The pressure is mounting.
Moments ago I left the Capitol after talking with our bill sponsors in both the House and Senate about the status of Stand-Your-Ground law.
This bill (H.F.52) has been introduced into the Iowa House and will be introduced into the Iowa Senate later this week.
And let me tell you, the media, anti-gun lobbyists, and gun owners across the state are buzzing about this important legislation.
While it might surprise you to know this, Iowa does not have Stand-Your-Ground law at this time.
What we have, a version of Castle Doctrine, provides you with legal protections in your home – but does nothing to guarantee your rights anywhere but on your own property.
The tragic case of J. Rodney Lewis proves this point all too well.
Imagine this.
You’re under attack from multiple violent assailants, you’ve called 911, you’ve told these violent criminals almost a dozen times to “get down” or to “get back” and to leave you alone.
They continue to advance upon you, and you’re forced to shoot one of them to protect your life.
And when the police arrive, YOU are the one who walks away in handcuffs.
The story of J. Rodney Lewis could happen to you.
It could happen to me.
It could happen to any gun owner in Iowa who is forced to defend themselves from a violent criminal attacker because we do not have Stand-Your-Ground law.
The concept of Stand-Your-Ground law is very simple.
If confronted with a violent criminal attacker, you are able to “stand your ground,” and meet force with force, without having to retreat.
That’s right – under current Iowa law, if you take defensive action to protect yourself or your loved ones, the investigating agencies and the courts will want to know if you retreated far enough, or fast enough, to please them.
Stand-Your-Ground law would change all of that by removing the duty to retreat, and secure your right to protect yourself without having to worry about an anti-gun prosecutor trying to “make an example” out of you.
It also will provide important civil protections, guaranteeing that you will not have to shell out hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars in future civil actions against you – just because you defended yourself or your family.
Now is your chance to fight for this important legislation!
I need you to do 3 things right now!
>>> Contact your State Senator immediately, and insist that he cosponsor this legislation TODAY.
State Senator Rick Bertrand (R-Sioux City) is our sponsor for this bill. The bill is on his desk as we speak, making it very easy for your State Senator to walk over and cosponsor.
>>> Please contact the House Judiciary Chairman, Representative Chip Baltimore, right away at [email protected] or 515-281-3221 and strongly encourage him to move this bill out of his committee without any weakening amendments!
Capitol insiders report to us that special-interest groups are putting a lot of pressure on Chairman Baltimore not to advance this bill.
If they are successful, the next J. Rodney Lewis could be you!
>>> Please consider a generous contribution of $100, $50, $25, or even just $5 right now.
We are working around the clock to mobilize tens of thousands of Iowans via direct mail, Facebook, and massive numbers of emails.
Your contribution will enable us to keep these vital programs running at full speed.
Remember, these legislators work for YOU.
You elected them to go to Des Moines to vote for YOU, and be YOUR voice in the Capitol.
Make sure they don’t forget who they work for.
So please, make your calls today!
Make sure your State Senator cosponsors Stand-Your-Ground law, currently lying on Senator Rick Bertrand’s desk.
Make sure that Representative Baltimore advances Stand-Your-Ground law out of his committee with no weakening amendments.
Please get your friends involved today – have them make phone calls, have them send emails, just get them involved today, so that we have no more J. Rodney Lewis stories to report here in Iowa!
For Freedom,
Aaron Dorr
Executive Director
P.S. The Iowa Stand-Your-Ground bill has been introduced in the Iowa House (H.F 52), and will be introduced in the Senate later this week.
Now is the time for your State Senator to stand up and support your right to defend yourself!
So contact him/her TODAY and make sure that they cosponsor the Stand-Your-Ground bill.
And if you can, please chip in whatever you can to Iowa Gun Owners today, we are running at full speed trying to mobilize as many Iowans as possible using direct mail, Facebook, Email, and more.
Your contributions enable us to keep these vital programs at full speed!