Gun shows in Iowa for February 2010 (updated)

Upcoming guns shows in Iowa for the month of February, 2010:

5th - 7th, Cedar Rapids, at Hawkeye Downs
12th - 14th, Council Bluffs, at the Mid America Center
12th - 14th, Red Oak, at the Montgomery Co. Fairgrounds
19th - 21st, Dubuque, at the Dubuque County Fairgrounds
19th - 21sth,Des Moines, at Adventureland
26th - 28th, Waterloo, at McElroy Auditorium

For more details go to Iowa Gun Shows

Additions:
20th and 21st, Arcadia, at the Arcadia Legion Hall
27th and 28th, Fort Dodge, at the Webster County Fairgrounds

For March gun shows, go to Iowa gun shows for March 2010

MauserMedic and training

Fellow Iowan, MauserMedic, has a few words for a general who wants to eliminate bayonet training during basic.

Somehow, I'm guessing there's some Equal Opportunity lectures that could be delayed until after basic. Unless sensitivity training is one of those vital skills for fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Could not agree with him more.

Read more of his analysis at Are Bayonets Obsolete?

Carrying Guns in Iowa

A few quotes from this article, Carrying Guns in Iowa, regarding the Iowa-Carry/NRA bill at the state house:

Sean McClanahan, president of Iowa Carry, a Clive-based gun rights organization, said his group is working to change Iowa law from a "may issue" to a "shall issue" system.

Under current law, each sheriff has broad discretion in whether or not they issue permits to carry.

Regarding the training requirement in the bill, implying the skills of Iowa gun owners may not be up to par:

"People want to know that those carrying at least know which end goes bang," McClanahan said.

Ha Ha.

What do sheriffs' think?

Webster County Sheriff Brian Mickelson objects to losing the ability to deny permits to people who he has reason to believe should not be carrying a firearm.

Humboldt County Sheriff Dean Kruger has the same concerns.

Pocahontas County Sheriff Robert Lampe's sentiments are similar.

According to Humboldt County's Kruger, there's a gulf between the public perception of the difficulty of obtaining a permit and the reality.

"I don't think there's as many refusals as people think," he said.

I guess this guy hasn't tried to get a permit in Johnson, Linn (a few years ago), Des Moines, or a list of other counties.

The reciprocity part of the bill would put the responsibility onto the state attorney general to determine which states' permits are recognized. With an anti-gun lawyer in charge like we have in Tom Miller, good luck with that.

Read more at: Carrying guns in Iowa

Iowa Gun Owners update 1/26/10

Iowa Gun Owners recent update regarding our mail campaign (from this previous post) IGO alert 1/13/10. And an update on the Vermont-style-carry bill currently at the statehouse - House File 596 and Senate File 743.

Our bill currently has 24 co-sponsors in the House, nine in the Senate, and is causing a major stir at the Capitol amongst anti-gun politicians and even amongst a few "pro-gun" politicians who can't fathom a law that allows you to carry a weapon without a permit! Of course, this is already the law in Vermont, Alaska, and most of Montana - and these are some of the safest states anywhere in the country.

Also at the statehouse is a bill that would allow private sales of handguns in Iowa. Currently a permit to purchase is required of the buyer or the sale is illegal and both the buyer and the seller have committed a crime.

Iowa is one of only 14 states that requires law abiding citizens to get government permission to buy and sell handguns between private parties for self-defense.

In most of the rest of the nation you and I can legally sell handguns between ourselves, provided that none of us are felons, without a permit. Not so in Iowa.

This bill is being sponsored in both chambers and already we have 14 cosponsors in the House!

That's the gist of the alert, but you can read more at: Iowa Gun Owners E-mail Alert, January 26, 2010

The Iowa Concealed Carry Controversy - Jeff Knox

Jeff Knox has a good legislative update at the statehouse in Des Moines regarding our competing gun bills, along with a little history thrown in:

Democrat leaders realize the pressure is on and they are going to have a tough time shutting down all pro-rights bills this year without incurring significant damage from GunVoters in November. Desperate to find an out, they needed some political cover.
Enter the NRA.

With a fired-up electorate of GunVoters, realizing that IGO would not support watered-down concealed carry reform, and that, while more amenable to making a deal, Iowa Carry doesn’t have the clout to subdue IGO, the Democrat leaders went straight to Washington. Crafting a back-room deal with NRA, who has the clout to step right over IGO and to coerce Iowa Carry into cooperating, is a win-win, providing cover for wishy-washy politicians, while NRA can claim an easy victory, rather than working for the best possible bill for Iowa gunowners. After all, even a small win will be a much-touted, highly publicized victory for NRA.

