amaixner
Regular Member
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We the People...
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. - Preamble to the United States Constitution
The preamble to our United States Constitution is something that I often reflect on and reference in conversation with people when talking about my interest and involvement in politics. I used to believe that our system was completely broken, and almost worthless. However, that's not the case. While there are certainly problems, and plenty of blame to go around, it's important to reflect to back on these words from our founding fathers and remember...our style of government was deliberately set up for the people to be involved.
We are fighting for rights here in Iowa. Firearms rights are being attacked with absolutely ridiculous news articles by the local media http://www.desmoinesregister.com/ar...-Gun-bill-shoots-holes-building-civil-society in an effort to alert anti-gun supporters to take action against our NRA/IFC legislative efforts. This is where we need to redouble our efforts and contact legislators today to let our voice be heard.
Utilize our Action Center http://capwiz.com/iowacarry/issues/alert/?alertid=3D61026001
today, and share this e-mail with neighbors, so that we can let our voice be heard on firearms rights in Iowa.
You can also utilize our Action Center via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/IowaFirearmsCoalition?v=3Dapp_134449449947220 .
RKBA Amendment, Preemption and Weakening Amendments
In our last message we alerted you that our NRA/IFC bills, introduced by
Rep. Matt Windschitle (R-56), and co-sponsored by House Public Safety
Committee (HPSC) Chairman Clel Baudler (R-58), were passed out of
committe with weakening amendments last week.
Plenty of blame and fingerpointing games have been made in e-mail and
news blasts, so we're going to stick to the basic facts and move on to
what is now important: strategy on how we need to move forward.
We have two NRA/IFC bills that are now on the House floor with language
that needs repair. We need you, and your pro-Second Amendment friends and
nieghbors, to contact legislators and tell them that we need the Iowa
Constitutional Amendment and Preemption bill language restored to their
original strong language, and then put up for a vote on the House floor.
If these bills aren't properly restored, we do not want weakened,
worthless bills that do not honor Iowans passed into law.
There is still time to act and fix these bills. We need to have that
message clearly communicated to legislators, and it needs to be done by
all of us. Visit our Action Center http://capwiz.com/iowacarry/issues/alert/?alertid=3D61026001
to quicky and easily contact your legislators today.
Flawed Constitutional Amendment Rationale
The most disgusting aspect of the HPSC debate about supporting the
weakening amendment was listening to legislators argue that it is their
sworn duty to uphold the U.S. Constitution. There are numerous flaws in
this argument, that will certainly be pitched on the House floor, that
need to be exposed:
First off, their amendment doesn't even directly reflect the Second
Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. What they pitched was, at best, a
watered down version. If you're argument is to defend the U.S.
Constitution by offering the same amendment, then offer the same
amendment. An altered pseudo-version of the Second Amendment isn't
inherently better than the original, amplified text proposed in our
NRA/IFC legislation.
Secondly, the suggestion that Iowa needs to amend its Constitution in a
manner that is directly parallel with the U.S. Constitution is absurd.
Most of Iowa's Constitution doesn't reflect, verbatim, what is in the
U.S. Constitution on other issues, and it shouldn't. Most states that
have the right to keep and bear arms protection built into their state
Constitution have language that was voted on by the people of that state
which doesn't mirror the Second Amendment of the U.S Constitution. The
Bill of Rights was never intended to apply to the states. Each state was
intended to have their own Constitution which would govern their people.
Lastly, we've seen the direct attacks on our Second Amendment rights. It
would be completely irresponsible for Iowans to pass language that isn't
specific and elaborate to insure the right to keep and bear arms in the
state Constitution. If legislators want to stand on their oath, and
protect Second Amendment rights, they will be willing to support the
amplified language in the original bill with no compromises. They will in
good faith maintain their oath by protecting Iowans against the attacks
on the right to keep and bears arms and not allowing weak, vulnerable
language to be added to our state Constitution.
Iowans have long boasted a proud tradition of being the leader in
progressive state rights, and Iowa needs to once again take the lead and
pass a bill with strong, definitive language that protects Iowans rights
to keep and bear arms.
The Vote Count
I have been asked numerous times for the vote tally on the weakening
amendments, and I will make that available in this alert. This is a good
sign because it signifies that people are paying attention to the process
and are willing to contact legislators on the issues. If your
Representative voted to weaken these bills, we encourage you to contact
them today, in a polite and sensible manner, insisting that they support
strong pro-Second Amendment legislation:
Votes for weakening HJR2005, Constitutional Amendment
Clel Baudler http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/member.do?id=3D78&ga=3D84 (R, District 58),
Chair Bob M. Kressig http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/member.do?id=3D786&ga=3D84 (D, District 19), Ranking Member Ako
Abdul-Samad http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/member.do?id=3D6485&ga=3D84 (D, District 66)
Deborah L. Berry http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/member.do?id=3D298&ga=3D84 (D, District 22)
Ruth Ann Gaines http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/member.do?id=3D10810&ga=3D84 (D, District 65)
Dan Muhlbauer http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/member.do?id=3D10799&ga=3D84 (D, District 51)
Rick Olson http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/member.do?id=3D781&ga=3D84 (D, District 68)
Kurt Swaim http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/member.do?id=3D256&ga=3D84 (D, District 94)
David A. Tjepkes http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/member.do?id=3D222&ga=3D84 (R, District 50)
Mary Wolfe http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/member.do?id=3D10794&ga=3D84 (D, District 26)
Gary Worthan http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/member.do?id=3D7007&ga=3D84 (R, District 52)
Votes for weakening HF2114, Preemption Reform
Clel Baudler http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/member.do?id=3D78&ga=3D84 (R,District 58), Chair
Bob M. Kressig http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/member.do?id=3D786&ga=3D84
(D, District 19),
Ranking Member Ako Abdul-Samad http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/member.do?id=3D6485&ga=3D84 (D, District 66)
Deborah L. Berry http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/member.do?id=3D298&ga=3D84 (D, District 22)
Ruth Ann Gaines http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/member.do?id=3D10810&ga=3D84 (D, District 65)
Dan Muhlbauer http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/member.do?id=3D10799&ga=3D84 (D, District 51)
Rick Olson http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/member.do?id=3D781&ga=3D84 (D, District 68)
Kurt Swaim http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/member.do?id=3D256&ga=3D84 (D, District 94)
David A. Tjepkes http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/member.do?id=3D222&ga=3D84 (R, District 50)
Mary Wolfe http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/member.do?id=3D10794&ga=3D84 (D, District 26)
Gary Worthan http://www3.legis.state.ia.us/ga/member.do?id=3D7007&ga=3D84 (R, District 52)
We the People...need to be sure to continue to take action, and be involved.
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To learn more about what we do, and what your investment has helped
achieve, see our 2011 Year in Review http://www.iowacarry.org/membership.php .
The organization that worked with the NRA to bring you shall issue is
working hard to continue to advance firearms rights for Iowans!
Jeff Burkett
President - Iowa Firearms Coalition
NRA Endowment Member
