Gun giveaway brings out all the best hoplophobes

Iowa Gun Owners is having a gun giveaway and the vocabulary of the hoplophobes includes: "appalling", "irresponsible", and “We’re not in the Old West anymore. This is supposed to be a civilized country.” - Rep. Sharon Steckman, D-Mason City. The Des Moines Register has it all.

Not to be outdone, a talking mutton from the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence ignored the part in the announcement about obeying all gun laws, and lamented about the poor "child" who might win an AR-15: “Children clearly do not have the maturity necessary to handle rifles designed for use on the battlefield; and this type of flip, macho attitude about gun ownership is exactly how accidents happen,” [Ladd] Everitt said. Read the IGO announcement.

Since the giveaway can only go to a person that passes a background check, nobody under the age of 18 in Iowa would be able to receive the rifle. I guess that means the United States is sending "children" to the battlefield where they would actually handle fully automatic rifles, instead of the semi-automatics that are only allowed to be possessed in the state by mere citizens here in Iowa.

Good thing we have misinformed spokespeople from Washington, D.C. to straighten us out. We don't need them when we have nanny-state representatives at the statehouse.

Iowa Gun Shows, February 2014

Jan 31-Feb 2 Cedar Rapids, Hawkeye Downs

Feb 7-9 Ottumwa, Bridgeview Center 

Feb 14-15 Del Moines, Adventureland Park

Feb 15-16 Arcadia, American Legion Hall (Thanks Chaplain Tim)

Feb 28 - Mar 2 Atlantic, Cass County Fairgrounds

Feb 28-Mar 2 McGregor, McGregor Landing

*** I get this list from the link below and other searches and I can't guarantee the accuracy of the list. If anyone notices a show that needs to be corrected or added, please let me know in the comments.

For more details go to Iowa Gun Shows

  Coming up is the Marshalltown show at the Central Iowa Fairgrounds, March 7 - 9 (Maybe we will have a table this year)

Johnson County Sheriff and his false statements on Iowa gun laws

Johnson County Sheriff, Lonnie Pulkabrek, issued a blatantly false statement during a "gun violence panel."

 “There are people who are or do have lengthy criminal records that are coming in and filling out the paperwork and getting permits to get firearms, and the sheriff does not have discretion in Iowa anymore to deny those, other than a couple examples … (and) that includes sex offenders,” Pulkrabek said, citing Iowa’s shall-issue law, which went into effect in 2011.

That's bull and he knows it.

A "lengthy criminal history" absolutely prevents a person from getting a carry permit in the state.  Unless you define habitual speeding as a crime so heinous that it would prevent a person from getting a permit. The reporter just parroted the false impression that it's so easy for criminals to get carry permits but no word that the applicant has to pass a NICS check.

The carry law now prevents the discretion that county sheriffs used to enjoy which led to all sorts of political favoritism. Having the discretion taken away from Sheriff Pulkabrek chaps his hide. That and not enough training for private citizens.

Not one person on the panel of "experts" to speak about the defensive uses of firearms, so it's probably not a place one would find solutions. Unless the solution is to make it more difficult to obtain firearms or the end-game of taking yours away from you.

If this study is true, then nearly all firearm owners should be dead by now

Another study that suggests you are more likely to be a victim of violence if you own firearms than if you don't have a gun in the home.

With no opportunity to have a control group, these kind of studies have no significance other than to provide academics a chance for grant money.

But don't compare the stated 31,000 firearm deaths per year with the number of accidental deaths due to medical errors (225,000).

Or the higher suicide rates in gun-banning Japan.

Or the benefits of firearm ownership.

But do state: "The researchers say restricting access may effectively prevent injury." But don't add that tools used in some of those injuries would statically be switched to knives, clubs, baseball bats, cars, etc.

Silencers (and more) for Iowans

Legislation from last year has been updated and introduced into the Iowa House Judiciary subcommittee. Adding silencers to the definition of  "offensive weapons" here in Iowa.

HF 384 defines offensive weapons as: machine guns, short barreled rifles and shotguns and now silencers\noise suppressors.

From the bill: 

724.2 Authority to possess offensive weapons.

All of the following are authorized to possess offensive weapons:  

1. The following persons or entities when the duties or lawful activities of the person or entity require or permit such possession:

            a. Any peace officer.

b. Any member of the armed forces of the United States or of the national guard.

c. Any person in the service of the United States.

d. A correctional officer, serving in an institution under the authority of the Iowa department of corrections.

e. Any person who, under the laws of this state and the United States, is lawfully engaged in the business of supplying those authorized to possess such devices.

f. Any person, firm, or corporation who under the laws of this state and the United States is lawfully engaged in the improvement, invention, or manufacture of firearms.

g. Any museum or similar place which possesses, solely as relics, offensive weapons which are rendered permanently unfit for use.

2. The following persons who possess an offensive weapon which is a curio or relic firearm under the federal Gun Control Act of 1968, 18 U.S.C. ch. 44 and the federal National Firearms Act of 1934, 26 U.S.C. ch. 53:

a. A resident of this state, if the offensive weapon has been permanently rendered unfit for the firing of live ammunition. The offensive weapon may, however, be adapted for the firing of blank ammunition.

b. A nonresident, if the offensive weapon is legally possessed by the person in the person’s state of residence and the offensive weapon is at all times while in this state rendered incapable of firing live ammunition. A nonresident who possesses an offensive weapon under this paragraph while in this state shall not have in the person’s possession live ammunition. The offensive weapon may, however, be adapted for the firing of blank ammunition.

3. A person who possesses a device described in section 724.1, subsection 8, or a machine gun, short-barreled rifle, or short-barreled shotgun, as those terms are defined in section 724.1, in compliance with the federal Gun Control Act of 1968, 18 U.S.C. ch. 44 and the federal National Firearms Act of 1934, 26 U.S.C. ch. 53. 

The way I read this, is that it removes state restrictions and defers to federal laws. 

More bills have been introduced and we will be keeping a eye on the golden-domed cesspool in Des Moines. 

Red light cameras around Iowa

Iowa Red Light Traffic Camera map

If the premise is about safety, wouldn't it make better sense to put them closer to schools and parks where children play.

One in Cedar Rapids is 5 blocks from a junior high for traffic driving away from the school.

At a $100 a pop in CR, it's hard to think it's anything but revenue.

Iowa Gun shows, January 2014

Somewhere to go almost every weekend and lots of choices.

Jan 3-5 Cedar Rapids, Hawkeye Downs

Jan 4-5 Harlan, Veterans Auditorium  

Jan 10-12 Des Moines, Adventure Land Amusement Park, Palace Theater

Jan 24-26 Des Moines, Iowa State Fairgrounds

Jan 25-26 Dubuque, Grand River Center

Jan 25-26 Odebolt, Odebolt Community Center

Jan 31-Feb 2 Cedar Rapids, Hawkeye Downs  

*** I get this list from the link below and other searches and I can't guarantee the accuracy of the list. If anyone notices a show that needs to be corrected or added, please let me know in the comments.

For more details go to Iowa Gun Shows