
Hosted by Iowa Firearms Coalition · EN

Matthew Peake is a storyteller at heart, bringing history to life through his lens and voice. From photographing Elmer Keith's famed revolvers to documenting pieces connected to President Theodore Roosevelt, he has spent nearly two decades immersed in the firearms industry. Matthew began as the first staff photographer at Brownells Inc., where he went on to lead all photo and video production for over 14 years. Today, as the first Director of Marketing at Rock Island Auction Company—the world's leading purveyor of fine and historic firearms—he has the privilege of sharing the stories behind some of the most remarkable guns ever made.

Perry Whitaker, AKA the Gunsmith Beard joins IFC's Warrior Wednesday for Episode 145. According to his mom, ever since he was a little kid, he was building guns at a broken clothing rack, hiding behind clothes while his mom shopped at the local department store, or using a cardboard roll from a wrapping paper as a bazooka. As he got older, Perry ended up serving in law enforcement for about half a decade, along with the United States Coast Guard, as an auxiliary for about three years. After serving in law enforcement, he always wanted to do more in the firearms world, so Perry went to MCC in Troy, North Carolina. He studied gunsmithing and obtained a firearms technology degree. Perry's first job outside of school was working with Brownells Inc, one of the world's leading Firearms and parts Dealers. He worked there for about seven years in Customer service and product support as a Gun Tech, along with Brand Marketing in their Social media marketing department. "This is where I cut my teeth in the industry, meeting some of the best people I've ever had the privilege of being friends with," says the Gunsmith Beard.

IFC's Warrior Wednesday program is joined by Kevin "KD" Dixie. Kevin Dixie is the Owner of No Other Choice (NOC) Firearms Training and founder of "Aiming for the Truth" (A program focused on getting to the roots of the factors that are driving violence in our communities. A mission of solving real issues and avoiding the blaming of tools to avoid dealing with the complexities that exist.) Kevin has taken "Aiming for the Truth" to several American cities and looks to eventually tour and speak full-time. The Aiming for the Truth program is transitioning to the Greenwood Project; which is a 40 acre plot of land just south of Atlanta. The land serves as a community outreach program and second amendment training grounds. Kevin is a visionary who seeks to use his personal story as a beacon to drive out darkness in the lives of people and replace it with strength. A man who believes we can either choose to wallow in victimhood or stand victorious. Kevin has been featured on NRATV, America First Magazine, Time Magazine, Gun Freedom Radio, Firearms Network, Tom Woods Show, and dozens of podcasts.

Today we're talking about something that Iowans should be extremely proud of—but also something that comes with responsibility. Over the past 20 years, Iowa has gone from being ranked in the 40s nationally for gun rights protections to consistently ranking among the top five states in the country. That didn't happen by accident. It happened because of dedicated activists, engaged legislators, and organizations working together to protect the Second Amendment. But right now, there are several pro-Second Amendment bills in the Iowa Legislature that have stalled. Some people feel like maybe we've done enough. To help put that in perspective nationally, we're joined today by Mark Vaughan, 1st vice president of the NRA.

IFC's Trusted Partner, Black Flag Arsenal, announces their newest venture - The Vanguard Shooting Facility! Unfortunately, we are already seeing organized resistance from local anti-gun groups who plan to attend the zoning meeting, write letters, make phone calls, and speak against the project. Attend the meeting and support them! If you can not attend the meeting, you can call the Madison County Board of Supervisors and voice your support! Attend in person - Madison County Zoning & Planning Commission - Thursday, March 19 – 6:30 PM - Madison County Annex - 201 W Court Ave. (bottom level) - Winterset, Iowa From Gabe: Planning and Zoning: Ryan Hobart (515) 462-2636 Board of Supervisors: Heather Stancil 515-493-1278 (515) 412-0090 Diane Fitch (515) 705-0377 Jessica Hobbs (515) 705-0378

JOIN IFC and NRA! Kaitlyn Ware, a life member of IFC and NRA, joins us today to talk about all things 2A for a young person in America. She's attended the NRA Y.E.S. (Youth Education Summit), led folks at the Iowa Capitol on IFC's 2A Day for years, headed to New Mexico to shoot, camp, and learn for two weeks at the NRA Whittington Center this summer during the Adventure Camp, and continues to shoot competitively with her local team, Baxter Shooting Sports in SASP competition. Let's tune in and learn a little bit about her journey and how more of you can become involved!

Join IFC! Gabby Franco's journey began in the Central Occidental region of Venezuela, where her parents instilled in her the values of resilience and dedication. Although she initially explored interests like dance and gymnastics, she discovered a profound passion for Olympic shooting after her father introduced her to the local range. Through rigorous training and a focus on mastering the precision required for air and sport pistol shooting, Gabby rose from an unknown athlete to a standout member of the Venezuelan national team. Her path was marked by significant milestones, including winning a silver medal at the 1997 Bolivarian Games and making history at the 1999 Pan American Games as the first female Venezuelan shooter to earn an Olympic spot, despite facing intense internal political pressure and efforts to replace her with a male competitor. While Gabby fulfilled her dream of competing in the Sydney 2000 Olympics, the experience was shadowed by ongoing legal and political battles over her earned position. The subsequent rise of socialism in Venezuela, characterized by economic instability and the erosion of personal freedoms, eventually forced a difficult crossroads. Fearing for her future and recognizing that merit was being overshadowed by ideology, Gabby made the life-altering decision to retire from the sport and immigrate to the United States in 2002. Leveraging her "extraordinary ability" as an elite athlete to secure a visa, she successfully transitioned to life as an immigrant, trading her Olympic aspirations for the promise of freedom and a new chapter as a dedicated, law-abiding citizen. Gabby offers a cautionary tale against socialism and gun control, as she knows firsthand the horror of both. Visit gabbyfranco.com for more!

Join NRA and IFC! Kaitlyn, 16yrs old and a life member of NRA, is a guest on Ellis Codjoe's morning program at KBIZ - 1240AM and 102.7FM via the Ottumwa Radio Group. Listen in as they talk about NRA, the NRA Y.E.S. Program, the Adventure Camp at the NRA Whittington Center, and more! Thank you, Kaitlyn, for your advocacy, and the Ottumwa Radio Group for the opportunity!

JOIN IFC! Riley T. Bowman is an elite shooter and instructor who transitioned from an eight-year career in law enforcement to the highest levels of competitive shooting. A USPSA Grand Master, Riley holds multiple state titles and top national rankings. He is dedicated to bridging the gap between high-level performance and life-saving defensive skills. Riley provides insight into the 2026 Guardian Conference - a world of unparalleled firearm and personal protection expertise at the premier destination for self-defense training. Set against the backdrop of the incredible Oklahoma City Gun Club, this event is more than just a conference—it's a transformative experience. Dive into hands-on training sessions led by the nation's top firearm instructors, and elevate your handgun skills to a whole new level. From trauma care insights to the intricacies of legal defense, the Guardian Conference covers it all. @usafirearm

Support IFC by becoming a member or donating. Ben Gillenwater is a seasoned cybersecurity expert with 30 years of experience who has dedicated himself to helping families navigate the digital world safely. His mission was sparked by a personal realization when he discovered that even "kid-safe" apps on his son's iPad contained inappropriate content and addictive designs that disrupted his child's sleep and physical activity. Recognizing that his deep technical background didn't make him immune to these parenting challenges, Ben now uses his professional expertise to empower other parents who may feel overwhelmed by the complexities of online safety. @familyitguy