The long-time leftist dream of destroying the National Rifle Association (NRA) got a setback on Thursday, March 3, 2022.  New York Attorney General Letitia James had part of her lawsuit against the NRA dismissed by New York Supreme Court Justice Joel Cohen.  James had sought to have the New York Supreme Court simply dissolve the NRA.  This part of the lawsuit was simply a political attack on the NRA and its members.  The left is always looking for ways to silence free speech if they don’t like the message.  NRA Counsel William A. Brewer III declared the ruling a victory for all those who believe in free speech and association.  The NRA still has a lot of financial hurdles ahead of it and is by no means out of the woods yet.  Bankruptcy is still a possibility but a victory is still a victory. 

As the threat of the Russian invasion became closer, the Ukrainian Parliament made it easier for Ukrainian citizens to get firearms.  The Ukrainian Parliament’s actions came too late.  Imagine if the Ukrainians had been training with firearms for years and had 1000 times the ammunition that they have.  If you have been watching news coverage of the war in Ukraine, there are occasional clips of citizens getting very elementary training on small arms.  In one news clip, there is a Russian drone
approaching and one of the citizen soldiers was having trouble getting a fresh magazine into his AK47.  Not a difficult task if you have had training.  Obviously, this fellow had not been trained well enough.  Tasks like magazine changes should be second nature.  This is why classes, leagues and competitions are so important.  Had the Ukrainians had more time to train, my guess is the Russians would be sitting around nice warm barracks sipping vodka.   At this point, there have been about 25,000 rifles, mostly AK47s, and 10,000,000 rounds of ammunition distributed to the Ukrainian people.  An American ammunition maker, Ammo, Inc. is donating 1,000,000 a rounds of 7.62 X 39mm to feed the AK47s.  While all this sounds wonderful to those who don’t know, it is pitifully small compared to what is needed.

Of course, the anti-gunners don’t want to talk about any of this.  They are happy to change the subject.  Too bad everyone in the world with half a brain knows that an armed population in a country makes the invasion of that county a losing proposition for the invaders.  We also need to take the lessons of the Ukrainians to heart.  If we don’t learn from them, we will get a first-hand in person lesson ourselves.

What happens in Ukraine isn’t going to stay in the Ukraine whether it is the defeat of the Russian invaders or the victory of the Russian invaders.  This is a turning point.  When the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.) broke up in 1991, it became the Russian Federation.  Much of its territory made up of formerly independent nations had their sovereignty returned to them.  It had to be a rough day for Vladimir Putin, former KGB agent.

Putin is now determined to rebuild the old U.S.S.R by reclaiming those areas and forcing them back into the Russian Federation.  The Ukraine is the first stop on Putin’s wish list.  He is doing the old-fashioned Russian way, ruthless brute force.  Putin will use those same tactics on any country he wants, including the United States, if he gets a chance.  The next countries on the list are probably Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.  The Russians have beat up on these three small countries for years.  The problem is these are NATO countries and part of a mutual defense treaty.  That may not matter depending on how much weakness the Biden Administration exhibits.

The answer is simple but Biden & Company have to control the left wing of their party which is filled with environmentalist Nazis.  Right now, it does look that way.  Biden & Company is trying to make a deal with those who hate us.  On top of that, he is willing to pay them off by strengthening their position and weakening ours.

How could we strengthen our position?  The President would have to issue an Executive Order opening up drilling, more fracking, increasing production and getting rid of most of the strangulating regulations that make it difficult to do.  By bringing cheap oil back, you cut off the money supply to those countries that hate us.  Not only could we clobber Russia, but also Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Iran and a few others who would like to cut our throat.  We will see.  Like I said, what happens in Ukraine isn’t going to stay in the Ukraine whether it is Russian victory or defeat.

The good news is that IGOLD is on for 2022 and will be held on April 6, 2022, at the Bank of Springfield Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, Springfield, IL.  No masks will be required at the Bank of Springfield Center where we hold our rally.  Doors open at 10:15am.  Once again, we will have our parade and the rally at the Capitol steps.  We will not be able to enter the Capitol this year.  This means the time will be shorter.  We will load the buses about 2:00 pm east of the Capitol between Second and Third Street.

