Iowa Guard cancels urban warfare exercise

The Iowa Army National Guard has canceled plans for a large scale urban warfare training in western Iowa.

The four-day training was planned for April in Arcadia. Soldiers were to go door-to-door looking for a suspected arms dealer.

The city didn’t object, but gun-rights advocates are concerned, sending e-mails and making phone calls.

Arcadia Mayor Oran Kohorst says the concerns are “blown out of proportion,” and soldiers were never going to confiscate guns.

Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Greg Hapgood say some training will still be conducted, but it will be in small groups and at the armory in Carroll.

Hapgood say guard officials changed the plans because the unit involved recently installed new leadership, and smaller unit training would be more beneficial.

Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-ia-urbanwarfare,0,516375.story