Thursday Bulletin – November 16, 2023
Executive Director's
Message Richard Pearson |
The Illinois State Rifle Association will be petitioning the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals this week for an en banc hearing (a hearing before all 14 judges in the Seventh Circuit, not just a three-judge panel) in our case Harrel v Raoul et al,
joining with the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s case, and the case of Barnett v. Raoul, et al, all of which were consolidated in the trial (District) Court and at the Seventh Circuit. We believe this is a necessary step to have the best chance (if the en banc Petition does not result in a reversal) for the Supreme Court of the United States to hear our cases. Many firearms owners continue to contact the ISRA with questions about the rules surrounding the registration of firearms and parts under Governor Pritzker’s so-called “assault weapon” ban. We at the ISRA agree that the rules are vague and confusing. The Illinois State Police have even admitted that they continue to revise the rules, this in turn makes it almost impossible to follow what is already a vague and likely unconstitutional
law. Make no mistake, the ISRA continues to fight this law in Federal Court, and we expect that this vague and confusing law will eventually be overturned based on current case law. However, until that happens, firearms owners are faced with a choice of not complying, or trying to navigate rules that are nearly impossible to follow should
they decide to register. In December there will be two hearings that have the potential to drastically change or stop this overreach by Governor Pritzker. The first is a Federal Court Hearing in Southern Illinois in the first week of December. The second hearing will be December 12th in front of the Joint Committee on Administrative
Rules, where changes to the rules are likely to be introduced or adopted. For these reasons,the ISRA recommends that all firearms owners wait until after the outcomes of these hearings before deciding to comply with a law that we strongly believe will be overturned. The U.S. Supreme Court seems ready to hear several firearm related cases. It held oral arguments in its latest Second Amendment case on Tuesday, but before that, it agreed to hear two more gun-related cases. They aren't Second Amendment cases, but they have big implications for gun owners. More on that later. The Supreme Court wasn't the only court that was busy this week. There were rulings from lower courts that decided the legality of the pistol-brace ban and Illinois' "assault weapons" ban. There are other cases moving forward that deal with magazine and assault weapons bans. The magazine bans have been found unconstitutional in a couple of
these district courts. At this time the ATF can’t arrest anyone for owning a pistol-brace-equipped gun. That’s the outcome of a ruling handed down by United States District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk on Wednesday. He granted a motion to stay enforcement of the agency’s rule banning the possession of effectively all braced guns that weren’t
registered earlier this year. He found the ATF exceeded its power when crafting the rule. SAF AMICUS BRIEF SUPPORTS CHALLENGE OF HAWAII ‘SENSITIVE PLACES’ LAW – Alan Gottlieb, SAF Founder and Executive Vice President The Second Amendment Foundation has filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit supporting the challenge of Hawaii’s “sensitive places” statute which places broad prohibitions on where legally armed private citizens may carry firearms for personal protection. “Hawaii adopted this restrictive statute in response to last year’s Supreme Court Bruen ruling,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice
President Alan M. Gottlieb. “The sweeping ban at public places, including beaches and parks effectively eviscerates the constitutional right to bear arms for self-defense, and we can’t allow this to go unchallenged.” This statute allows the nullification of the Second Amendment. Lastly, I have a dark
warning for everyone out there that has a firearm that falls under the PICA Act. The governor said no one is after our firearms, but there is no guarantee that he won’t change his mind. Also, everyone needs to realize that any legislature cannot make a law that binds the next legislature to honor that law. That can be good or bad. We are now in very dangerous territory! There is no guarantee that registration will not turn into a list for confiscation. There is also no guarantee that the legislature will not try to register other firearms. This is a time for all gun owners to stick together. As Benjamin Franklin said, “If we do not hang together, we shall surely hang separately”. If you are not a member of the Illinois State Rifle Association, you need to join and help us continue to fight for our Second Amendment rights. As one of our valued members, you should have received your Recruiter Mailing by now. It is very important that you help us get new members to fight the battles before all gun
owners. To carry on this fight, we need more and more new people to become members of the ISRA. You AND your new members will be entered into the drawing, for every new member you sign up! Please feel free to make copies of the form you received in the mailing, if you can recruit more than one member, or call the office at 815-635-3198 if you did not receive the mailing,
and we’ll mail it to you. Your help is needed and very much appreciated! Tidbits
November 16, 1945 –
Operation Paperclip begins. The United States brings 88 German rocket scientists to America. These scientists developed both the V-1 missiles and the V-2 rockets for Germany. Eventually these scientists would develop a rocket system that would put United States astronauts on the moon. Operation Paperclip was not widely known to the American public. November 17, 1871 – The National Rifle Association was founded.
