Executive Directors Message
Richard Pearson

I get calls regarding the ATF’s new ruling about AR15 Pistol Braces.  All I know is that according to the new rule, owners of firearms with braces have been forced to make some unpleasant choices.  They may remove the brace, forfeit the gun or guns to the government, or register them as a short barreled rifle(s) This must all be done by May 30^th, 2023.  To have them as short barreled rifles in Illinois, you must belong to a qualified re-enactor group and have a Collector FFL - impossible to do by May 30^th.  I know some are adding long barrels and stocks and turning them into AR15 rifles.

At the moment, the Firearm Policy Coalition has filed a lawsuit known as Mock v Garland in the United States District Court for Northern Texas challenging the ATF ruling.  Aside from the obvious problem, the ATF issued rules for this about 10 years ago.  Law-abiding gun owners complied.  Now with the stroke of a pen, they all could become felons on May 30^th.  Mock v Garland alleged the U.S. Government has violated the Administrative Procedures Act of the U.S. Constitution.  In my opinion, this was intentional to put the government squeeze on law-abiding gun owners.

Right now, the ISRA is tracking 108 bills that have been introduced in the Illinois General Assembly.  We are opposing 16 of these bills, supporting 46 bills, and monitoring the rest.  You can check the status of these bills on the ISRA.org website.  Last week was a whirlwind of activity in the General Assembly, particularly the Illinois House.  This week and next week, the Illinois House will be running up against time constraints to get bills to 3^rd readings.  Expect some long sessions.  For those who watch the legislature, be sure the coffee pot is on. 

Here is an update on our active cases (in no particular order):

• Meyer v. Raoul (18-20 yr CCL cases) - Summary judgment filings have been made by both parties, and an amicus submitted for Defendants. There is a final pre-trial conference on April 19, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. in Benton Courthouse before Judge Staci M. Yandle. There is also a jury trial is set for May 1, 2023 (I am not sure what issues in this case are appropriate for a jury, but the Defendants must have asked for one so that is what is on the schedule). NO CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS UPDATE

 

• Schoenthal v. Raoul (public transportation CCL case) – Status date tomorrow (Friday). Summary judgment filing imminent, unless the Judge decides to dismiss on standing grounds, which is an issue he raised and has not yet ruled upon.

 

• Singleton v. Kelly (FOID appeal delay case) – considering the effect of the new FOID Card Review Board on the case, including mootness. Probably over as we have gotten what we wanted.

• Levine v. UL LLC (Plaintiff fired allegedly for storing CCL firearm in company parking lot) – Circuit Court Judge dismissed case for failure to state a claim (stated grounds not a public policy exception to at-will employment rule). Currently on appeal in First District Appellate Court, opening Brief filed 3/14/23.

 

• Harrel v. Raoul (AWB/LCM case) – Motion for Preliminary Injunction scheduled for hearing on 4/12/23 in East St. Louis.

 

• Atkinson v. Garland (federal felon restoration) – Dismissed by District Court; argued to Seventh Circuit – waiting for decision – strong indication it will be remanded for further briefing in light of Bruen standard. – NO CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS UPDATE

 

• Miller v. Smith (foster care/home day care firearm prohibitions) – Summary Judgment to Defendants by District Court; Reversed and remanded by Seventh Circuit for further briefing in light of Bruen standard. – NO CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS UPDATE

 END
Florida has passed the repeal of the under age 21 long gun purchase ban out of committee.  Several lower courts have ruled that a person’s civil rights are fully vested at age 18.  In Illinois, we have the 18–20-year-old ICCL case (Meyer V Raoul) which is to be heard May 1st, 2023, in Benton, Illinois.  This is in the United States Court for the Southern District of Illinois.

As of 3/15/2023:
ICCL 467,606
FOID 2,415,141

IGOLD: March 29, 2023
For those coming to IGOLD, remember we will be back in the Capitol Building this year.  The great pandemic is over.  This means if you carry a pocketknife or anything like that, remember to leave them in your vehicle or on the bus.  We will be delivering position cards to our representatives and senators as usual.  I will tell you there is extensive remodeling in the Capitol Building and Stratton building.  We will have a list of the legislator’s temporary offices included in your packet.  See you there.  We need to know If you are bringing a bus so we can arrange for parking.  The ISRA will pay for the parking, but we need to know as soon as possible.