NRA devised their strategy no discernible consultation with grassroots forces in Iowa, disregarding and undermining local strategic plans. Iowa GunVoters have been fired-up and engaged. They are geared up for a battle. If the Democrat leadership succeeds in this political trick, using NRA for cover as they perform a sleight of hand to shut down concealed carry reform, GunVoters will be disheartened, and to a large extent, removed from the equation in November. Even if the NRA bill passes, the momentum for serious reform may be lost and, if experience in other states holds true, the issue is not likely to be effectively revisited in this decade. Iowans will spend at least ten years sifting dog poo out of their salt before there is another chance for real reform. The bottom line is this: Iowa had a historic opportunity historic reform this year and that opportunity has been seriously compromised by NRA’s shortsightedness.

RTWT: The Iowa Concealed Carry Controversy

With neighbors like these...

We've got people in this state with the same opinions as elsewhere. But here's a couple of opinions from Minnesota and Missouri:

From Mary Lewis Grow of Northfield, a board member of Citizens for a Safer Minnesota. She seems to think that anyone can get any weapon they want at a gun show and she thinks the error-prone (just ask the cub scout) terror watch list should be used to prevent firearm ownership. You know those "common-sense measures" Bloomberg and company crows about.

A security risk big enough to accommodate a jumbo jet full of terrorists is the failure, both in federal and most state laws, to mandate background checks at gun shows when the seller is not a federally licensed firearms dealer. Indeed, private sellers may set up shop at most American gun shows (of which there are thousands each year) and sell any kind of high-powered weapon, in any quantity, with no check required to see if the buyer is in a prohibited category. Mary Lewis Grow: Security alert: Gun show loopholes

And speaking of gun shows, Lewis Diuguid of the Kansas City Star tosses in a few cliches of his own during a recent gun show visit:

Thousands of people were there. More than 95 percent were men and white. I have never seen more pickup trucks in one place.

Ha Ha guns and hicks - yeah we get it.

Gun sales have skyrocketed since Barack Obama was elected president. It is difficult to know whether these folks think Obama will try to restrict their Second Amendment right to gun ownership or whether they are concerned about Obama being the first black man in the Oval Office.

No doubt, these are good, law-abiding, salt-of-the-earth folks. But I worry about such weapons, the ease with which they can be acquired as well as the motivation and verifiable mental stability of each buyer.

Again, with these self-righteous opinions from hoplophobes? So in Diuguid's opinion, anyone who has a gun is mentally unstable. Nice that he got that in print.

One of the Green Mountain Boys

Stranded's reciprocity rules dictate I point back when pointed to.

Green Mountains Homesteading is a site describing the events unfolding in his state of Vermont.

State history and current events done with humor - worth a visit every now and then.

As always, if I missed someone, let me know.

Iowa Gun Owners on the radio

Aaron Dorr, Executive Director of Iowa Gun Owners is scheduled to be on Armed American Radio on this week's show on 1/24/10.

At: Coming Up On Armed American Radio – January 24th 2010

Leonard Boswell: "Amend it"

Regarding the recent ruling that basically legalized what was going on anyway, corporations can advocate more openly for the candidate of their choice by purchasing advertising. Okay

But my congressman:

U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell introduced a resolution Thursday that would begin a process to amend the U.S. Constitution to restrict political spending by corporations and labor groups. The measure would have to pass by a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate, then be ratified by 38 state legislatures or state conventions within the next seven years to become law.

Another reason to get rid of the old duffer from office.

"No American should have to turn on the TV and see AIG telling them how to vote," Boswell said.

If the public is that stupid to believe everything they hear on TV... Never mind.

Coming soon to a city near you, part II

No license, get two years.

Stephen Collins, 37, of Delafield Street, admitted today in Dutchess County Court he had a loaded .380 caliber semiautomatic pistol in his possession when police arrested him Feb. 27, 2009. He told Judge Gerald V. Hayes he did not have a license for the weapon.

No other details about the guy. He could be a scumbag or a saint. It doesn't matter to me. He was sentenced to two years (a felony) for not having a license for a firearm.

This is what happens when we have to ask permission from our lords and masters.

At: City man faces prison on gun charge

Coming soon to a city near you

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio- Youngstown police will show off new technology Friday that they believe will help to reduce gun violence in the city.

City officials, including police chief Jimmy Hughes and mayor Jay Williams, will hold a press conference to unveil the new tool, called Shot Spotter.

That way officers can show up way the hell after the fact and pick up empty shell casings - maybe.

At: YPD hopes new technology will reduce gun violence

Can some explain to me how a half a million dollar boondoggle will prevent crime? Any crime?

It's final, we are immune, get over it

I posted about this in September: Iowa Attorney General, we are immune, get over it where a trucker from South Dakota is beat up by DOT officer Darrell Wiegand Jr. No one seems to be denying that the trucker received a beat-down from the officer.

