In the wake of the February 26, 2012 killing of unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin by concealed handgun permit holder George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida, Baudler voiced support Iowa’s version of Florida's controversial “Stand Your Ground” law. The “Stand Your Ground” law, known by critics as “Kill At Will” or “Shoot First,” was harshly criticized after the Martin killing by opponents who contended that the law condones vigilantism and unjustifiable murder. In defense of “Stand Your Ground,” Baudler pointed to an Iowa case where a man used a handgun to defend himself from an unprovoked attack by two individuals. He was charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon and going armed with intent, but acquitted of all charges. Baudler vowed to bring back Iowa’s “Stand Your Ground” bill each legislative session until it is passed. “I think when everything cools down [concerning the killing of Trayvon Martin], we will get it through some day, some year,” he said. “If we don’t, I trust the voters to put the right people in office to do the right thing for Iowans, not Floridians or Californians, but the right thing for Iowa.”

Responding to plans by Occupy Wall Street protestors to hold non-violent demonstrations in conjunction with the January 3, 2011 Iowa presidential caucuses, Baudler, who is a Republican member of Iowa’s state legislature, told protesters to expect a response that “will be swift and it will be sure.” He went on to add, “Since I'm not a state trooper anymore, they probably won't be handcuffed - but I have friends. If an officer asks for help, I will help, believe me. We're just not going to tolerate in rural Iowa what's going on in the big metropolitan areas. A little thump therapy never hurt anybody.”

A September 5, 2011 article in the Des Moines Register indicated that Baudler supports the use of profiling at airports for “select passengers.”

Between 2007 and 2009, Baudler was a sponsor of a proposed amendment to the Iowa Constitution that called for recognition by the state of only marriages between a man and a woman. It failed to pass.

In 2008, Baudler sponsored HF 2476, “A bill for an act prohibiting local legislation that prevents local government officials or employees from cooperating with federal officials with regard to the immigration status of persons within the state.” The legislation would have made local law enforcement officers and local government officials personally liable to civil actions if their jurisdictions enacted legislation that prevented local law enforcement from working with federal law enforcement on immigrant matters.

In 2007, Baudler co-authored legislation that sought to prevent Iowa Department of Motor Vehicles locations from offering information in any language other than English. The bill failed to pass.

Baudler once traveled to California and lied about a medical condition to obtain a prescription for medical marijuana in an apparent attempt to demonstrate that medical marijuana laws can be abused. In California it is illegal to lie about a medical condition to receive a prescription. Baudler claimed that he didn’t break any laws because he doubted the man he talked to (who he referred to as an “oriental”) was a real doctor, saying, “I wouldn't want to bet that guy had anymore than a high school degree in some other country.”

In February 2008, Baudler authored and introduced HF 2187, “A bill for an act relating to bail restrictions imposed against a person who is an unauthorized alien.” The bill, which died in subcommittee, sought to require law enforcement to hold “unauthorized aliens” without bail if they were charged with any criminal offense. Such a law would be unconstitutional as applied to a person charged with a federal crime as the Eight Amendment provides, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” Most U.S. states also have provisions barring excessive bail.