October Basic Pistol - 10-26-2013

Our last Basic Pistol Class of the season! Class starts at 9 am (sign in at 8:30) at MR GUNS in Cedar Falls. We have limited space for this class and lots of interest so sign up fast.
Call Joyce at 319-404-5792 to register and reserve your spot.

Iowa Basic and Intermediate Pistol Classes Aug 24th & Sep 28th

We're Back! 

In conjunction with the Cedar Valley Defensive League, we will be offering the following classes:

Basic Defensive Pistol, Saturday Aug 24
This class is a beginner class and no prior firearms knowledge is necessary. Range portion will include taking your first shots, acquiring adequate trigger control and shooting from the ready position. Upon Completion a certificate will be awarded for use to obtain Iowa Carry Permit.

Intermediate Pistol Training Saturday, September 28
This class is designed to enhance your shooting capabilities. The total day will be at the range. Holster is required. The class will entail 200-300 rounds of ammo. Upon Completion a certificate will be awarded

Instructors: John and Melody Lauer, NRA Instructors

To reserve your place in class and details:
Contact: Joyce Kienast
Cedar Valley Defensive League (CVDL)
Phone 319-404-5792

We had a lot of good feedback from the ladies only class last month, these upcoming classes are co-ed.

Course topics for the "Basic" include

Fundamentals of Pistol Shooting
Principles of Self Defense
Carry Lifestyle
Iowa Code
Equipment (beyond firearms)
Tactics
A Female Specific handout as well as a 100pg Student Handout and Reference Packet.
Live Fire Training

This is a FULL day class. Not a 2-4 hour thanks for coming here's your certificate type of class.

**************
The Intermediate Class as stated is ALL on the range.

We start with working from the holster and on to reloads, one-handed usage, malfunction clearing, basic movement, multiple targets and shooting from cover.

Sabbatical

Our daughter arrived on Dec. 3rd. We will most likely be resuming classes in the 3rd quarter of 2012 but until then are taking some time off to get acquainted with the new addition to our family.


In the meantime we are referring students to CWR Firearms Training in Ames, IA and Fierce Training out of Lone Tree, IA and for more intermediate / advanced training, Suarez Intl. which now has a staff instructor, Greg Nichols located in Des Moines. For more information see the Suarez Intl. website I had the opportunity to train with Greg on 4/21-22 and I'm looking forward to working with him in the future.

NRA Pistol Instructor Course

We will be holding a Pistol Instructors Course on Oct 1st and 2nd in Marshalltown, IA @ the Izaak Walton League.

Due to several cancellations, class is being postponed to a date to be determined.

Email me for details regarding registration, this class will have an introductory cost of $200 which includes certification fees. Instructor candidates must pass the pre-qualification requirements.
In your email, please include your phone number and preferred hours of contact to discuss details and registration info.

NRA Basic Pistol - September 3rd - Marshalltown, Iowa

Our next NRA Basic Pistol Class will be held on September 3rd h in Marshalltown, IA.

This course is at least 9-hours long (8hr class / 1hr lunch) and includes classroom and range time learning to shoot revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. Students learn NRA’s rules for safe gun handling; pistol parts and operation; ammunition; shooting fundamentals; range rules; shooting from the bench rest position, and two handed standing positions; cleaning the pistol; and continued opportunities for skill development. Students will receive the NRA Guide to the Basics of Pistol Shooting handbook, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification booklet, take a Basics of Pistol Shooting Student Examination, and course completion certificate.


**This class does not cover Iowa law or "carry specific" issues, however this class does meet requirements in Iowa Code to satisfy the training requirement needed to apply for a Permit to Carry Weapons. This class also meets requirements to apply for a Florida Concealed Weapons Permit *If you are interested in obtaining a Florida Carry Permit, please mention during registration and we will provide the application packet.

The NRA Basic Pistol Course is being held at the Marshall County Izaak Walton League at 2601 Smith Ave. in Marshalltown, IA. 50158. Sign in will take place at 08:30am. We will be having an hour lunch break students may bring their own lunch or dine in town. A refrigerator is available. Please feel free bring your own non-alcoholic beverages. Coffee will be provided.

The class is has an approximate total run time of nine hours (8hrs class/ 1 hr lunch), actual class time may vary pending on number of students etc. Be prepared for this class to last the entire nine hours, if you need more than one meal, you may bring additional snacks. Breaks will be held periodically throughout the class.

