Executive Directors Message
Richard Pearson
Yesterday, January 25, 2023, our attorney David Sigale filed a Motion for Preliminary Injunction in our challenge to the new Illinois law which infringes on citizen’s Second Amendment Rights. The case is known as Harrel et al v Raoul et al and is filed in the United Sates Court for the Southern District of Illinois (Benton), Case No. 3:23 CV 141-SPM if you are looking for it. It is important to remember that the ISRA, SAF, and FPC lawsuit applies to all citizens of Illinois.
The Motion for Preliminary Injunction is 28 pages long. The test for firearms is whether or not they are in common use. The same is true of magazines. Modern Sporting Rifles or AR15s owned by Americans exceeds 24 million firearms. Modern Sporting Rifles account for 20 percent of all firearm sales in the United States. Even more interesting is the number of magazines owned by Americans. Magazines are an integral part of a firearm, so they are also covered by the common use test. The number of AR15 magazines in the United States amounts to more than 273 million. There are more than 269 million pistol magazines in the United States. Of that number, more than 170 million exceed the 15 round limit that is imposed by the state of Illinois.
In a survey of 16,708 firearm owners, 66 percent of them said they owned AR15 rifles for target shooting, 61.9 percent said they owned them for home defense, and 50.5 percent said they owned them for hunting. The statistics for crimes committed will show only 2.2 percent of crimes are committed with rifles of any type.
There is a lot more in the Motion for Preliminary Injunction but those are some of the highlights.
Right now, there are several lawsuits against the new Illinois law in both state and federal court systems. Don’t be surprised if the judge combines some of the cases, particularly on the federal level.
I would like to thank all of those who turned out to support Sheriff Mendrick of DuPage County. The fact that you took time out of your day on a Monday morning shows your dedication to the Second Amendment. We support all the Illinois sheriffs who rightfully oppose this latest infringement on our rights by this unconstitutional law.
One of the goals of the anti-gun left is to limit the place where concealed carry license holders can carry a firearm for self-defense. They think some areas are ”sensitive” places. One of those places is on any type of mass transit. Of course, when you are on a commuter train or bus you are the most vulnerable. If you sense danger and you can’t escape, no one will help you and the police aren’t there. You are most likely outnumbered, out weaponed, or both.
In the Illinois General Assembly, the “We’re not happy until you’re not happy” faction of liberal Democrats have rolled out another bill to figure out if they can force Illinois gun owners to buy liability insurance. No such product exists but that doesn’t matter. People would be forced to buy the insurance or give up their Second Amendment rights. This bill, HB1305, is sponsored by Bob Morgan (D-Highwood), the new darling of the anti-gun movement. We will be updating you on proposed legislation in the Thursday Bulletins.
On Monday morning, I was watching “Fox and Friends“ when one of their weathermen came on. He was obviously beaten up. He had been on a commuter train going home from work the night before when eight young thugs started beating people up. The weatherman, Adam Klotz, was one of them. The punks had set another man’s hair on fire. The weatherman had to be treated at a hospital. Although he remained conscious, the goal of the jerks was to knock him out. There must be a depraved badge of honor among this scum. He and other passengers could have easily been killed. The thugs left. Someone had called the police. The thugs came back while the police were there. And what did the cops do? Why, they took their names and addresses and let them go. They will be contacted later. Uh huh, sure they will. No wonder New York City is such a worthless sewer. News reports are saying that 66 percent of murders now involve multiple attackers. The only way to defend yourself against such odds are with a firearm.
In Chicago, Darius Moss, a guy with 32 arrests and 4 felony convictions, was robbing people on their way home from work on the CTA. I am sure Darius was confident that there were no concealed carry holders on the CTA train. By the way, you can’t carry a gun because it is a Gun Free Zone. Aboard the train was a 25-year-old security guard on his way home from work. He also had an Illinois Concealed Carry License. There is an exemption for security guards-drat the luck. Moss robs him but doesn’t get his gun. He ordered the guard off the train, but to his credit, the guard gets back on and shoots Moss in the leg. Good job. Moss will probably get the maximum sentence of three minutes in jail.
Illinois needs to allow concealed carry on mass transit for all the reasons mentioned above. I remember a few years ago, we had a bill that would allow concealed carry on mass transit in legislative committee. Of course, it did not make it out of committee. That very day, there were 32 robberies on the CTA.
In Florida, a woman was leaving her job late at George’s Tavern. She had been worried about being attacked so she asked her boyfriend to meet her and follow her home. While walking to her car, she was attacked by a man who burst out of a porta-potty. He threw her to the ground and began choking her. About that time, the boyfriend showed up. I think I forgot to mention the boyfriend was in the 173rd Airbourne Special Operations Unit. I will bet the attacker was surprised to find that out. We will never know because the boyfriend shot and killed the attacker. Another happy ending.
The Winter Wars XIX event that was scheduled for January 17th, has been rescheduled to February 11th, 2023, at the ISRA Range. This is a fun match for military surplus rifles, shot at 200 yards from the prone position on a military head and shoulders silhouette (the so-called Sitting Dog target).
