IGO table at CR gun show

After the rousing time #1 son and I had at the NRA workshop, we moved on to the gun show at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids where Iowa Gun Owners hosted a table. We assisted in getting signatures that would be presented to the Iowa Senate in the next couple of days, petitioning them to vote for SF473.

Some highlights included:

When asked to sign, one gun owner replied he already had his permit. My response was what if the next sheriff comes in and says "no more renewals"? He thought about that for a minute and signed our form.

A few other gun owners stated they already had their permit so what did they have to worry about. Another response I had was, "What about the gun owners in counties where their sheriff refuses to issue a permit?" Most of these gun owners signed. This showed that some gun owners will think of the other guys as well.

We had one guy wearing an IowaCarry shirt who spoke with us for several minutes about the rift that seems to be among the gun groups right now. We had a good conversation but I don't recall him signing our form. Nevertheless, I appreciated his thoughts.

One woman asked me why the NRA didn't mention our bill at grassroots meeting. My response was "That's a good question, why don't they support the IGO bill." She seemed angry that this bill wasn't mentioned and after a few minutes of conversation, she signed our form.

Another woman asked if all the fighting going on is nothing more than an ego trip among the gun groups. I told her that I couldn't speak about the motivations behind any group, but I thought SF473 was a better bill that allowed more freedom. After some more conversation, she signed.

There was only one horse's hind-end during the 5+ hours we spent there. After asking one gentleman if he would sign our petition his response back was "I'm a member of IowaCarry" and turned and walked away. A nice reflection of his group there.

Many NRA members signed our petitions and a few of the gun show patrons didn't want to.

Overheard at the IowaCarry table: (Regarding Iowa Gun Owners) "They're kooky, but I think they're on to something."

I've been called worse.

My day with the NRA

It was more like a couple of hours.

Number One Son and I spent some time at a NRA's grassroots workshop that was held in Cedar Rapids on the 6th. Advertised as:

At these FREE Workshops, NRA-ILA Staff will discuss how you can take on an even more active role in your community in our fight to advance and protect our freedoms in this very busy year! We will provide you with the materials and strategies needed to educate, empower, and engage your fellow gun owners as well.

It was a basic course on contacting your representatives in government and then morphed into recruiting volunteers to put on a face for the NRA in the state. There was nothing new for me.

They also spoke about the NRA/IowaCarry bill and some in the audience didn't seem to have a clue that there was any new legislation introduced at the statehouse.

What struck me was Brent Gartner(sp?) from the NRA kept stating that the bill would restore the "right to carry" by requiring a citizen to get a permit to carry. "Right"? I think he's confused.

But featured speaker, Iowa's Senator Chuck Grassley, managed to embarrass himself with a clumsy, rambling speech thanking the NRA for his initial election to the Senate in 1980. I thought it was gracious of him to thank the organization, but I expected more from someone who's been in the senate for almost 30 years and in politics for years more. I thought it sad, really.

Arnold Schwarzenegger: comedian

Don't quit your day job, Ahnold.

“No matter where you go in the world, people still want to come to California,” Schwarzenegger said. “There’s no one screaming like, ‘I can’t wait to get to Iowa.’ That I can guarantee you. They want to come here to California.”

We dumb hicks are missing out on tourists. And I'm disappointed?

But if there is a choice of where to live? Who wants to live in a high-tax, over-regulated, corrupt politicians everywhere... Wait a minute.

Maybe neither Iowa nor California is such a good choice.

Gov. Schwarzenegger takes a stab at Iowa

Bank robber sentenced to 10 years

Jodie Monroe Johnson, the bank robber I spoke about at John Rumley kicks ass was sentenced to 10 years after being convicted of 2nd degree robbery. Johnson gets 10 years for bank robbery

My friend, John, a vice president of Farmers Savings Bank, prevented the robbery by grabbing Johnson to stop him from entering the bank. Others joined in and held Johnson until police arrived. One of the others went to retrieve a firearm to assist in the incident.

A classic example of a free people doing the right thing and having to spring into action because the cops can't be everywhere.

A couple of Waterloo's finest?

Our first officer:

[Michael Charles] Dobson entered an Alford plea - not admitting guilt but agreeing he would likely be convicted if the matter went to trial - to a charge of first-degree harassment for allegedly threatening to kill his wife and simple assault for allegedly shoving one of his children during the incident, said Assistant Tama County Attorney Michael Marquess.

He was given a deferred judgment, meaning the harassment charge will be removed from his criminal history if he completes a year of probation. He was fined $65 plus court costs and surcharges for the assault charge.

If any consolation, this guy will never be able to legally possess firearms in Iowa.

Next:

Another officer, Randall Hammitt, remains on unpaid leave after his operating while intoxicated charge was reduced to reckless driving.

Black Hawk County Sheriff's deputies were called to a report of a car in a ditch on Moline Road July 27 and found Hammitt with the "odor consistent with those persons known to have been drinking," court records state. He declined sobriety and breath tests.

Officers plead to reduced charges

You all can decide if the punishments fit the crimes.

Here comes the bills

The legislation is now set for the bills in the statehouse:

The NRA/Iowa Carry bill HF2255

The Iowa Gun Owners bills HF2241 and SF473

A big thank you to Ben at Cold Hard Cashner

Another Iowan's look at our gun bills

Ben over at Cold Hard Cashner adds his perspective to the competing gun bills we have here in Iowa this legislative session.

As Ben is an IowaCarry member, I thought he would have been supporting the NRA/IowaCarry bill.

I think that he gives a balanced and reasoned post: Dueling Gun Bills (not because we agree) with comments from a heavy-hitter in the gun community.

I'd also agree that this is going to be a hard fight to get a good bill passed in Iowa. Not because of the competing organizations that are fighting for their respective bills, but we have some pure politicians in Des Moines that want nothing more than for both of these bills to go away.

This isn't an Iowa Gun Owners vs. Iowa Carry fight, this is a gun owners vs. politicians fight.

Freedom-to-carry bill introduced in Arizona

February 2, 2010 Yuma, AZ -- A new gun bill would allow every adult in Arizona to carry a concealed weapon without a permit. Supporters say the bill would make everyone safer, but critics disagree. The Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police has already spoken out against concealed carry without a permit. Gun Bill Allows Concealed Carry without Permit

The usual figures are blathering against this bill.

I wonder if the NRA has introduced a competing bill to derail this effort, just like in Iowa.

Iowa Gun Owners at AmmoLand, 2/2/10

To repeat and update a release from the Iowa Gun Owners at AmmoLand.com

Iowa Gun Owners Update on the REAL Right-to-Carry Bill

Iowa Gun Owners -The REAL Right-to-Purchase Bill

If it works in Cuba

One of the provisions in the NRA/Iowa Carry bill at the statehouse, is mandatory (presumably NRA instructed) training.

But I just read this today:

HAVANA (AP) - Cuba has declared a two-month amnesty for citizens to register unlicensed guns, and says those passing aptitude and psychological tests will be allowed to keep their weapons.

Cuba Gives Its Citizens 2 Months To Register Guns

So once the aptitude tests are in (state mandated instruction), the next step would be the psych tests.

I can't wait.