| Executive Directors Message Richard Pearson There are a lot of moving parts on the firearms front across the United States with all kinds of proposed legislation and litigation. The left-wing anti-gun faction along with a well-funded full-fledged attack on the Second Amendment is everywhere. They have far more money than the NRA or any of the pro-gun groups ever had. The left-wing anti-gunners are never held accountable for the mayhem they cause. They want people to be prevented from owning firearms, period. That is their ultimate goal. One example of the problems they have caused is in New Jersey where the State requires a person to have a good reason to purchase a firearm. Of course, no reason was ever good enough unless you were politically connected. A woman in New Jersey wanted to buy a firearm because she feared for her life and her children’s. But that was not good enough. I believe she tried five times but to no avail. She had also tried to get the police to do something but as we all know, or should know, the police are not required to protect anyone unless they want to. Eventually, she was brutally murdered. The anti-gun crowd didn’t shed a tear or even blink. HB5855 is a perfect example of what the anti-gun crowd wants. They are not hiding their intentions. HB5855 is not about fighting crime. None of these anti-gun bills have been about fighting crime but rather, they have been about disarming the American people. HB5855 and other bills like it are aimed directly at the law-abiding citizens. In fact, it is a hate crime against law-abiding gun owners. In this bill, the firearms listed and the features that can be put on firearms that they want to ban are the best self-defense firearms and make self-defense easier. The semiautomatic AR15s, shotguns, or pistols are the best for self-defense, target shooting, and hunting. The great thing about the Second Amendment is that it applies to everyone, rich and poor alike. HB5855 would, if passed, make life even tougher for those people who are economically disadvantaged, or live in bad neighborhoods in Chicago and other cities around the state. These folks live among drug dealers, gangbangers, and criminals of all types. Some people say, ”Well just move away.” Oh yeah, and just where would that be? That isn’t so easy. The passing of HB5855 or similar bills would make everyone easy prey but the economically disadvantaged would be affected most of all. Then, of course, is the specious argument that banning everything would be worth it even if it only saves one life. Whose life is that exactly? Such incidents that occurred in Highland Park are terrible (we won’t go into the fact that authorities missed the boat that could have prevented all that). The fact is that firearms are reportedly used over 2.4 million times a year for self-defense which undoubtedly saves thousands of lives and injuries. I have stated that I have used my firearms for that purpose. I didn’t report those times because it would only cause myself a headache. I believe the number of times a firearm is used in self-defense is thousands of times more than reported. Is my life or your life worth less than someone else’s life? I don’t think so. Life is a dangerous game; in the end, everyone dies. HB5855 and similar bills must be stopped. Please help by joining the ISRA or if you are already a member, donate or recruit a new member. You could do both you know. We all know we should avoid places that make us vulnerable to attack. One of those places not on the list is a McDonald’s parking lot at 8:30 in the evening. Last week a fellow was enjoying his Big Mac outside his vehicle in Florida. He was suddenly and viciously attacked by someone he did not know. There was a disparity in size between the attacker and the smaller intended victim. In another case of poor victim selection, the intended victim was smaller but was a concealed carry permit holder. He shot the attacker once. The result was the attacker was DRT (Dead Right There). As they say in Missouri, Oh well! Once again, the lesson is that it can happen anywhere at any time. Be ready. In Atlanta, Georgia, a 77-year-old lady saw someone trying to steal her SUV. She went out to confront him and was promptly brutally stabbed to death. The lady lived in a gated community. The criminal had a rap sheet as long as your arm and should have been in prison but of course was not. The soft on crime mayor of Atlanta never said a peep about the criminal. The son of the murdered woman lamented “you are not as safe as you think you are”. Correct, remember that. A few years ago, we had a Second Amendment Sanctuary County movement in Illinois. A few days ago, Iroquois County passed a resolution advising the State of Illinois that they oppose HB5855. Link to Iroquois County Resolution: https://isra.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Iroquois-County-Resolution-opposing-HB5855.pdf Please ask your County Board to do the same thing. I would contact every County Board member in your county. The ISRA has extended the life upgrade promotion further for those who missed the original campaign. We will honor this discount until December 31st. If you would like to take advantage of the upgrade promotion, please email [email protected]. We will email you information. Please let us know your date of birth and if you are eligible for American Hero Status. American Hero status requires that you be past or present U. S. military, police officer, firefighter or EMT. Tidbits: December 15, 1791 – This is one of the biggest days in history, but it slips by unnoticed or ignored. On this day in 1791, Virginia ratifies the Bill of Rights. Virginia was the 10th state to approve 10 of the 12 proposed amendments. The Bill of Rights has proven to be the cornerstone of freedom throughout the years. Those who want