Category: Gun Regulations - PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good

Iowa Public Measure 1 on November ballot gets a thumbs down - A Message from the Board

10/21/2022

Understanding Iowa Public Measure 1 - the Iowa Gun Amendment

PACG Board of Directors, AAUW, Franciscan Peace Center and others

The proposed amendment to the Iowa Constitution regarding guns is on the ballot November 8th. We are concerned that the wording is confusing and encourage those who are in favor of sensible gun regulations to vote NO to on this measure.

We have previously had submissions to this Progressive Action Update discussing this reckless proposal. You can read more about the educational opportunities members of our extended communities presented regarding this issue here and here.

Our friends the Sisters of St. Francis recently shared this information with us:
Understanding the Iowa Gun Amendment
Iowans are voting on a constitutional amendment in the November 8 election, referred to as "Public Measure 1" on the ballot. If you missed the October 6 webinar featuring guest speakers: Art Roche, Acting Chair, Iowans for Gun Safety; Tom Chapman, Executive Director of the Iowa Catholic Conference; and Dr. Tom Brezenski, Ph.D. Political Science and Public Policy, it is now available to view as a recording.

You may view this important video her e.

If you are in favor of common sense gun regulations, VOTE NO ON PUBLIC MEASURE 1 in Iowa on November 8th.
Glenda Guster

Stop the reckless Iowa gun rights amendment - A Message from the President

9/25/2022

Stop the reckless Iowa gun rights amendment

American Association of University Women

In 2021, the Iowa legislature repealed the law requiring a background check to purchase a gun. State lawmakers also repealed the law requiring a permit to carry loaded, concealed handguns. Had the people of Iowa demanded that these basic gun safety laws be removed from the books? No, according to the Iowans for Responsible Gun Laws Coalition (of which AAUW-Iowa is a member) a strong majority of Iowans support common sense gun laws:

91% support banning carrying a firearm while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
85% support prohibiting felons from possessing firearms
85% support requiring background checks on all gun purchases
83% support requiring gun safety courses before the purchase of a handgun

At a time when more Iowans are dying from gun violence and most Iowans want to strengthen laws to keep us safe, state lawmakers instead want to further weaken Iowa’s gun laws.

A state constitutional amendment, proposed by the Iowa legislature, will appear on the November 8th ballot. If passed, it will make ownership and use of guns a “fundamental right,” prioritizing gun rights over public health and safety. Whether they own weapons or not, Iowans of both major parties and, especially those in law enforcement, warn against adopting this constitutional amendment.

Read more and find out how you can help stop this reckless gun rights amendment!

Glenda Guster

Link between rates of enslavement and gun ownership - No Hate In Our States

8/23/2022

Historical rates of enslavement predict modern rates of American gun ownership

No Hate In Our States

Photo credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The above headline is from United Kingdom based Phys.org, an online source of science, research and technology news.

A recently-published article on research done at the University of Wisconsin-Madison states that: The higher percentage of enslaved people that a U.S. county counted among its residents in 1860, the more guns its residents have in the present, according to a new analysis by researchers exploring why Americans' feelings about guns differ so much from people around the globe.

More than 45% of the world's civilian-owned firearms are in the United States, where just 5 percent of the world's people live. This disparity may have something to do with the way the majority of American gun owners view gun ownership.

"Gun culture is one case where American Exceptionalism really is true," says Nick Buttrick, a University of Wisconsin–Madison professor of psychology. "We are really radically different even from countries like Canada or Australia, places that have similar cultural roots."

Pew Research Center surveys show two-thirds of Americans who own guns say it's a way to keep themselves safe, while in other countries, people are more likely believe the presence of a gun adds risk and danger to their lives, considering, for example, the far higher rates of homicide and suicide in households with guns. Gun culture scholars have also explored the role of race in American gun attitudes for some time, Buttrick says, and the two may be linked.

Read more about this fascinating research here.

PACG Webmaster

Proposed Iowa gun amendment - Action Alert

8/23/2022

Learn about Iowa's proposed reckless gun amendment - Action Alert
Tuesday, September 13th at 7:00 pm

Ridgecrest Village
4130 Northwest Blvd
Davenport, IA (map)

AAUW IA Davenport-Bettendorf

On September 13th, the American Association of University Women - Iowa (AAUW-Iowa) will present a program on the Reckless Gun Amendment at 7:00 pm in the Koning Chapel at Ridgecrest Village, 4130 Northwest Blvd, Davenport. This program is open to the public. We urge you to attend to learn more about this proposed amendment.

The Proposed Iowa Constitutional Amendment language is as follows: The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The sovereign state of Iowa affirms and recognizes this right to be a fundamental individual right. Any and all restrictions of this right shall be subject to strict scrutiny.

This reckless gun amendment will be on the ballot on November 8, 2022. (Read an article from the Gazette about the bill.) This article from Ballotpedia explains the history of t he Iowa Right to Keep and Bear Arms Amendment (2022), details the supporters and opposition, and explains how it got on our ballet for November.

This amendment is not the Second Amendment. Most states have gun rights language in their state constitutions that mirrors the US Constitution's Second Amendment. The proposed Iowa amendment goes beyond the Second Amendment. It puts the right to possess and carry a gun without any infringement above the right to public safety for our communities and children. The Reckless Gun Amendment could lead to the invalidation of any reasonable gun safety measure that keeps Iowans safe.