The ruling from District Court Judge Michael Schilling

Schilling, in the ruling, said after a "plain, simple and unambiguous reading" of the Tort Claim Act section that applied to the case, the assault and battery claim "must be dismissed."

That would be this section:

Chapter 669 of the Iowa Tort Claims Act gives citizens a road map of sorts by which they can sue the state. Attorneys for the state argued Howard cannot sue Wiegand and IDOT "because employees of governmental agencies acting within the scope of their employment and the individual state agencies are immune from suit" under that section.

Under the Tort Act, a suit cannot be filed against the state if it is based on "any claim arising out of assault, battery, false imprisonment, false arrest, malicious prosecution, abuse of process, libel, slander, misrepresentation, deceit, or interference with contract rights."

Because of this ruling, it is now within the "scope of their employment" for state employees to beat the crap out of citizens.

So everyone, please be careful in our state. It seems that some people have immunity and they can get away with battery.

Read more at S.D. trucker's IDOT suit dismissed

Iowa news roundup, 1/19/10

A few articles displaying some of the best and outstanding leaders in our state:

Citing a "study" that windfarms are taking up valuable real estate:

Iowans not buying into ‘energy sprawl’ argument
“If only they’d posted this report in the 1860s,” said Nathaniel Baer, energy program director for the Iowa Environmental Council.

Really, Nate?

From the Department of Duh, with a side order of You're kind of Late:

Lawmakers worry heavy snow could cause spring flooding
“We’ve got 20 inches of snow across the watershed already,” Senate Rebuild Committee Chairman Rob Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids, said Thursday. With predictions of more extreme weather, greater precipitation and higher stream flow as a result of climate changes, “I want to know what my community can do in 2010 to prevent this.”

A little late now, Boss Hogg

If one-tenth of one percent is deep, I don't want to know how wide it is:

Branstad campaign raises $1.5 million
“We’re certainly encouraged to have more than 3,000 donors,” campaign spokesman Tim Albrecht said about the GOP hopeful’s fundraising numbers. For the campaign it means “the broad base of support is here and it is deep.”

3000 out of 3 million citizens, that's deep, man

When you run out of ideas:

Middle school faces motivation challenge
"We developed a PowerPoint presentation, and we will go to one class at a time and talk with the students about test-taking tips and doing things to become a better test taker,"

Nothing motivates me better than a cheesy PowerPoint presentation

I'm trying to figure out how these people have jobs.

Sorry for the Snark, it's that kind of day.

Irony in Massachusetts

When Ted Kennedy pushed Massachusetts lawmakers to replace appointing a successor to the Senate with this special election, do you think he envisioned that his replacement would be a Republican?

Too bad, Ted.

Hopefully Brown will do right on issues I care about. But if he stays in DC too long, he'll end up like the rest.

Madrid, IA police chief suspended

An update of an earlier post Madrid, IA police chief

We find that the city council suspended Chief Tasler for a few days and is put on probation

Madrid, Ia. — City Council members suspended the town's police chief Monday for five days without pay after a controversial video that promoted the chief's final mixed martial arts fight was posted on a popular Internet site last week.

The council voted unanimously to suspend Rick Tasler, 32, who has been head of the police department since July 2008 in this Boone County city of 2,300. Tasler will also be required to complete 60 hours of professional development, and he will be on employment probation for six months. Madrid suspends police chief for 5 days

Tasler said he regretted the negative image that the video brought on the town.

"I do think that I need discipline for that," he said during Monday's meeting. "This wasn't supposed to be on YouTube."

The video shows some reckless behavior by the guy he's shooting with and this is probably the end of it.

At least the end to any more postings on Youtube.

The "good" old days

For a touch of nostalgia True Blue Sam the Travelin' Man is a good stop. He's a fellow mid-westerner on the Illinois side.

At first look over there he has some chain saw sharpening tips. After my saw located a couple of nails the last time I used it, that would come in handy.

Also, the old pictures, recordings and his posting old photos, etc, it looks like I've got some place to spend some time.

I'll be back, Sam.

Kurt Hofmann "peaceable armed citizen"

I'm going to refer to Kurt as "The Hammer" because he, again, has hit the nail squarely on the head.

I am not, in fact, especially enamored of the term "law abiding gun owner." To me, that term implies that someone who obeys a law prohibiting an effective means of defending himself and his family is somehow morally superior to someone who has the courage to defy such an evil edict. I would argue that the reverse is true.

That's why I dislike the term "law abiding gun owner," and much prefer my colleague David Codrea's "peaceable armed citizen." A peaceable armed citizen is no more inclined to violence than a peaceable unarmed citizen, but he will not submit to aggression, and he will not meekly shuffle to the back of the bus when told that "the law" requires him to.

