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.