On January 1, 2023, the SAFE-T Act will be the law in Illinois.  While many tout the SAFE-T Act, I personally feel it is a really bad piece of legislation.  What is the SAFE-T Act you ask?  It is essentially a “No Cash Bail Law”.  We are watching the results of similar laws in California and New York.  I believe it will be disastrous for most law-abiding citizens.  The SAFE-T Act will put dangerous criminals back on the street within hours of their arrest.  You and I will be left to deal with them.  The danger of criminals attacking you or your loved ones goes up dramatically, in my opinion.

Some of this is already happening in Cook County.  The SAFE-T Act will make it happen all over Illinois.   Murderers, robbers, rapists, drug dealers, car jackers, and drunk drivers will be released and coming to your neighborhood.  As I understand the law, the only ones who will be in jail are those who are a threat to a specific person.  For example: a drunk driver who caused a crash that killed an entire family will be let out because he did not intentionally target them; he can go out and do it again.  Here are some more examples: Joe Doaks kills his wife, Jane Doaks.  He will be released because he is no longer a threat to Janes Doaks because he was successful in murdering her.  If he had tried to murder her but only disabled her, he could be kept in jail because she is still alive, and he is a threat to her.

A gangbanger randomly shoots a 10-year-old kid.  He would be let out because it was random.  He did not specifically target the kid.  Even if he had, the kid is dead anyway, so the gangbanger is no longer a threat to the kid.  The same goes for the random rapist, robber or whatever.  In my opinion, there is some screwy thinking in this bill. The bill should be reconsidered.  You and I have just become fair game for criminals.

Even worse, here is some information you might find unsettling, to say the least.  An organization known as Wirepoints, has gone through public records and found some startling information on the Chicago Police Department.  In 2021, there we 788,000 High-Priority Level 1 calls to 911.  A High-Priority Level 1 call means there is an imminent threat to life, bodily injury, or major property damage.  In 2021, 406,829 of High-Priority Level 1 calls were not responded to because there were no police available to answer the call.  If you break that down, that means every minute and 21 seconds a Level 1 call came in that was not answered.  In 2021, there were 2000 calls involving someone who was actually shot that there were no police available to respond.  Before I go any further, I am not blaming the Chicago Police officers for this lack of staffing.   Adding to this chaos is the SAFE-T Act which begins January 1, 2023.  Did I mention that Cook County has released over 100 murderers out of jail that are using electronic ankle bracelets?  I know that it will be a comfort to you knowing they are wearing an ankle monitoring device.  Go find a Concealed Carry Instructor and get your ICCL.  If you have your ICCL, take an advanced class.  Bring the members of your household and your friends up to speed on what is going on.    

There are many gun owners who think the anti-gun crowd is just a bunch of misguided folks who really just don’t understand.  That is not true.  They are out to destroy private gun ownership and anyone who stands in their way.  Here are a few recent Tweets that will emphasize how deep this fight for our freedom is going to get.  This is a quote from Newtown Action Alliance’s Po Murray.  “A gun rights activist from Newtown told me he needs an AR15 to defend himself against a tyrannical government.  I told him the CIA has drones with missiles, Hellfire RX9 ‘knife bomb’/ flying Ginsue was used to kill al Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahi”.  Really now, Ms. Murray.  You are advocating the use of military force against law-abiding American gun owners. Okay Ms. Murray, we now know where we stand.

Just to add to the fire, California Congressmen Eric Swalwell tweeted that those gun owners who would dare to oppose a tyrannical government’s attempt to seize lawfully owned firearms would face a short war because “the government has nukes too”.  Nice.
Swalwell is the California Congressmen who has some sort of relationship with alleged Chinese spy Fang Fang, who also uses the name Christine Fang.  Now you know what the radical left anti-gunners think of us and what they want to do to us. 

 A chill swept across the nation Monday evening when the FBI raided former President Donald Trump’s home in Florida.  Of course, the Biden Administration knows nothing (shocker).  Even worse, Trump’s attorneys were ordered to leave so there were no witnesses.  Who knows what they found or what evidence they planted.  Good people, we are in trouble.

