IowaCarry rally 10/3/09

IowaCarry held a rally in Estherville (Northwest Iowa) on 10/3/09 IowaCarry.org holds rally in Estherville

IowaCarry.org, founded to establish Iowa laws addressing permits to carry concealed weapons, wants to change the state law that county sheriff's "may issue" concealed weapon permits to "shall issue."

Iowa, said Reed, is "still stuck in basically what was Jim Crow laws." He said 1978 legislation left to the local sheriff's discretion the policy for issuing concealed weapon permits.

We are stuck in this situation.

I spoke with an IowaCarry "recruiter" at a gun show a month ago recently and asked questions regarding the upcoming legislative session. He responded with "I'm not involved with the legislation, I'm here to sign people up."

We also have Iowa Guns Owners.

Two groups fighting for "sensible" (as in less government control) gun laws in Des Moines.

The Beaver's coming to Iowa City

Jerry Mathers is headed to Iowa City on the "Help is Here Express" tour. Jerry Mathers to make Iowa City appearance

The tour, part of the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, is to promote programs designed to help uninsured Americans get access to prescription drugs.

Mathers was born in Sioux City and is now 61. He suffers from diabetes and is traveling with the bus tour to raise awareness of the disease, according to a news release.

Making people more aware of certain diseases that they are afflicted with is a worthy cause. I did not know he was born in Sioux City.

Porpane tanks targeted

Someone has been targeting liquid propane tanks at hog confinements in Calhoun and Sac counties here in Iowa. Mystery shooter taking aim at liquid propane tanks on Iowa hog farms

A reward of up to $8,000 is offered for the arrest and conviction of the still unidentified shooter.

The incidents occurred on hog farms in Calhoun and Sac counties. Officials said in a press release, "The LP tanks have been located near or adjacent to modern, indoor hog barns. Other LP tanks, including those near grain storage facilities, have not been targeted."
Most of the tanks that were hit by bullets were pierced, officials said. In one case there was a ricochet which entered an employee room. No one was injured.

Now I'm sure it wouldn't be any environmental group involved in this. But maybe ALF has broadened out from releasing mink from farms in Iowa. Two Weeks After ALF Attack, Thousands of Mink Dead or Dying. Or it could be local vandals - who knows.

I wish the local sheriff's luck in catching the ones responsible.

Family demands dog training for deputies

Lee county deputy approaches a home in September, yelled into the home drawing the attention of a sleeping dog. Dog awakens and rushes towards the deputy barking as dogs instinctively do. Deputy shoots the dog in the front leg and the owners had to amputate the leg of the dog. Residents say officer dog training needed

Owners are obviously upset that the Barney Fife shoots into their home striking their pet. Sheriff claims the deputy was in danger.

[Deputy]Wray's superiors, including Sheriff Buck Jones and Chief Deputy Jim Sholl, have reviewed the incident and concluded he acted appropriately.

"I think it's unfortunate that it happened ... but I'm not going to tell my deputies to take the chance on being bitten only to decide if the dog is friendly or not," Sholl said during an interview Tuesday.

"He (Wray) was there on a lawful purpose, walked into an open door and announced himself, and then here comes the dog, obviously aggressive. I think he reacted the only way he could. I would expect my deputy to do that rather than be bitten."

"Obviously aggressive" because the deputy shouldn't have entered the home in the first place.

So under Lee county rules they may enter a home that has a door open and it is "appropriate"? They don't have to knock on the door and wait? Maybe the cow wandered in through the open door and deputy Friendly was going to round him up.

If there was no evidence that a cow entered the home the cowboy deputy had no business entering. Period. That act of stupidity brought the dog to the home's defense. But the county will make it right with the family? Right?

The sheriff's office has declined to pay for veterinary care for the dog, which amounted to about $2,500.

"The deputy defended himself. I don't see that we have a financial obligation there," Sholl said.

Why argue with that logic?

An addition to the list: "Freedom is Mandatory"

I need to add this guy to my list of blogs I go to. Freedom is Mandatory

He doesn't post everyday, but that's okay.

Mayor against gun rights petitions Obama

The organization known as Mayors Against Illegal Guns petitions Obama to adopt "broad" gun reforms. The usual boilerplate crap is listed, 450 Mayors Petition Obama To Adopt Broad Gun Reform with the end result as we all know is to make it harder for citizens to own firearms.

It seems that two Iowa mayors are listed with the group - Mayors Franklyn Crownie of Des Moines and Kate (Drowsy) Halloran of Cedar Rapids. She's famous for being caught falling asleep during flood recovery meetings last year. At first denying she did (she was in deep thought) and then conveniently revealing a sleep disorder.

She's not running for re-election. I wish her well.

New addition to what I read

Hope n' Change has been added to the list of blogs I go to read.

A perfect blend of wit and snark with a big side helping of talent. A cartoon a day and links to back up what has been created. Like: Why Is Your Ass Ticking?

To defeat inspections and metal detectors, an Al Qaeda terrorist recently smuggled a bomb to its target in his rectum...then had another terrorist detonate it with a cellphone call. Obviously, if Homeland Security decides to start checking all passengers for butt bombs, the airlines had better plan to give away plenty of complimentary drinks before boarding.