Tidbits:

March 16, 1802 - West Point is established.  The first superintendent was Sylvanus Thayer; he became known as the “The Father of West Point”.

March 17, 461 A.D. – St. Patrick dies.  The legends of St. Patrick had made him the patron saint of Ireland.  The first St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated in 1601 in St Augustine, Florida, then a Spanish Colony.  The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in Boston in 1737.  Many of the British soldiers were Irish and were homesick for the Emerald Isle.

March 17, 1804 - Jim Bridger is born in Richmond, Virginia.  He would become one of the most famous Mountain Men.  Although he had no formal education, he was highly intelligent, spoke several Native American languages and had a perfect memory for geographic features.  He is thought to be the first Anglo to see the Great Salt Lake although he thought it was the Pacific Ocean.  He was also one of the first to see Yellowstone.

His life tells the story of what it was like to live in the West in those days.  By the time he was 13, he had lost his mother, father, and older brother.  He and his sister were the only ones left.  At age 13, he became a blacksmith’s apprentice.  At age 18, he joined an expedition which included other famous Mountain Men including Hugh Glass, Thomas Fitzpatrick, and Jedediah Smith.  Bridger was one of the men who abandoned Hugh Glass after he was attacked by a grizzly bear.  Glass forgave Bridger because he was so young at the time.  The story of Jim Bridger and his exploits is also the story of the philosophy of “Manifest Destiny“ and the settling of what would become the western United States.

March 19, 1916 - The United States Army Aero Squadron flies its first combat missions.  On March 9, 1916, Mexican Guerrillas attack Columbus, New Mexico, killing 17 Americans.  President Woodrow Wilson ordered Brigadier General “Black Jack” Pershing to the border to track them down.  Pershing took the Aero Squadron with him to fight the guerrillas.  He used what he had learned when he went to France to fight in WWI. 

March 20, 1778 - France’s King Louie XVI receives American representatives Benjamin Franklin, Silas Dean, and Arthur Lee as official representatives of the United States.  Louie was unsure of the Americans.  Still, he hated the British and when the word of the American victory at Saratoga arrived, he decided to support the American cause.

March 20, 2023 - The first day of Spring.

March 22, 1983 - The Pentagon awards AM General a contract to build 55,000 highly mobile multipurpose wheeled vehicles.  They were nicknamed the Humvee.  General Motors bought the rights for the civilian market.  They marketed the vehicle under the trade name Hummer.  The model number has H1.  Higher fuel prices came about the same time, dooming the long-term viability of the Hummer.  Although two later models were produced, the H2 and H3 models, it was too late.  General Motors was forced into Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009.  There is talk of reintroducing the Hummer but nothing of substance yet that I know of.

If you are not an ISRA member, please join today!
Donate: https://isra.org/support-us/

Visit www.isra.org
Upcoming Events: https://isra.org/events-calendar/
Thursday, March 16 & 23, 2023
Women’s Pistol Team Practice

Sunday, March 19, 2023
NRA Shotgun Instructor Class

Tuesday, March 21 & 28, 2023
Air Gun Practice

Wednesday, March 22 & 29, 2023
Pellet Rifle League

Saturday, March 25, 2023
Armed Women of America
ISRA Hard Dogs Meeting

Sunday, March 26, 2023
ISRA Academy NRA Refuse To Be A Victim

Gun & Trade Shows

Prairieland Longrifle Show– Princeton, IL
Dates: March 17 & 18, 2023
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-4:00
             Sunday: 9:00-2:0
Admission: $5.00

Peoria Gun & Knife Show – Peoria, IL
Exposition Gardens
Dates: March 18 & 19, 2023
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
             Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $8.00

McHenry County Gun Show – Woodstock, IL
McHenry County Fairgrounds
Date: March 19, 2023
Hours: Sunday: 7:30-1:00
Admission: $5.00

Sauk Trail Gun Show – Princeton, IL
Bureau County Fairgrounds
Dates: March 25 & 26, 2023
Hours: Saturday: 8:30-4:00
             Sunday: 8:30-3:00
Admission: $5.00

Springfield Gun Show – Springfield, IL
Illinois State Fairgrounds
Dates: March 25 & 26, 2023
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-4:00
             Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $7.00 (weekend pass $10.00)

Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club Gun & Knife Show – Chillicothe, IL
Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club House
Dates: April 1 & 2, 2023
Hours: Saturday: 8:30-4:00
             Sunday: 8:30-3:00
Admission: $3.00



















 































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