Please read his analysis Is 'law abiding gun owner' what we should strive to be?

After my previous post and his description of a man who is now a felon in New York for obtaining the means to defend himself and his family, being a law-abiding citizen may not be what it's cracked up to be.

Law-abiding gun owner treated as criminal

Via GunRights4us
Vin Suprynowicz informs us of a citizen:

Mr. Mitchener did everything required of him by law, ordinance, and Metro instructions. The officer handcuffed and disarmed him “so that everyone would be safe”? What a bunch of bull. If the burglar or burglars had emerged, they would have been confronted not by two armed law-abiding good guys, but instead by one small, frightened officer and a handcuffed and disarmed legal occupant. This rendered Mr. Mitchener “safer”?

RTWT - Handcuffed, disarmed for obeying the law

The job hunt continues

I found this job opening but I think I'll pass.

Freedom in America

When I read stories like this, Vietnamese in Iowa: Freedom worth years of lean living, separation
I'm reminded of why Ronald Reagan called our nation the "shining city on the hill".

I'm also reminded of our responsibilities to maintain the city and the hill. Repair the walls, pull the weeds and retake the ground that was given up.

For all of her struggles, Vietnamese immigrant Nga Nguyen had this to say:

The terror on the beach, years of lean living and family separation was worth it, because of one thing.

"Freedom," Jennifer said.

Aaron Dorr at Fort Dodge, IA

Yesterday Aaron Dorr at candidate forum I pointed out that the Fort Dodge paper had a little bias labeling the Iowa Gun Owners as a "conservative" group.

They return and gave some details on Aaron's speech.

A firearms ownership group hopes to make 2010 the year in which it becomes easier for Iowans to carry concealed weapons.

Aaron Dorr, executive director of Iowa Gun Owners, told a Fort Dodge audience Saturday that a ''real right to carry bill'' has been introduced in the state House of Representatives.

They dropped the conservative label for the group and reserved it for the candidates (I'm sure they will use "liberal" to define the democrats next time).

He said Iowans' right to bear arms under the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution doesn't amount to much as long as sheriffs can limit who gets a permit to carry concealed weapons.

''We are sick and tired of having to beg for these God-given rights,'' he said.

Some commentors are at odds with that statement. And they vote.

More at Dorr: ‘Guns save lives’

Madrid, IA police chief

Madrid, IA police chief Rick Tasler displays a certain amount of idiocy by letting a friend handle his firearms as toys instead of treating the weapons with respect.

The video shows Tasler spending time on the job with MMA fighter Joe Brammer. Most of it was shot in Tasler's patrol car as the men discuss fights and work.

"I was concerned. It looks like it was out in the open," said retired Iowa State Patrol Captain Marlo Fieck. "This time of year, there could be deer hunters or almost anybody out there."

Fieck teaches the required gun safety class for getting a permit. He said he was also concerned about another video clip that shows Tasler demonstrating using mixed martial arts in his job.

Watch him for yourself Madrid chief on video and decide.

KCCI reports Madrid Police Chief Video Draws Concern

How painful is that?

When I saw this headline Legislator wants to edit description of official state seal my first reaction was "great, another legislator wasting time", and my second reaction was, "great, a liberal wants to change our motto."

I was wrong.

I still think there are more important things for the legislature to work on, but this should probably get fixed. The legal description states:

...the seal mentions the soldier and that there is a “plow in his rear.”

And we all know how painful that can be.

Aaron Dorr at candidate forum

Aaron Dorr, executive director of Iowa Gun Owners was scheduled to speak at a candidate forum today in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Three independent candidates for the state Legislature and representatives of two conservative groups will speak during a forum today in Fort Dodge.

So it's "conservative" groups that desire a national sovereignty and our 2nd Amendment rights recognized? Well call me "conservative".

FD hosts candidates for Iowa Legislature

Out for service 1/16/10

I spent the last three days at work fixing things that have broken and preparing for a vendor who is coming in on Monday.

To top that off, I picked up some bug...

To my regulars, I apologize. I will resume my old snarkiness later today after some rest.

Why we fight (in Iowa)

Kurt Hofmann in his Examiner article today explains why the permit process should be scrapped.

As gun rights advocates, we argue that the Second Amendment exists to protect an inalienable right--one, indeed, that shall not be infringed. At the same time, though, we have endeavored to persuade the states (successfully, in the vast majority of states) to allow us to ask for (and pay for) a license to carry with us the means to defend our lives and our families. Our "success," in other words, has taken the form of reducing the bearing of arms from a fundamental right, to a privilege.

