The Register battle against gun owners

"Laws should not be crafted based on the presumption that a group of people are up to no good. Unlawful activities should be addressed as they occur."

This quote was in the Des Moines Register editorial Youth curfews are not the answer. "Laws should not be crafted based on the presumption that a group of people are up to no good."
That's a pretty powerful statement. And a true statement too. We should not vilify a class of people just because a few of them choose to ignore the law. This editorial was on Jan. 28, 2011.

Jump forward 2 days to January 30th 2011. The headline of the editorial, Iowa should impose sensible gun restraint.

In just 2 days the editorial board of the Register did a 180 degree turn. From we shouldn't pass laws restricting one class of citizens to lets restrict one class of citizens.

The absolute hippocracy of the board is hanging out there for all to see.

Here is the editorial, http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110131/OPINION03/101310301/Iowa-should-impose-sensible-gun-restraint?Register%20Editorials

They make several references to the "wild west" such as "In the lore of the Old West" and another goody "Strap on your gun belts, boys and girls." Wow, strap em on and let's go to town. I wonder if they know how silly such statements really are. There has been so many anti gun editorials or letters to the editor it's hard to keep track. That's a lot of hate against gun owners to be spewed. What brought this on you ask?

On January 1st, Iowa became the 39th state to go to a "shall issue" weapons permit system. And of course the gun haters at the register jumped on with both feet spreading fear, uncertainty and Doubt (FUD). They make some rather wild claims and not one of them has any basis in truth.

Lets start with shall issue in itself. Shall issue is the system that allows you to apply for a permit to carry weapons. In Iowa, you fill out a application with your county sheriff. You submit it along with the certificate of training. They have 30 days in which they either have to issue or deny your request. If you pass the FBI background check, they "shall" issue you a permit. If the sheriff decided to deny your request, he has 30 days to notify you in writing why you are being denied. We also have a system in place where a denial can be appealed. You, the sheriff and a administrative law judge will get together and you will each get to state your cases. The judge will make the final decision one way or another. It's one of the best systems in the country.

Open vs. concealed carry. Iowa has always had a law that allows for open carry. No where on the permit does the word "concealed" appear. It is a permit to carry weapons. There is not suddenly going to be people "strapping them on" and walking around open carrying. Most permit holders believe that conceal is the most prudent way to carry a firearm. There are too many people out there that would be scared and calling the police about a "man with a gun". The police are busy enough without having to check out every permit holder that decided to open carry.

There have been claims that there will be shootouts in the streets over parking places and fender benders. We are going to have blood running in the streets. People will be shooting each other just because they can.

In 1987, Florida became the first state with shall issue. All of the above statements were spewed by the press back then too. Now that 38 other states have shall issue I have a question for the editorial board. What makes Iowans so different than the citizens in the other 38 states that have shall issue? Are we not a trustworthy as the citizens of Florida? Texas? Nebraska? What makes us different?

In the comment section of the above cited editorial I made a challenge to the editorial board. I will repeat that challenge here. . I will furnish the range, guns, ammo and safety class and will teach any of the editors how to shoot.
You can call me at 641-831-4307.

I won't be holding my breath waiting for them to take me up on their offer. I any of them do, I will make arrangements to follow through.

And the "wild west" reference, maybe they should study history instead of watching TV and Movies. The west wasn't nearly as wild at the media portrays it. Basing your opinion on the Hollywierd version of the west is just plain wrong.