Iowa state lawmaker gives the finger to 'gun-grabbing, freedom-hating ... tyrants'

An Iowa state lawmaker gave the finger to those he described as political opponents during a rally at the statehouse on Tuesday, local NBC affiliate WHO-DT reported.

"When it comes to these gun-grabbing, freedom-hating, over-regulating, civil liberty-violating tyrants," Kaufmann said, "Here's my message ... thank you," state Rep. Bobby Kaufmann (R) said, holding up both his middle fingers, at the Convention of States gathering.

Kaufmann, the son of Iowa's Republican Party chairman Jeff Kaufmann, was one of multiple speakers at the event, which pushed residents to join a movement to limit the federal government's powers and spending.

Those in attendance discussed their issues with federal government mandates and made suggestions including term limits for members of Congress, according to WHO-DT.

"Is the federal government a tyranny?" one speaker asked the crowd, which responded, "Yes!"

The Convention of States' goal is to get 34 out of 50 states to support a convention where the states' representatives could try to amend the Constitution if three-fourths of the states agreed on a measure.

Sixteen states have approved the movement so far.

Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), Iowa state Sen. Jesse Green (R) and state Rep. Shannon Lundgren (R) were among those who addressed the crowd.

"A lot of things have changed in ten years ... with this country and the federal government," said Santorum, a former GOP presidential candidate. "As bad as it was when I campaigned here ten years ago ... it's far beyond what I think any of us expected to happen this quickly."

"My big concern is that it's happening on both sides with both parties. We have too many in Washington that are too comfortable with all the power that they have. And like that power and aren't interested in giving back to the people or the state," Santorum added.