The only good news is that the terrorist failed to kill his intended victim, and succeeded only in blowing his own bowels into harmless but exceedingly repulsive bits of shrapnel. On the plus side, after forensic experts had measured the width of the crime scene, the dead terrorist was recognized posthumously as "biggest asshole" (at 33 meters) by the Guinness Book of World Records.

That's sad.

Armed man stops armed robbery

A bank robbery in Burlington, IA was halted by a man who had a concealed-carry permit. Crowd foils robbery

The headline is a bit inaccurate:

Henshaw said two men were largely responsible for subduing the would-be bank robber. One, a customer, happened to have a concealed-weapon permit. He went to his vehicle, retrieved his weapon and had Johnson at gunpoint while waiting for law enforcement, Henshaw said.

It's not clear why he wasn't carrying his weapon instead of storing it in his vehicle. But in Iowa, one has to have a permit to carry if you wish to legally have a loaded weapon in your vehicle. It's one of many laws that don't make much sense here.

Kudos to the citizens who "took the law into their own hands" and ended what could have been a tragedy and stopped a crime before the cops arrived.

Iowa Gun Owners gun show update

Iowa Gun Owners had the opportunity to run a booth at a gun show in Des Moines during the weekend of Sept 25, 26, and 27. Iowa Gun Owners has Successful Gun Show in Des Moines

Iowa - -(AmmoLand.com)-Our goal was to spread the message of Iowa Gun Owners to like minded 2nd Amendment supporters in Iowa as well as obtain petitions to the Iowa State Senate urging the Senate to vote on the REAL Right-to-Carry bill.

(After receiving a tie vote in the House last session of 49-49, our next goal is to obtain a vote in the State Senate so we can inform you, our members, where your State Senator stands on the 2nd Amendment.)

I didn't get a chance to be there last weekend.

The overwhelming message we took away from Des Moines is that the people of Iowa are sick and tired of a permit system that requires law abiding citizens to beg permission from the government to be able to defend their families.

The excitement at the No Compromise philosophy of IGO’s REAL Right-to-Carry bill was contagious. We had doctors, line workers, pastors, laborers, farmers, and even some law enforcement officers (yes, in full uniform) sign our petition and join our organization.

I would've liked to talk with Aaron.

To Chris Rants - I apologize for the name calling

Iowa Republican gubernatorial candidate Christopher Rants stopped by to leave a comment at my post State Pol calling for gun right amendment and first off, I'm surprised and humbled that he took the time to chastise an insignificant blow-hard like me.

I'm anonymous by choice and those who know me understand that. Chris Rants prefers that you can't see his profile. I intended to send an email to him, and since this started in "public", we can leave it here and hope he comes back to read it.

I will admit that my contempt for politicians sometimes gets the best of me and I reduce myself to name-calling and for that I apologize. It was unprofessional of me to do that. Mr Rants, please accept my apology. Please note in my reply to straightarrow that I hoped I was wrong about you.

And now for the "but":

"County club" is a term that's been around for decades and I think we know what it describes, and I'm not talking about your golf swing. I threw McCain in there because he's a lefty-moderate, and quite frankly, support for Romney isn't helping. His creation of Mass-care is Obama's model for the nation. But let's not go there.

Let's stick with the guns. "I'm gun-friendly because I have friends with guns" is similar to someone saying "I'm cool because I have African-American friends." I'm not trying to be flippant about that analogy. Owning a gun isn't just about exercising a right, it's a responsibility, and should be taken very seriously. And I hope you know that. Since you aren't a gun-owner, I doubt if you fully understand what it means to be one. You may in a philosophical sense, but not in a real sense.

Since you admit to never owning a gun, that means you've never filled out a 4473 form where you have to give your place of birth and race. You've never gone to your local sheriff and asked his permission to purchase a handgun or permission to carry concealed. You've never been turned down by a sheriff for no reason except you weren't his friend. (I know people who have.)

You and I both know how hard it is to get an amendment added to the State Constitution. But let me ask you this: If you're so pro-gun, why haven't you introduced an amendment in your years in the legislature? That's where this starts and you could have done this years ago before your campaign started. Have you introduced a Vermont-style carry bill? How about reciprocity with other states or open-carry? How about shall-issue, so that permits don't depend on the discretion of local sheriffs? Mr Rants, please go here and complete this: David Codrea's Gun questionnaire

If you've done this, please point this out to me. I would like to be wrong about you on this.

The people of Iowa deserve a leader and we are searching for one. But when you don't have a "pro-gun" history, your announcement (in my opinion) comes across as pandering. And trust me, if Brandstad or Gov. Chester had done this I'd have written the same things about them (or worse, because I really don't like them).

If you don't become governor, would you still introduce this amendment? You put the conditional of "When I'm elected" on there. Please show us leadership and introduce it anyway as soon as you can. Don't wait.

If you do, I will shake your hand, introduce myself and support you as much as I can.

I promise.

Also, I'm glad you won't do the pheasant hunt because seeing Kerry out here in his brand-new pressed orange vest was just unsettling and angered a lot of hunters.