The Massad Ayoob MAG 80 Course, September 8^th-11^th at our range, is an intensive study of defensive firearms that teaches extreme speed for hits, and includes shooting at greater distances, and management of such contingencies as weak hand draws, one-hand only reloads and malfunction clearing if wounded, etc. Students receive several hours of hands-on training in handgun disarming, and in countering attempts by an attacker to disarm them. Shooting while moving, and the use of long guns for defense, are among the areas covered. Round count: 500 handgun, 100 long gun. Prerequisites: MAG-20/Classroom plus MAG-20/Live Fire; MAG-40 or LFI-I.  Contact Andy Kemp at 208-771-3413 or Andy1911@imaxmail.net

Results from the National Rifle Matches are still coming in.  I am pleased to announce the Illinois State Rifle Association Gold Team has won the National Six Man Team Championship.  They also won the Soldier of Marathon Trophy which is the oldest trophy in the Civilian Marksmanship Program.  Last week, I discussed the meaning of Xs or tie breakers.  ISRA Gold beat Texas with a score or 2931-98x to their 2931-86x.  That is about as close as it gets.  Great shooting on everyone’s part. 

ISRA shooter Patrick Boyle placed 7th in the M1 Garand Match.  Smallbore shooter Jim Miller made the Dewar team which is always a real honor.  By next week the matches will be finished.  Thanks to all of those ISRA shooters who participated. 

Tidbits:
August 11, 1934 - Alcatraz Island Prison opens.  Contrary to popular belief, a couple of people did escape from Alcatraz.  Most who tried it became shark bait.  Oh well.  Attorney General Robert Kennedy ordered the prison closed in 1963 due to high maintenance costs.

August 11, 2022 - The last super moon of the year is tonight.  Don’t miss it. 

August 12, 1898 - The Spanish-American War ends.  The United States gains territories around the world as the once great Spanish colonial empire crumbles.

August 12, 1990 - Tyrannosaurus Rex is discovered near Faith, South Dakota.  The mostly intact skeleton was nicknamed “Sue”.  Sue‘s skull weighs 2000 pounds and she was 40 feet long.  Sue is estimated to be 65 million years old.

August 13, 1781 - Brigadier General Francis (The Swamp Fox) Marion ambushes 450 loyalist troops near Parker’s Ferry west of Charleston, South Carolina.  Marion’s troops killed or wounded half of the loyalist forces in three volleys.  The patriots were low on ammunition, or they would have wiped out the hated loyalists.

August 14, 1935 - President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law.

August 15, 1945 - Japanese Emperor Hirohito announces the Japanese surrender to the Japanese people via radio and loudspeakers.  This was the first time most Japanese people had heard the emperor speak.  Not only did the announcement of the Japanese surrender destroy the Japanese Empire, but it also destroyed the Japanese religion.  The emperor was worshiped as the “Son of Heaven“ who was thought to be invincible.  He was not!

August 16, 1896 - Gold is discovered near the Klondike River in Canada’s Yukon Territory.  This was to be the last gold rush in history.

August 17, 1943 - General George Patton wins the race to Messina on the island of Sicily, beating British General George Montgomery by a few hours.   George Patton was an excellent marksman.  He competed in the Pentathlon in 1912, coming in fifth.  He was penalized in the pistol shooting phase because one of the Olympic judges said he missed a shot.  Actually, the shot went through an existing bullet hole in the center of the target.  Patton was to represent the United States in the 1916 Olympics but the games were canceled due to WWI.   

Thanks for being a member.

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

Saturday, August 13, 2022
2022 ISRA Outdoor Pistol Championships
Defensive Rifle I Course

Sunday, August 14, 2022
2022 ISRA Outdoor Pistol Championships
Marksmanship League

Monday, August 15 & 22, 2022
Military Bench Rest League

Tuesday, August 16 & 23, 2022
Tuesday Night Irregular Rifle League

Wednesday, August 17 & 24, 2022
F-Class Rifle League
Bench Rest League
Paper & Steel League                  

Thursday, August 18 & 25, 2022
ISRA Smallbore Prone/F-Class League

Saturday, August 20, 2022
Defensive Tactics for Concealed Carry-Level II
Guardian Tactics Advanced CCL Training-Level I & II

Sunday, August 21, 2022
ISRA Bullseye Match & Combat Match
Rifle/Pistol Training
Springfield Armory Pistol Match

Saturday, August 20 & 21, 2022
ISRA Academy NRA Basic Rifle Class

Gun & Trade Shows

Crown Point Gun Show – Crown Point, IN
Lake County Fairgrounds
Dates: August 20 & 21, 2022
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
             Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $5.00

Belleville Gun & Knife Show – Belleville, IL
Belleville Fairgrounds
Dates: August 27 & 28, 2022
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
             Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $6.00