This is a very important IGOLD.  This year, the Illinois Primary Election will be held after IGOLD.  It is important for all the candidates to see the IGOLD parade.  It is also important for the legislators to see the IGOLD parade.  We have handicapped buses for those who have difficulty walking.   After the rally, the handicapped bus will take you back to the Bank of Springfield Center.

The Spring Legislative session will end on April 8, 2022, but that does not mean there won’t be any legislative session after the Primary and in the Fall.  There are 260 bills that will be active until January 11, 2023.  This will be our only major rally before that time.  Please mark your calendars and make sure you attend IGOLD 2022 on April 6, 2022.

The last two years the ISRA has had to cancel a couple of classes because of COVID-19 and ammunition availability concerns.  Those days are behind us. 

We will be hosting an Emergency Response for Trauma Injuries. This is a one-day class that will be held at the ISRA Range on April 9.  This is a certified class by the Illinois Department of Public Health and is NRA certified for 8 hours of continuing education For Range Safety Officers.  Sign up must be completed on the Spartan Tactical website:  teamsttg@aol.com 

Another class is the MTG’s two-day Defense Rifle Course with transitioning to a handgun.  This class is designed for semi-automatic rifles and handguns.  The ammunition requirements are 600 rounds for rifle and 100 rounds for pistol.  This class is designed for those interested in home defense in suburban and rural areas.  For complete details and to sign up: www.midwesttraininggroup.net

Remember: Daylight Saving Time begins this weekend on Sunday at 2:00am.

Tidbits:
March 10, 1864 – President Abraham Lincoln promotes Ulysses S Grant to Lieutenant General.  Grant was from Galena, IL, and was working in his family’s leather business when the Civil War broke out.

March 11, 1888 – One of the worst blizzards in American History hit the East Coast.  The day before, the temperature was in the 50’s and then an Arctic air mass collided with the warm moist spring temperatures.  In some parts, 55 inches of snow was recorded along with 85 mph wind gusts.  At least 400 people were killed by the blizzard.

March 12, 1894 – Coca-Cola is sold in glass bottles for the first time.  The first Coke bottles were just plain glass bottles.  In 1915, Coke requested designs for a new distinctive Coke bottle.  The new design was developed by the Root Glass Company of Terre Haute, IN.  Part of the contract was that a bottle of Coke would cost five cents, no more.  The price remained at five cents until 1959.

March 13, 1881 – Russia has always been a tough place.  On March 13, 1881, Czar Alexander II was assassinated.  In 1917, Czar Nicholas II and his family were murdered, leading to the Bolshevik Revolution and the forming of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic, U.S.S.R.  In December 1991, the USSR was dissolved and became The Russian Federation which is where we are today with Vladimir Putin.  Russia is still as cruel as it ever was.

44 BC – Julius Caesar is stabbed to death by 60 conspirators led by Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus.  Julius Caesar was a reformer.  Old timers didn’t like the reforms and thought by killing Julius Caesar, they would restore the Roman Republic.  What it did was instigate a series of civil wars and destroyed Rome.

March 16, 1802 – The United States Military Academy is established at West Point, New York, on the Hudson River.

Thanks for being a member!

Upcoming Events: ISRA Calendar
For more information, visit www.isra.org

Saturday, March 12, 2022
ISRA Academy NRA Basic Shotgun Course

Sunday, March 13, 2022
Marksmanship League

Tuesday, March 15 & 22, 2022
Tuesday Night Air Rifle League (5:00-8:00)
Tuesday Afternoon Air Gun Open Practice

Saturday, March 19, 2022
Air Pistol League

Gun & Trade Shows

Belleville Gun & Knife Show – Belleville, IL
Belleville Fairgrounds
Dates: March 12 & 13, 2022
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
             Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $6.00

GAT Guns Factory Sale – East Dundee, IL
970 Dundee Ave
Dates: March 12 & 13, 2022
Hours: Saturday: 8:00-6:00
             Sunday: 9:00-6:00

Kane County Sportsman’s Show – St Charles, IL
Kane County Fairgrounds
Date: March 13, 2022
Hours: Sunday: 7:30-1:30
Admission: $7.00

Peoria Gun & Knife Show – Peoria, IL
Exposition Gardens
Dates: March 19 & 20, 2022
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
             Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $6.00

McHenry County Gun Show – Woodstock, IL
McHenry County Fairgrounds
Date: March 20, 2022
Hours: Sunday: 7:30-1:00
Admission: $5.00