In asking for that privilege, we have lent implicit legitimacy to the denial of that which we should demand as free citizens. Yes--I know that most states have "shall issue" permitting systems, rather than "may issue," meaning that an applicant who meets the requirements for issuance of a license cannot, in theory, be denied the license. Sure--that's better than giving some police chief or sheriff the power to arbitrarily require someone to be defenseless while in public, but it still is an acceptance that our rights are something granted by government authority, based on our meeting the conditions the government imposes. Does that sound like "shall not be infringed" to you? In only two states, Vermont and Alaska, can citizens legally carry a concealed handgun without first asking permission.

This is why we fight here in Iowa "...but it still is an acceptance that our rights are something granted by government authority, based on our meeting the conditions the government imposes."

We have to fight against this acceptance, by ourselves and others, that we have to seek permission from our betters in order to exercise a right. When we accept it, that right is reduced to a privilege, one that we may never gain back.

It seems to me that similarly, in our willingness to enter into negotiations about what conditions are to be imposed on the granting of liberties that already belong to a free people, we have, in the words of the man in the joke, "already established" what kind of people we are--not free citizens, who command their public servants, but supplicants, who ask the government for a few crumbs of freedom when it suits them to give us a bit more leash. The farther we proceed down that road, the harder it will become to return to being truly free citizens, and the less likely that can happen without bloodshed.

We are in a fight to restore our freedoms in this state just as our motto proclaims: "Our Liberties We Prize and Our Rights We Will Maintain"

It looks like we haven't done much maintaining. We intend to change that.

Read more at Kurt's Examiner column: 'Licensed' defensive handgun carry: Are we doing it wrong?

Iowa Gun Owners Alert 1/13/10

On December 30th, number one son and I joined about 50 others in an effort to stuff envelopes to send to thousands of gun owners in Iowa. Our efforts were minuscule compared to Aaron Dorr, his family, and others who spent countless hours that week, printing, folding, stuffing and stamping these packets.

The packet contains letters of encouragement from Aaron and representative Sorenson, but more importantly, it contains postcards to send to our state senator and representative to encourage them to join Iowa Gun Owners to pass the Vermont-style bill headed their way this session.

The bill restores the 2nd Amendment in Iowa by eliminating mandatory government training, paying fees, and the whole concept of having to beg permission to exercise a Constitutional right.

We must not allow anti-gun politicians to get a free pass. We must demand that they vote on the REAL Right-to-Carry bill and focus their energy on this bill.

If the anti-gun politicians want to kill the bill, or water it down with weakening amendments they can do that. But they are going to have to do it on the record, with recorded votes. This may come at a high price next November.

What you will not see happen is Iowa Gun Owners making these concessions up front, granting the gun-grabbers exactly what they want. This is what it means to be No Compromise!

It was a pleasure to work with like-minded people for a common goal. My regret is that I could give that one day.

Read more at Iowa Gun Owners Alert 1/13/10

Borepatch explains global warming

Weather: a localized and temporary phenomenon, unrelated to global trends.

Climate: anything that proves Global Warming.

With a picture showing Britain covered in snow (much like Iowa), I appreciate this explanation.

All of Britain covered by snow

Visit more of his insightful posts at his Junk Science category.

I've added him to sites I visit a while ago. Borepatch

It's a machine gun because we say so

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Police released surveillance video Tuesday of two men robbing a southeast Portland convenience store while one of them carried what officers described as an automatic machine gun.

Headline reads: SE Portland Robbers Carried Machine Gun

It's black, scary, and has a magazine, therefore it's a machine gun.



With all the semi-autos that look similar to actual fully-automatic firearms and no one fired a round, how do they know?

The Story of Reggie

The connection between two men is one black lab.

I encourage everyone to go read The Story of Reggie

Register is "pointless" and a distraction to Iowans

A Des Moines Register editorial calls the gun bills currently proposed in the Iowa legislature as "pointless" and a "distraction" to the hard work ahead for our state.

Given the truly important issues that need attention, the Legislature should not waste time on pointless debates about gun permits and same-sex marriage. We don't have the room here for a full discussion of the reach of the Second Amendment, and the Iowa Legislature certainly doesn't need that distraction, either.

A restoration of our rights is pointless?

Get budget in hand and move Iowa ahead

The Dog and the Wolf

The wisdom from a child's story:

A gaunt wolf was almost dead from hunger when he happened to meet a house-dog who was passing by. "Ah cousin," said the dog, "I know how it would be; your irregular life will soon be the ruin of you. Why do you not work steadily as I do, and get your food regularly given to you?"

"I would have no objection," said the wolf, "if I could only get a place."

"I will easily arrange that for you," said the dog. "Come with me to my master and you shall share my work."

So the wolf and the dog went towards the town together. On the way there the wolf noticed that the hair on a certain part of the dog's neck was very much worn away, so he ask him how that came about.

"Oh it is nothing," said the dog. "That is only the place where the collar is put on at night to keep me chained up; it chafes a bit, but one soon gets used to it."

