of the National African American Gun Association shares with IFC Chair John McLaughlin why all Iowans should support the Freedom Amendment.
24 Iowa Sheriffs and Counting
***Since this publication at 8 am when 20 Sheriffs publically offered their support, 4 more Iowa County Sheriffs have joined in support of the Freedom Amendment:
(TIPTON, Iowa) — Nine more Iowa Sheriffs are publicly endorsing the Freedom Amendment ahead of Election Day. They include Sheriff Marty Arganbright (Guthrie County), Sheriff Ken Pingrey (Carroll County), Sheriff Kirk Dolleslager (Grundy County), Sheriff Chad Sheehan (Woodbury County), Sheriff Jamie Van Voorst (Sioux County), Sheriff Aaron Dodd (Franklin County), Sheriff Brandon Doiel (Harrison County), Sheriff Jeff Pratt (Monona County) and Sheriff Travis Oetter (Mills County).
(Here are the 4 from today: Sheriff Tim Beckman, Howard Co. Sheriff John LeClere, Delaware Co. Sheriff Mike Tschirgi, Clayton Co. Sheriff Kevin Wollmuth, Osceola Co.)
These latest public endorsements come only days after 11 other Iowa sheriffs also announced they too would be turning their ballots over to vote “yes” for the Freedom Amendment. Those other Sheriffs are Sheriff Warren Wethington (Cedar County), Sheriff Dan Tredrow (Van Buren), Sheriff Quinn Riess (Muscatine), Sheriff Keith Davis (Wayne), Sheriff Jared Schneider (Washington), Sheriff Jason Barnes (Madison), Sheriff Jason Sandholdt (Marion), Sheriff Adam Infante (Dallas), Sheriff Jeff Vandewater (Adair) and Sheriff Joe Carico (Warren) and Sheriff Robert Rotter (Iowa).
“As a long-time Iowa peace officer, I have never seen this amount of support among other peace officers for a public measure on the ballot,” said Cedar County Sheriff Warren Wethington. “As peace officers, we swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of Iowa and the United States and I’m proud to see so many others, who also wear the badge, aren’t afraid to be counted as supporters of Iowans’ civil rights.”
The Freedom Amendment, if approved by voters, will add the right to keep and bear arms to Iowa’s state constitution. Only six states, which includes Iowa, Minnesota, Maryland, California, New York and New Jersey, have not already adopted their own versions of the Freedom Amendment in their respective state constitutions.
“The right to self-defense is among the most basic rights we enjoy as Americans,” said IFC President Dave Funk. “We look forward to having this right enshrined in Iowa’s Constitution on November 8th and we are grateful to have the support of Iowa’s law-enforcement community towards our efforts to make this happen.”
Recent polling from the Des Moines Register and Iowans for Tax Relief has also shown it’s not just members of law enforcement who are backing the Freedom Amendment but a strong majority of everyday Iowans too.
The Iowa Firearms Coalition, an affiliate of the NRA and NSSF, is a 501(c4) nonprofit and is Iowa’s only effective pro-Second Amendment rights organization.
Harriet Hageman: “YES” on Freedom Amendment
Harriet Hageman, constitutional lawyer and candidate for Congress from Wyoming, proudly endorses the Freedom Amendment. Turn your ballot over and VOTE YES for Iowa’s Right to Keep and Bear Arms Amendment! We’re thankful for the support. THANK YOU!
Do you know that Iowa is one of only six states that do not recognize our precious Second Amendment rights in their constitutions? It may seem hard to believe, but Iowa, which adopted “shall issue” Permits to Carry Weapons in 2010 and became a “constitutional carry” state in 2021, shares that dubious distinction with California, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Minnesota.
The Iowa Firearms Coalition, Iowa’s only effective gun-rights organization, has been hard at work for years to get this fixed! Amending Iowa’s Constitution is no easy task. The course is long and there are many hurdles and pitfalls along the way. But the good news is that what the IFC calls the “Freedom Amendment” has now passed two consecutive Iowa General Assemblies and the issue will be on the ballot for Iowa voters to decide on November 8, 2022.
The proposed Freedom Amendment reads:
“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.”
Polling Suggests 58% FOR in Register
This is an op-ed submission by Craig Swartz, in support for the Freedom Amendment to the Des Moines Register. Here you go:
The Register’s own polling suggests that 58% of Iowans support Public Measure 1, which affirms and guarantees that Iowans may own firearms for their own use and purposes. Despite this, The Register and other non-public influence peddlers have decided to line up against it. An October 30 Register front page editorial contained primarily hyperbole and “what if” scenarios attempting to sway public opinion against the amendment.
Conveniently left out was the single most important fact, and possibly the one very reason all Iowans should support this amendment: Public Measure 1 does not change the fact that those people who are now prohibited from owning firearms will somehow be able to legally acquire them after ratification.
Prospective buyers will still be required to undergo a NICS background check, and any convicted felon or domestic abuser, among others, will still be denied legal purchase. The primary issue of this amendment should not be “strict scrutiny” by which it should be measured, but the legal obtaining of a firearm.
Firearms, drugs, vehicles, and just about any other type of property or services are readily available through illegal, and seemingly non difficult means. Most violent crime nationwide is the result of known career criminals obtaining weapons illegally, and then breaking additional laws using them to intimidate, rob, maim or kill others.
Iowans do not ordinarily commit crimes and laws regulating citizens from obtaining anything will only affect those who do not break them. Legalese on paper has little effect on an intentional lawbreaker; only swift and sure action by those in authority can keep repeat offenders from continuing to prey on the residents once they have been caught, tried and convicted. The trend today in states within easy driving distance from central Iowa, however, has been to release violent criminals back into the general public, often without even having to post bond. It has also become fashionable in large metropolitan areas to simply release violent prison inmates without serving sentences, or to allow rioters, not protesters, to take over entire sections of cities, completely abandoning the citizens who elected officials have been sworn to protect.
Public Measure 1 merely affirms the US Second Amendment process into the Iowa Constitution and insists that what it says on paper is how it shall be enforced. This is how all law should be judged and as such, should be overwhelmingly supported and passed on November 8.
Craig L. Swartz
National Rifle Association Board of Directors
Iowa Sportsmen’s Federation Executive Director
Iowa State Rifle and Pistol Association Board of Directors
Adel Iowa 50003
IFC & Mike Davis – IFC Web Extra
Former Chief Counsel for Nominations for Senator Chuck Grassley, Mike Davis, makes the case to IFC Chair John McLaughlin on the importance of selecting constitutional judges, and why Iowa must protect the second amendment in the state constitution. Des Moines’ Davis is the founder and president of the Article III Project. A3P defends constitutional judges and fights against radical assaults on judicial independence. Mike weighs in on Iowa’s Freedom Amendment.
Recent Comments