Union Army Civil War General Ambrose Burnside was elected the first president of the newly formed NRA. He is said to lament about his Civil War troops, saying "Out of ten soldiers who are perfect in drill and the manual of arms – only one knows the purpose of the sights on his gun or can hit the broad side of a barn." General Burnside and the other corporate officers of the newly formed charter recognized a need for better training for our military. They sent emissaries to Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany to observe militia and armies' marksmanship training programs. The modern NRA has become a prominent gun
rights lobbying organization while continuing to teach firearm safety and competency. The Illinois State Rifle Association, affiliated with the NRA, has become the prominent lobbying and firearm training organization in Illinois, and is recognized as a leader throughout the United States. The ISRA has over 400 events per year, to promote marksmanship. This is one of the many reasons to join the ISRA. (Click to join here.)
November 18, 1883 – Railroads in the United States and Canada created the time zones, which took effect exactly at noon on this day in 1883, and this standardized time zone. Prior to this date individual towns could set their own time. The establishment of time zones greatly improved the movement of passengers and freight across the United States and Canada. The railroads all met in Chicago Illinois to establish the time zones. It was not until 1918 that congress officially adopted the time zones and placed them under the supervision of the Interstate Commerce Commission. There is a plaque, near the junction of LaSalle and Jackson streets in Chicago, that memorializes the time and date of this meeting at which the standard time system was adopted. November 19, 1863 – President Abraham Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the military cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
The Military Cemetery was 17 acres and had over 7500 men interned. The in less than 275 words, Lincoln reminded the American public of why the Union had to fight and win the Civil War. The battle of Gettysburg lasted 3 days and accounted for 45,000 men on both sides, killed or wounded. It was the last Confederate invasion of the northern territory, and the beginning of
the end of Robert E. Lee’s army, and the Confederates States of America. November 20, 1903 – Tom Horn, the famous western killer was hanged on this date in 1903. Tom Horn was an enforcer for cattlemen’s organizations in Wyoming and other states. Horn was hanged for having murdered Willie Nickell, the 14-year-old son of a Wyoming sheep herder. Horn testified
that he did not shoot the boy, and the evidence does not confirm that he ever shot the boy. The prosecution probably tried Horn for other crimes he may have committed. The old west era came to an end on this date with the hanging of Tom Horn. November 22, 1963 – President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas Texas. Lee Harvey Oswald
allegedly fired 3 shots from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository building. Others believe the shots were actually fired from a small hill, known as the Grassy Knoll. There were witnesses that claimed that the shots came from the Grassy Knoll. Those witnesses have all disappeared or died of mysterious -circumstances. If I was to bet, I’d place my money
on the Grassy Knoll.
Bank of Springfield Center - Springfield, Illinois The Illinois State Rifle Association is the home of marksmanship in Illinois At the Range
Click here to view the entire calendar. All
classes and events are open to the public & all range members, unless otherwise noted. Sig Sauer Academy ClassLooking forward to presenting our Sig Sauer Academy class in February and later in the Spring. We’ll let you know when they are available. The ISRA Range offers great classes and leagues for shooting enthusiasts! Interested in joining a league? Just show up 15 - 30 minutes early. Range memberships are available. A day at the ISRA Range is
always a great day! Thank you
for being a member! Upcoming Gun Shows While the gun show
information shown in this email is believed to be accurate –
sometimes changes occur. This is provided for informational purposes only. November 19 McHenry County Gun Show, McHenry County Fairgrounds, Woodstock November 25 – 26 Central IL Gun Collectors, Sangamon Co. Fairgrounds,
New Berlin November 25 – 26 Sauk Trail Gun Show, Bureau County Fairgrounds, Princeton November 26 Lake County Gun & Sportsman Show, Antioch VFW, Antioch December 2 – 3 Will County Gun Show, Will County Fairgrounds, Peotone December 2 – 3 Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Gun & Knife, Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club December 9 – 10 Bloomington Gun & Knife Show, Interstate Center, Bloomington December 9 – 10 Peoria Gun & Knife Show, Exposition Gardens, Peoria December 10 Kane County
Sportsman's Show, Kane Co. Fairgrounds, St. Charles December 16 – 17 Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show, Kankakee Co. Fairgrounds December 16 – 17 ECA Hunting & Trade Shows, IL State Fairgrounds, Springfield December 17
McHenry County Gun Show, McHenry Co. Fairgrounds, Woodstock 2024 SHOWS (added to as we receive more information January 13 Davenport Gun & Knife Show, Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, Davenport January 14 Kane County Sportsman’s Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St.
Charles January 20 – 21 Dubuque Gun & Knife Show, Grand River Conference Ctr., Dubuque |
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