"Is that all?" said the wolf. "Then good-bye to you, Master Dog."

The moral?
Better to starve free than be a fat slave

From Aesop's Fables, Joseph Jacobs, ed by Charles W. Eliot c. 1937

Straightarrow's challenge

In comments to this post University of Iowa Threat team Straightarrow asks, "So, I ask again, how big a threat are these people?"

Having been in that PC hell-hole for a number of years, I was looking at it from the perspective of this being another feel-good, doing something without really doing something program. A couple of people nosing around and getting into your business.

But his words made me rethink this.

Some of the worst policies implemented in this country have been pushed by academics. Look at cabinet secretaries in the past several administrations, both republican and democrat.

I figured that as long as they don't have any authority these "Threat Teams" could only make noise and maybe ruin some guy's reputation, at most.

But add a little power, and next they will have their own show-trials to be suspending students from school or get people fired. The next step would be to send their perceived "threats" for psych evaluations and involuntary, re-educational lockup. After that, would be jail time.

A couple of administrations later and these little "people commissars" will be in every neighborhood looking into our windows and bank accounts finding threats everywhere.

And they will find threats, because if they don't, they have no reason to exist.

So, to answer your question SA: Yes, they are a threat. The whole concept is a threat.

Free men don't need anyone watching over them.

Thanks, SA.

Badger Gun posts

Kurt posted Congresswoman from WI jumps on the Badger-bashing bandwagon of congress-critter Gwen Moore demanding the ATF to put Badger Guns out of business. Please go there, he brings up excellent points.

I found a lurker from the city of Milwaukee checking me out and I'd guess that they're snooping around Kurt's site as well.

I hope so.

Maybe they would actually come to their senses and realize the criminals in this so far are the idiots buying the guns from Badgers and then either handing them over or selling them to the felons.

One of the geniuses sold his Taurus for $40 to some felon. I would've given him that plus gas money. (Update) This bonehead was sentenced to two years yesterday Man who bought gun used to shoot officers gets 2 years in prison

I've said since day one, if Badger Guns had serious violations, the ATF would've shut them down with a SWAT team and the "eyewitness news" following right behind. They would have put them out of business right then.

But my impression is that the violations (the paper doesn't list them) are most likely for paperwork, and the newspapers are doing their best to give the impression that the past and current owners are crucified before the truth gets out.

If any other gun store owner think they are safe, they better prepare. They will be targeted next.

Previous Posts: BTR - Badger Guns Posts

And this is justice?

Man with a family and a job to support that family is convicted of a felony possession of firearms (they belonged to his wife). Bremerton man goes to prison for wife's guns

Man is going to prison and his family is going on welfare.

The guns from Badger Guns

Kurt Hofmann has been keeping up on the Badger Guns Saga with another insightful post at Now, they want to make it harder to sell a gun store (Thanks for the link back) and sometimes I wonder if we are the only two guys left that don't want to throw the current owners under the bus.

I've got no dog in this fight and have never met the current or previous owners. The problem is when they vilify one gun store owner when they've done nothing illegal, they will go after them all pretty soon.

I missed a really nifty Flash animation from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal Violation history at gun store and after clicking "Next" a few times I found this nugget towards the end:



The guns used to shoot the Milwaukee police officers were purchased from the previous owners. The violations of 500+ crime guns were from the previous owners.

Then on the last frame I circled the crime guns listed from the current owner in green, although one incident was "two years earlier" which may or may not have been with the current owner.



Be sure to go to the last frame and click on the interview with Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn complaining that Congress is hampering ATF's efforts.

The Madison and Milwaukee politicians, police chiefs, and newspapers have been wailing for months to shut down Badger Guns, all the while the crime guns overwhelmingly were purchased from the previous owners. By this report, only two guns purchased under current ownership were used in the police shootings.

By that standard they would shut down Walmart, but then maybe that's the idea.

Previous Posts: BTR - Badger Guns Posts

Update - ATF actually follows the law... someone else is paying attention to Badger Guns.

More attention to Iowa Gun Owners

Dudley Brown, Executive Director, National Association for Gun Rights writes about Iowa Gun Owners. Some quotes:

It’s not just about one more “Shall Issue” state, but rather it’s about Iowa becoming a bellwether for liberty in the very heart of our nation.

Unfortunately, some of the elitist gun owners in America — the head-honchos of the institutional gun lobby — have trouble understanding that. In many states, they even directly oppose Vermont-Alaska real concealed carry.

Their opposition to freedom is nothing but a self-serving “I’ve got mine” attitude, seasoned with a dash of “not EVERYONE should be able to carry a gun.”

But let’s examine that attitude: it means they don’t really oppose gun control.