Students are expected to furnish the following:

• State Drivers License or State ID
•  One operational handgun in a good state of repair, at least one magazine for that handgun and the handguns owner's manual.
• A minimum of fifty cartridges for the firearm to be used during class.
• One set of eye protection
• One set of ear protection
• Writing materials, students will receive course materials but each student should still supply a notebook and pen.
• Owners manual for firearm to be used during class

**NO AMMUNITION IS TO BE BROUGHT INTO THE CLASSROOM**

Firearms should be transported in accordance to state law. This means that the firearms are to be unloaded and in a container too large to conceal on one’s person, unless you have a carry permit, however the above statement regarding ammunition still applies.


If you do not have a handgun, we can provide rental handguns and ammunition for each for an additional fee of $30.00 per student which includes ammunition. If you require the use of a rental handgun please inform us before class. Eye and ear protection are also available for an additional $2.00 rental fee.

Class cost is $65 which includes a range fee of $10.00
Class size is limited to a minimum of ten and a maximum size of twenty.


Please contact John Lauer (JD) via email for general questions.

For registration contact Melody Lauer by phone @ 641-751-8147.

For further information and updates visit our website. We are also on Facebook.

Justifiable Use of Force and You

Recently here in Iowa, in the town where I work and spend a heck of a lot of time, a man has been charged with assault and going armed with intent after chasing a trespasser off his property, had that been all there was to it, no problem. But the homeowner before chasing off the trespasser retrieved a handgun from his home and confronted the trespasser. The trespasser fled and the homeowner gave chase, left his property and then fired a warning shot at the trespasser after he had failed to adhere to commands to stop.

Here's where things get nasty.

In Iowa, you are allowed to use reasonable force to protect property, reasonable force includes deadly force. However the following bits of Iowa code apply.

704.1 Reasonable force.
“Reasonable force” is that force and no more which a reasonable person, in like circumstances, would judge to be necessary to prevent an injury or loss and can include deadly force if it is reasonable to believe that such force is necessary to avoid injury or risk to one’s life or safety or the life or safety of another, or it is reasonable to believe that such force is necessary to resist a like force or threat. Reasonable force, including deadly force, may be used even if an alternative course of action is available if the alternative entails a risk to life or safety, or the life or safety of a third party, or requires one to abandon or retreat from one’s dwelling or place of business or employment.
[C51, §2773; R60, §4442; C73, §4112; C97, §5102; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §12921; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §691.1; C79, 81, §704.1; 81 Acts, ch 204, §2]
“Dwelling” defined, see §702.10

704.2 Deadly force.
The term “deadly force” means any of the following:
1. Force used for the purpose of causing serious injury.
2. Force which the actor knows or reasonably should know will create a strong probability that serious injury will result.
3. The discharge of a firearm, other than a firearm loaded with less lethal munitions and discharged by a peace officer, corrections officer, or corrections official in the line of duty, in the direction of some person with the knowledge of the person’s presence there, even though no intent to inflict serious physical injury can be shown.
4. The discharge of a firearm, other than a firearm loaded with less lethal munitions and discharged by a peace officer, corrections officer, or corrections official in the line of duty, at a vehicle in which a person is known to be.
As used in this section, “less lethal munitions” means projectiles which are designed to stun, temporarily incapacitate, or cause temporary discomfort to a person without penetrating the person’s body.

704.4 Defense of property.
A person is justified in the use of reasonable force to prevent or terminate criminal interference with the person’s possession or other right in property. Nothing in this section authorizes the use of any spring gun or trap which is left unattended and unsupervised and which is placed for the purpose of preventing or terminating criminal interference with the possession of or other right in property.


704.7 Resisting forcible felony.
A person who knows that a forcible felony is being perpetrated is justified in using, against the perpetrator, reasonable force to prevent the completion of that felony.


702.11 Forcible felony.
1. A “forcible felony” is any felonious child endangerment, assault, murder, sexual abuse, kidnapping, robbery, arson in the first degree, or burglary in the first degree.
2. Notwithstanding subsection 1, the following offenses are not forcible felonies:
a. Willful injury in violation of section 708.4, subsection 2.
b. Sexual abuse in the third degree committed between spouses.
c. Sexual abuse in violation of section 709.4, subsection 2, paragraph “c”, subparagraph (4).
d. Sexual exploitation by a counselor, therapist, or school employee in violation of section 709.15.
e. Child endangerment subject to penalty under section 726.6, subsection 6.
f. Assault in violation of section 708.2, subsection 4.