to trash the United States Constitution always chose the Bill of Rights as their point of attack. We all must protect the Bill of Rights from left wingers, socialists, and communists. December 15, 1944 – U.S. Army Air Force Captain Glenn Miller, the great band leader of the 1930s and 1940s, disappears while flying from London to Paris. Miller was noted for raising the moral of American troops in the European Theater in WWII. Glenn Miller and a pilot left London in a small two seat airplane in a dense fog. It is believed the plane plunged into the English Channel killing both Captain Miller and the pilot. Neither the plane nor any of the wreckage was ever found. Glenn Miller is still listed as Missing in Action to this day.December 15, 1945 – General Douglas MacArthur orders the end of the Shinto religion in Japan. The Japanese Emperor had to renounce his status as the “Son of Heaven”. This action opened the way for democracy in Japan. December 16, 1944 – The Battle of the Bulge. The German code name for the Battle of the Bulge was “Operation Autumn Mist”. The name comes from the mist that forms in the Ardennes Forest in December and hid the German advance. The goal was to capture the Port of Antwerp and cut off American and Allied supply lines. It was a big gamble that didn’t pay off. What it did do was slow the allied advance and allowed the Russians to get to Berlin first. Had the Allie’s gotten to Berlin first the world would be an entirely different place. December 17, 1777 – France becomes the first country to recognize the United States as a nation. December 17, 1941 – Rear Admiral Husband E. Kimmel is relieved of his duties as commander of the United States Pacific Fleet. Admiral Kimmel was in charge of the defenses at Pearl Harbor. I have always believed that Kimmel was made a scapegoat for the failures of the Administration and the Navy. Kimmel was not given the intelligence communiques and his requests for more anti-aircraft guns were denied. Kimmel himself believed the same thing. December 18, 1932 – We all think that playing football indoors is a relatively new idea. Not so. On this day, the Chicago Bears played the Portsmouth Spartans indoors for the NFL Championship. It was played in a converted hockey stadium. Dirt was brought in to cover the floor from a nearby circus. The field was only 60 yards long, so the rules were modified. Over 12,000 fans attended the game, about the same size crowd as the Bears get today or should get today. Just saying! December 19, 1775 – “The American Crisis” by Thomas Paine is published. This was the second pamphlet published by Thomas Paine. His first was “Common Sense“ which called for the Revolution. His words in “The American Crisis“ saved the Revolution. Here is part of what he said. His words still apply today. “These are the times that try men’s souls; the summer soldier and the sunshine Patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service; but he that stands now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” Washington had a freshly printed copies read to his tired and starving troops. They rallied and crossed the Delaware River and defeated the Hessians on Christmas night and won the Battle of Princeton on January 2nd. Thanks to Thomas Paine and the leadership of George Washington, they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. December 12, 1988 – PanAm Flight 103 explodes over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 259 passengers and crew as well as 11 people on the ground. The U.S. Embassy in Helsinki, Finland, had received a tip 16 days earlier that an airliner would be bombed. After the bombing, the U. S. officially said it was a coincidence. Talk about ignoring the facts. Pan Am was sued and had to pay out $30 million in claims which led to the bankruptcy of Pan Am. Of course, the dead heads who are supposed to be protecting them have long since retired with full pensions. This week, the bomb maker, Abuja Agila Mohammad Kheir Al-Marimi was brought back to the U.S. for trial. He won’t face the death penalty. Good grief, we are a bunch of buttercups. December 21, 2022 – The first day of winter. The days are going to start getting longer. Thanks for being a member.Visit www.isra.org Upcoming Events:Thursday, December 15 & 22, 2022 Women’s Pistol Team PracticeSaturday, December 17, 2022 ISRA Academy NRA Basic Shotgun CourseSunday, December 18, 2022 Firearms Skills & DrillsTuesday, December 20 & 27, 2022 Air Gun PracticeWednesday, December 21 & 28, 2022 Pellet Rifle LeagueSaturday, December 31, 2022 Armed Women of AmericaSaturday, January 7, 2023 Range Work DaySaturday, January 14, 2023 Winter Wars XIXGun & Trade ShowsKankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show – Kankakee, IL Kankakee County Fairgrounds Dates: December 17 & 18, 2022 Hours: Saturday: 8:00-3:00 Sunday: 8:00-2:00 Admission: $6.00Springfield Gun Show – Springfield, IL The Illinois Building Dates: December 17 & 18, 2022 Hours: Saturday: 9:00-3:00 Sunday: 9:00-3:00 Admission: $6.00McHenry County Gun Show – Woodstock, IL McHenry County Fairgrounds Date: December 18, 2022 Hours: Sunday: 7:30-1:00 Admission: $5.00Kane County Sportsman’s Show – St Charles, IL Kane County Fairgrounds Date: January 8, 2023 Hours: Sunday: 7:30-1:30 Admission: $7.00McHenry County Gun Show – Woodstock, IL McHenry County Fairgrounds Date: January 15, 2023 Hours: Sunday: 7:30-1:00 Admission: $5.00Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show – Kankakee, IL Kankakee County Fairgrounds Dates: January 21 & 22, 2023 Hours: Saturday: 8:00-3:00 Sunday: 8:00-2:00 Admission: $6.00 |
By Illinois ReviewOn Wednesday, the Illinois State Rifle Association released a statement offering former U.S. Congressman Adam Kizinger (R-IL) and Missouri Senate candidate Lucas Kunce (D) complimentary firearm...
Read more