They just oppose gun control when it’s imposed on them. Give them their own little tin-pot dictatorship, and they’re happy to limit your freedom.

Read more at Iowa Flirting With No Permit Needed Concealed Carry

Police Academy now showing in Dubuque

Dubuque citizens have the opportunity to learn how to make an arrest, shoot a gun and have pepper spray blasted in their faces at the 14th annual Citizens Police Academy.

Sorry, but with a title like Citizens Police Academy registration due by Jan. 15 I had to use the picture.

Iowans should consistently ask permission

The guest column from Iowa Sportsmen's Federation, Craig Swartz, adds his thoughts for more testing, more fees, background checks...

If one has demonstrated competence and safety with firearms, knowledge of the laws, and has no criminal or mental illness history, every applicant should receive a permit.

Only those people who are willing to accept this solemn responsibility will put themselves through the process and expense to obtain a permit.

Although I would agree with this:

Conversely, to lay out the expense, time and to complete all aspects of the course work in every detail, yet be denied a permit merely upon the arbitrary whim of an elected official, is, and has always been, ludicrous at best.

but I don't think for the same reasons.

Read more at Guest column: Iowa gun law should be consistent

University of Iowa Threat team

Threat assessment team has it's hands full at the University of Iowa campus

Since its formation in late 2008, the University of Iowa's threat assessment team has been involved with close to 175 cases.

They have to be busy since there's only two of them.

And what does this team of two people do? They snoop on students, staff, and faculty.

The purpose of the group is to identify UI faculty, staff or students who are a threat to themselves or to others.

They rely on snitches to turn people in.

The threat assessment specialists generally are notified of a potential problem by roommates, resident hall staff or student services for students; and supervisors, human resources representatives or departmental staff for faculty and staff. The duo also gives presentations across campus to get the word out about the program.

Sometimes people need help and reach out to others for assistance. This couple was formed after the Virginia Tech shootings in an effort to "do something" for those who might need help.

How effective are they?

The program isn't perfect and the pair admits that oftentimes, there's no tangible result stemming from their work.

Apparently not much.

Seems like another feel-good, do-something-not-tangible effort by a university that wouldn't know an affective way to solve real problems.

Loses her gun and doesn't have to pay the price

An Indianola, IA police officer leaves her firearm in her squad car, and while on vacation, it's stolen.

A police-issue handgun was stolen from an Indianola police officer’s squad car last week while the officer was on vacation, said Police Chief Steve Bonnett.

Officer Mesha Wagner noticed at about 1 p.m. Sunday that someone had stolen her Glock 9mm pistol from the city squad car parked on the 900 block of South R Street in Indianola, Bonnett said.

Why is an officer allowed to leave their squad car parked on the street while on vacation for a week with a firearm stored inside? Because a policy states they have to.

This city doesn't think the officer should have any consequences for allowing a firearm to fall into the hands of a criminal.

Wagner, who has served in Indianola since 2003, will not face any disciplinary action.

Could she at least be required to reimburse the city for the lost pistol?

Readers respond to Register's status quo on guns

Responding to the Des Moines Register advocacy for the Iowa's current concealed carry permit process Des Moines Register wants status quo they published a couple of letters to the editor:

When a person passes a background check and proves himself or herself to be capable of safely handling a firearm for their own protection, then why should they be denied that right? How can you be so blatantly against the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States? Easier access to guns can make us all safer

And

I have an Iowa nonprofessional permit to carry a gun, and the process to get that license was no cakewalk. I studied in advance of the test administered by the county sheriff. Only 10 of my fellow 25 applicants passed the written part and continued on to the firing range; half the shooters remained when I finally passed, putting 10 rounds on target. After being fingerprinted and waiting a couple of weeks for the results of my background check, I was granted my permit.

But some Iowans are not afforded those same privileges, nor are some Iowans subjected to the same rigor, and some Iowans in some counties are just not allowed to apply for a permit at all. Rules for gun permits should be consistent

"Privileges" - this displays the difficulty we gun owners have to deal with. Rights vs. privileges.

And lastly

While there are legitimate reasons to deny an application, telling a law-abiding and mentally stable person, "You don't need one," should not be one of those reasons. Gun permits denied for arbitrary reasons?

Through these letters and the comments posted (so far), it would seem we have a long and tough fight to change our gun laws. Some of the difficulty will be with gun owners.

Badger Guns ATF investigation

I've always maintained that Badger Guns' current owners should be given the benefit of the doubt regarding their business. With the vilification from Wisconsin blogs and newspapers from Madison and Milwaukee, they deserve a fair hearing in my opinion.

