Now is the Time to Act for the REAL Right-to-Carry Bill in Iowa
Iowa – -(AmmoLand.com)- January 12th, 2010 the General Assembly gaveled in at the Capitol in Des Moines and Iowa Gun Owners was there to continue our fight for the REAL Right-to-Carry bill.
For those unfamiliar with IGO, I will quickly summarize what the bill would do. The REAL Right-to-Carry bill would allow any Iowan, who is not a felon or otherwise barred by law from owning weapons, to carry a weapon for self-defense, concealed or openly, WITHOUT having to get government permission.
The bill restores the 2nd Amendment in Iowa by eliminating mandatory government training, paying fees, and the whole concept of having to beg permission to exercise a Constitutional right.
Our bill currently has 24 co-sponsors in the House, nine in the Senate, and is causing a major stir at the Capitol amongst anti-gun politicians and even amongst a few “pro-gun” politicians who can’t fathom a law that allows you to carry a weapon without a permit! Of course, this is already the law in Vermont, Alaska, and most of Montana – and these are some of the safest states anywhere in the country.
In the final hours of the 2009 session, Iowa Gun Owners, working with our bill sponsor Rep. Kent Sorenson (R-Indianola), was able to force a vote on this historic gun bill in the House. The result was an amazing 49-49 tie!
Since that time the anti-gun crowd in Iowa has been on the run. With the November elections not too far away they know that there may be a price to pay for their anti-gun votes.
Now we are seeing new gun bills being introduced at the legislature that seem designed to give these anti-gun politicians ‘cover.’ You see, these anti-gun politicians are desperate to vote on a watered down gun bill so as to be able to tell you, their constituents, that they are pro-gun when, in reality, they refused to vote for the REAL Right-to-Carry.
One proposed bill this session would raise the age on applicants for carry permits, incorporate abusive federal language into Iowa code regarding mental health requirements, create ever larger classes of people in Iowa who are prohibited from owning and carrying weapons, and more! In fact, one proposal would even seek to create new classes of people who can no longer even BUY a handgun, let alone carry it.
We must not allow anti-gun politicians to get a free pass. We must demand that they vote on the REAL Right-to-Carry bill and focus their energy on this bill.
If the anti-gun politicians want to kill the bill, or water it down with weakening amendments they can do that. But they are going to have to do it on the record, with recorded votes. This may come at a high price next November.
What you will not see happen is Iowa Gun Owners making these concessions up front, granting the gun-grabbers exactly what they want. This is what it means to be No Compromise!
Now is the time to contact your elected officials. Tell them that you expect them to support and vote for the REAL Right-to-Carry bill. Any other bill is a compromise designed to protect anti-gunners.
To find out who your elected officials are click HERE.
To find your elected official’s phone number click HERE.
If you prefer, or in addition to any calls that you make, you can certainly email your elected officials as well using this pre-written email found below.
To find your elected official’s email address click HERE.
(Once you are here, just click on your legislator’s name.)
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(Pre-Written Email)
Dear Representative ________________,
As your constituent I am writing to urge you to co-sponsor and vote to support the REAL Right-to-Carry bill being offered by Rep. Kent Sorenson.
This bill would allow all law-abiding Iowans the right to carry a weapon for self-defense without having to beg permission first. This is currently the law in Vermont and Alaska and as a mid-western state Iowa should join them as a leader in the right to keep and bear arms.
I understand that there are other gun bills being introduced this session. Iowa Gun Owners has informed me that these bills contain compromises that are dangerous to my right to keep and bear arms.
The 2nd Amendment doesn’t say anything about begging permission, paying fees, passing tests, or having to shoot a government mandated training course before I should be allowed to carry a weapon for self-defense. I consider these types of provisions to be dangerous to my right to keep and bear arms.
Again I ask you to co-sponsor and give your full support to the REAL Right-to-Carry bill. If the anti-gun politicians want to kill this bill or attempt to destroy it with weakening amendments that is something they will have to do on the record with recorded roll call votes.
You must not concede this fight up front with anti-gun compromises. Please co-sponsor and vote in favor of this bill.
Sincerely,
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Dear Senator ________________,
As your constituent I am writing to urge you to co-sponsor and vote to support the REAL Right-to-Carry bill being offered by Senator David Hartsuch.
This bill would allow all law-abiding Iowans the right to carry a weapon for self-defense without having to beg permission first. This is currently the law in Vermont and Alaska and as a mid-western state Iowa should join them as a leader in the right to keep and bear arms.
I understand that there are other gun bills being introduced this session. Iowa Gun Owners has informed me that these bills contain compromises that are dangerous to my right to keep and bear arms.
The 2nd Amendment doesn’t say anything about begging permission, paying fees, passing tests, or having to shoot a government mandated training course before I should be allowed to carry a weapon for self-defense. I consider these types of provisions to be dangerous to my right to keep and bear arms.
Again I ask you to co-sponsor and give your full support to the REAL Right-to-Carry bill. If the anti-gun politicians want to kill this bill or attempt to destroy it with weakening amendments that is something they will have to do on the record with recorded roll call votes.
You must not concede this fight up front with anti-gun compromises. Please co-sponsor and vote in favor of this bill.
Sincerely,
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Yours for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms,
Aaron DorrExecutive Director
Iowa Gun Owners
About:
Iowa Gun Owners (IGO) was formed in January of 2009 to combat the oppressive gun laws in the State of Iowa. IGO does not believe that you, as a law abiding citizen, should have to beg permission from the government to be able to defend yourself and your family. That’s why we are working so hard to get a Vermont/Alaska style carry law passed in Iowa. In these states, unless you are a convicted felon or otherwise barred from possessing weapons, you don’t need a permit to carry a gun for self-defense! Join us now! Visit: www.iowagunowners.org