Upcoming 2023 Midwest Firearms Training Classes – All Classes Held at the ISRA Range:
May 27-28, Intro to Defensive Pistol:This intensive two-day program introduces the new or novice shooter to combat handgun training. Included in the program are firearms safety issues, marksmanship basics, various shooting positions, speed reloads, drawing from a holster, and more. This is designed for the shooter who has never had formal firearms training or would like to review the fundamentals. Emphasis is placed on trigger control, sight alignment, accuracy, and safety. 500 rounds. No prerequisite required. Contact Andy Kemp at 208-771-3413 or [email protected] or visit www.midwesttraininggroup.net
June 24-25, Defensive Rifle: Two-day course takes beginners and intermediate shooters to advanced level. This is geared toward the environment that most of us live in, suburban and semi-rural, or home defense. Centerfire semi-automatic rifles, or pistol-caliber carbines only. Slings are mandatory. Red dot type sights are allowed and BUIS are advisable. At least two rifle mags and two pistol mags. Holster, mag pouches etc. Firing will be from short range (100 yards to nearly muzzle contact.) Covering positional shooting-standing, kneeling, sitting, prone and cover positions, one hand firing and reloading techniques, zeroing options, shooting while moving, mirror image shooting and transitions, malfunction clearing and adjusting for offset at various distances. 600 rounds rifle and 100 rounds pistol. No Prerequisite. Cost: $600.00. Contact Andy Kemp at 208-771-3413 or [email protected] or visit www.midwesttraininggroup.net
October 5-8, Massad Ayoob MAG-40: This is an intense, four-day, 40-hour immersion course in the “rules of engagement” for armed law-abiding private citizens. The course emphasizes legal issues, tactical issues, and aftermath management. Topics will include interacting with suspects, witnesses, responding police officers, threat recognition and mind-set, and the management of the social and psychological aftermath of having to use lethal force in defense of self or others. Also covered is preparing beforehand for legal repercussions and minimizing your exposure to them. Situations in the home, at the place of business, or “on the street” will all be covered. Range work will include instruction in the use of the defensive handgun under extreme stress. Drawing from concealment, two-handed stances, shooting from cover, one-handed stances with either hand, speed reloading, and more are taught with an overall emphasis on fast, accurate shot placement. The course will culminate with a written examination covering the classroom topics and a police-style handgun qualification course. 500 rounds.No prerequisite required.
Contact Andy Kemp at 208-771-3413 or [email protected]www.MidwestTrainingGroup.net
Tidbits:
January 26, 1926 – Scottish inventor, John Baird, demonstrates the first television system in London, England. In January 1928, the first television in the United States was demonstrated in Schenectady, New York. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) began high-definition broadcasting in 1936. In the United States, regular television broadcasting began in 1939. Regular color broadcasting began in 1955. The first U.S. President to be on television was Calvin Coolidge in1928. It won’t be long before television will be celebrating its 100th anniversary.
January 26, 1945 – Lt. Audie Murphy is wounded in France. Murphy was the United States’ most decorated soldier. He was awarded every medal for valor the United States had to offer. He also received medals from France and Belgium. Murphy was rejected by the Maine Corps and the Navy because he was underweight. He finally made it into the Army. Audie Murphy wanted to make the Army his career, but his wounds were so severe he could not go on. He was headed to West Point but that all went down the drain because of his wounds.
Actor James Cagney found out about Audie Murphy and invited him to Hollywood. Murphy had a 21-year movie career. He died in a plane crash in Virginia in 1971. He was just approaching his 46th birthday. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, a hero among heroes.
January 29, 1936 – The Baseball Hall of Fame elects its first members. They were Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Matthewson, and Walter Johnson.
February 2. 1812 – Russia builds Fort Ross on a site just north of present day San Francisco, California. Ross was short for Russia. Things did not go well for the Russians. In 1841, the Russians sold their share of California to John Sutter for an unsecured note of $30,000.
February 2, 2023 – Ground Hog Day, six more weeks of winter no matter how you slice it.
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Visit www.isra.org
Upcoming Events:
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Women’s Pistol Team Practice
Saturday, January 28, 2023
Armed Women of America
Sunday, January 29, 2023
ISRA Academy NRA Basic Pistol Class
Tuesday, January 31 & February 7, 2023
Air Gun Practice
Wednesday, February 1 & 8, 2023
Pellet Rifle League
Saturday, February 4, 2023
Range Work Day
RSO Recertification for CPR/AED/First Aid Training
Sunday, February 5, 2023
ISRA Academy NRA Basic Rifle Class
Gun & Trade Shows
Sauk Trail Gun Show – Princeton, IL
Bureau County Fairgrounds
Dates: January 28 & 29, 2023
Hours: Saturday: 8:30-4:00
Sunday: 8:30-3:00
Admission: $5.00
Lake County Gun & Sportsman Show – Antioch, IL
Antioch VFW
Date: January 29, 2023
Hours: Sunday: 8:00-1:00
Admission: $7.00
Quad Cities Gun Show – Rock Island, IL
QCCA Expo Center
Dates: February 11 & 12, 2023
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $8.00
Kane County Sportsman’s Show – St Charles, IL
Kane County Fairgrounds
Date: February 12, 2023
Hours: Sunday: 7:30-1:30
Admission: $7.00
Central Illinois Gun Collectors Gun Show – New Berlin, IL
Sangamon County Fairgrounds
Dates: February 18 & 19, 2023
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-4:00
Sunday: 9:00-2:00
Admission: $5.00
Crown Point Gun Show – Crown Point, IN
Lake County Fairgrounds
Dates: February 18 & 19, 2023
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $6.00
Boot City Opry Gun & Knife Show – Terre Haute, IN
Boot City Opry
Dates: February 18 & 19, 2023
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $5.00
McHenry County Gun Show – Woodstock, IL
McHenry County Fairgrounds
Date: February 19, 2023
Hours: Sunday: 7:30-1:00
Admission: $5.00
Decatur Gun & Knife Show – Decatur, IL
Decatur Conference Center & Hotel
Dates: February 25 & 26, 2023
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $8.00