Now comes a comprehensive article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Wiped Clean - Facing federal scrutiny, gun shop got new lease on life with simple ownership change dredging up a 2006 ATF investigation of the previous owners (there is some connection to the current owners)

Federal investigators recommended revoking the license of Badger Outdoors gun shop after a 2006 inspection - a rare move that could have closed the West Milwaukee business, a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation has found.

But there was no revocation and the store remains open, operating as Badger Guns. Federal records show the license recommended for revocation was voluntarily relinquished, the players inside the operation took on new roles and a new license was issued, creating what one federal official called a "clean slate" for the store.

The paper complains that most of the records the ATF handed over had been redacted but they did find this:

But in an interview, a top ATF official said inspectors found "inventory discrepancies" during the November 2006 inspection and added that his agency doesn't recommend revocation for minor violations.

I'm going to repeat my skepticism regarding Badger Guns. There has been no report of when the crime guns were purchased. If the guns are recent purchases and the store was culpable in transferring the guns then yes, go after the current owners.

Since Badger Guns began operations Sept. 1, 2007, the ATF has uncovered more violations, documents show. A warning letter was issued May 30, 2008, telling Adam Allan he may face revocation if the agency finds more violations.

If these were serious violations, wouldn't the ATF had shut them down?

The article goes on about the overworked ATF investigators and the practically non-existent regulations regarding delving into a dealers operation. Something I find hard to believe after having talked to dealers I know.

"In 99.9% of the time, it doesn't need to be adversarial. We are all working toward the same goal," said Sherry Duval, an ATF spokeswoman. "Our business is not to put them out of business."

Tell that to Red's Trading Post.

Critics of the ATF said that the agency's oversight of gun dealers is lax compared to other businesses.

"I think it has been watered down to basically where there is no regulation," said Gerald Nunziato, who retired from the ATF after 29 years. "It is a perfect industry to do whatever you wish."

The National Rifle Association, which lobbies on behalf of gun owners and dealers, argues just the opposite. It says some gun shops have been harassed by the ATF.

"There are some ATF agents who do a good job, and some are overzealous in their efforts," said NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam. "If firearms retailers are involved in criminal conduct, they ought to pay the price, but if not, they ought to be left alone."

The current owners have worked with local law-enforcement and has called on their help to nab some crooks. (see earlier posts) So it would appear that they are attempting to be good neighbors in the community.

Overall, it's a fairly balanced article, although I think dredging up investigations of previous owners to paint the current owners with the same brush is bad form.

(Previous posts here: BTR - Badger Guns Posts)

A special invitation from Chuck Grassley

I just received, direct from the United States Senate, a special invitation to a meeting with one of my senators, Chuck Grassley. I'm especially excited because I know he values my opinion and he knows that I care about how our government is run. I know he really wants me there because he sent me two.

Oh, it's not an exclusive invitation mind you, because "EVERYONE'S WELCOME!" I know that, because it's in all capitals and they used an exclamation point.

But I don't think "everyone" is welcome because they scheduled the meeting at 1:45 in the afternoon when people have jobs that they have to pull teeth to get a day off from.

If anyone is in the area and is willing to take my place, please use this invitation to enter:
I have a spare invitation, so if I can get off early from work that day, I'll show up.

Sorry, I forgot, "EVERYONE'S WELCOME!"

The War on Guns: New Year's Gun Rights Resolution: Practice Daily Activism

The War on Guns: New Year's Gun Rights Resolution: Practice Daily Activism

I've been waiting for David to finish his list before linking to them. And there's something for everyone there to choose from and attempt to accomplish.

I've jumped the gun on a couple and I'm in the middle of a couple more. Others will take awhile and I think some of them I'm not going to get to this year.

I'm not much into predicting what will happen this year, but my guess is that it's going to be very interesting in Iowa where the winds are definately shifting for our gun-rights. The anger and frustration displayed during the Tea-party events held throughtout the state this past year, looks to grow as a movement. Politicians who ignore it may be risking their political futures.

I'll do my best to keep you informed.

If you have any tips, news or just want to send a hate-filled rambling email to me, send it to stranded_iniowa at hotmail.com

One of these things is not like the other...

I'm sure my readers heard about this guy:

A senior police official in Washington DC has said an off-duty officer who drew a gun at a snowball fight behaved in a "totally inappropriate" way.

Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier said video footage left "no doubt" the officer drew his gun after his vehicle, a Hummer, was pelted with snowballs.

The footage showed an angry crowd gathering, chanting: "You don't bring a gun to a snowball fight".

Ms Lanier said the officer had been placed on desk duty.
US snowball fight gun officer 'totally inappropriate'

What about this guy?

A 22-year-old Beaverton man who police say responded Tuesday to a few snowballs thrown his way by pointing a gun at two boys was arrested Thursday morning at his house.
Man arrested for pointing gun at snowball-throwing boys

Desk duty vs. jail time. Sound equal to me.