Rosanne Krubsack

"Fight Injustice in Iowa" campaign goes live in August

8/14/2022

"Fight Injustice in Iowa" - OHF QCA billboard campaign goes live in August

One Human Family QCA

Our “Fight Injustice in Iowa” billboard campaign will soon be in place!

Here are the locations and dates of posting for our billboards:

2814 State Street, Bettendorf (map) – August 15
400 West 2nd Street, Davenport (map) – August 15
53rd Street east of Brady, Davenport (map) -September 12
621 East Kimberly, Davenport (map) – September 19

We do not as of now know which signs will be up at which locations. But as of tomorrow, you can start checking them!

Rabbi Henry Jay Karp
One Human Family QCA

Support the QC Gun Buyback Program - Action Alert

6/3/2022

Support the QC Gun Buyback Program - Action Alert
Saturday, June 25 from 9:00 am to noon

Moline Police Department
1640 6th AV
Moline, IL (map)

Moline Police and Crime Stoppers of the Quad CitiesThe Moline Police Department, along with Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities, have begun a gun buyback program. The Facebook post about this event includes the following information:

Gun violence continues to be an epidemic in our community and country.

Together we can do something about it, by removing unwanted guns from our closets, drawers and homes before they go into circulation as criminal commerce.

On June 25th, the Moline Police Department and Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities will host a gun buy back event from 9am-12pm.

If you have an unwanted firearm you can turn it in for cash, no questions asked and no identification needed. We will give you $100 for handguns/shotguns and $200 for magazine fed semi-automatic rifles.

PACG is asking members to call the Chief of Police at this non-emergency number to express your support for this brave action: 309-797-0401. Please leave a message of gratitude for this initiative. (Note: although this is a non-emergency number, the same operators answer emergency calls so please be patient if you are asked to hold.)

Any positive changes in our country’s current gun safety measures bring about improvement step-by-step, helping to provide a safer, better life for our local community and our nation!

Deb Sperry

March for Our Lives rally - Action Alert

5/31/2022

We Want Change! March for Our Lives Rally - Action Alert
Saturday, June 11 at 11:00 am to 2:00 pm

Vander Veer Botanical Park
215 W Central Park AV
Davenport, IA 52803 (map)

Moms Demand Action - QC

The Quad Cities chapter of Moms Demand Action is sponsoring this peaceful March for Our Lives rally.

In light of the horrific shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, TX—which claimed 21 lives, 19 of which were children—let us peacefully gather in unity to demonstrate our solidarity with the victims, their families, and all those who wish to no longer live in fear of gun violence. Activists are Marching in Washington, DC and across the nation.

March For Our Lives (MFOL) last marched in 2018, which resulted in the passing of some lifesaving legislation in states across the country. It's time to hit the streets once again.

An official MFOL March has been scheduled in DC on Saturday, June 11 demanding that President Biden and lawmakers take action immediately to stop the mass shooting epidemic. Organizers from the Quad Cities are putting on this local march around Vander Veer Botanical Park to honor the 100+ children and adults killed by guns in this country every single day and to demand that our lawmakers enact common sense gun reform.

This is an entirely peaceful and cooperative demonstration that welcomes families and people of all ages. Our goal is to gather in unity to demand a safer future for all of us.

Join us in the next chapter in our fight. If you are not in the QC area, find a march near you.

PACG Office Manager

Iowa Is Better Than This! Webinar - Community Event

1/30/2022

"Iowa is Better Than This! Lamenting Iowa's Discriminatory Legislation" - A Free Hybrid Webinar
Wednesday, February 16th at 5:00 pm

In Person and Via Zoom

One Human Family and Numerous Organizations

Over the past year, the Iowa Legislature has considered and/or passed legislation that does not represent "Iowa Nice" values. We need to be heard as we Lament these actions!

Join us in this statewide Lamentation so our legislators know that these policies are not acceptable in a state that cares for all people. Let your voice be heard! We have options for online participation (via Zoom) and in-person sites across the state.

We lament the past to serve as a warning for the future!

For more information, go to OneHumanFamilyQCA.org. Read their statement, attached below.

Online Zoom Registration here.

In-Person Registration here.

Allison Ambrose

iowa_is_better_than_this_statement_2022.pdf
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Contact Your Iowa Legislators About Sensible Gun Control - What You Can Do Now - March 18, 2019

3/18/2019

Demand Sensible Gun Control in Iowa - Contact Your Representatives!

The bills HJR 13 is being discussed on the House Floor this week. These bills, if passed and signed into law, would eliminate background checks on gun purchases in the state. They will also allow guns to be carried on college campuses, state fairgrounds and school buses.

The House is also discussing HF636 which allows concealed weapons in weapon-free zones, courthouses, and public/private workplaces.

Please contact your Iowa State legislators and demand that these actions be termed "dead for the year." We want sensible gun control for Iowa.

What You Can Do Now - Gun Sense, February, 2019

2/25/2019

Contact Your Legislators About Gun Sense in Proposed Iowa Law
Quad City Area and Beyond

Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America

Moms is putting out a plea for everyone interested in gun sense in Iowa to please contact their State Representative and Senator. Please let them know you are opposed to the "strict language" in the proposed change in Iowa Law. Also, let them know your feeling about the open carry on school grounds.