713.3 Burglary in the first degree.
1. A person commits burglary in the first degree if, while perpetrating a burglary in or upon an occupied structure in which one or more persons are present, any of the following circumstances apply:
a. The person has possession of an explosive or incendiary device or material.
b. The person has possession of a dangerous weapon.
c. The person intentionally or recklessly inflicts bodily injury on any person.
d. The person performs or participates in a sex act with any person which would constitute sexual abuse under section 709.1.
2. Burglary in the first degree is a class “B” felony.
3. For purposes of determining whether the person should register as a sex offender pursuant to the provisions of chapter 692A for violations of subsection 1, paragraphs “a”, “b”, or “c”, the fact finder shall make a determination as provided in section 692A.126.

724.30 Reckless use of a firearm.
A person who intentionally discharges a firearm in a reckless manner commits the following:
1. A class “C” felony if a serious injury occurs.
2. A class “D” felony if a bodily injury which is not a serious injury occurs.
3. An aggravated misdemeanor if property damage occurs without a serious injury or bodily injury occurring.
4. A simple misdemeanor if no injury to a person or damage to property occurs.

702.16 Reckless.
A person is “reckless” or acts recklessly when the person willfully or wantonly disregards the safety of persons or property.

708.1 Assault defined.
An assault as defined in this section is a general intent crime. A person commits an assault when, without justification, the person does any of the following:
1. Any act which is intended to cause pain or injury to, or which is intended to result in physical contact which will be insulting or offensive to another, coupled with the apparent ability to execute the act.
2. Any act which is intended to place another in fear of immediate physical contact which will be painful, injurious, insulting, or offensive, coupled with the apparent ability to execute the act.
3. Intentionally points any firearm toward another, or displays in a threatening manner any dangerous weapon toward another.
Provided, that where the person doing any of the above enumerated acts, and such other person, are voluntary participants in a sport, social or other activity, not in itself criminal, and such act is a reasonably foreseeable incident of such sport or activity, and does not create an unreasonable risk of serious injury or breach of the peace, the act shall not be an assault.
Provided, that where the person doing any of the above enumerated acts is employed by a school district or accredited nonpublic school, or is an area education agency staff member who provides services to a school or school district, and intervenes in a fight or physical struggle, or other disruptive situation, that takes place in the presence of the employee or staff member performing employment duties in a school building, on school grounds, or at an official school function regardless of the location, the act shall not be an assault, whether the fight or physical struggle or other disruptive situation is between students or other individuals, if the degree and the force of the intervention is reasonably necessary to restore order and to protect the safety of those assembled.

708.8 Going armed with intent.
A person who goes armed with any dangerous weapon with the intent to use without justification such weapon against the person of another commits a class “D” felony.

To make a long story short, The guy saw someone trespassing, which is not 1st degree burglary, grabs a gun, goes out to confront him with a gun, the buy bolts, the home owner gives chase leaving his property, and then fires a warning shot into the ground when someone almost 7 yards away "takes an athletic stance"

At no point was he A: Defending property. B. Defending himself or another. C. Acting to prevent a forcible felony.

The trespasser at no time demonstrated ability, or opportunity to put the home owner in jeopardy from a reasonable person's perspective of the situation. Going armed with intent will probably be dropped as he will probably plea down to the assault charge which if the article (which I think made a mistake as "aggravated assault" does not appear in the Iowa code) is correct in the chain of events.

I'll ask around and see what the deal is with this, I'm actually surprised I didn't hear about this sooner....

As to the intent of the trespasser, I doubt he was looking to pick flowers, but as someone who recently went looking for a lost pet in the neighborhood...stuff happens and sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

We'll see how this one pans out but it doesn't look good for the homeowner.

Guns, Guns, and More Gosh Darn Guns: Offically a NRA Training Counselor!

I logged into the NRA website tonight to look at some materials and lo and behold 'Training Counselor' is listed in my ratings.
Look for a Basic Pistol Instructor Course to be listed this fall.