Thursday Bulletin – September 19th, 2024 
 

LITIGATION UPDATES

At this moment, our lawsuit Harrel v. Raoul is still being heard in the Southern District of Illinois in Belleville. I would expect the trial to end sometime this week. I’m sure the judge will give us his opinion within 30 days.

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) begins its 2024-2025 session on October 2^nd. We hope to be in front of SCOTUS in the upcoming session. I believe that our case as well as several other cases in Illinois and around the country will bring a showdown on assault weapon bans. I am looking forward to their decision.

Election 2024

The 2024 General Election is looming large. In my opinion, the fate of the United States is teetering in the balance. Here is some information you need.

Early voting is a big deal these days and can often influence the outcome of the election. I urge you to vote early or by mail. If you want to vote by mail, you should make your request now by contacting your County Clerk or local election authority. The last day for your request is Thursday, October 31^st. Do it now!!

The first day of early voting is Thursday, September 26.

The last day to register by mail is Tuesday, October 8.

The last day to register online is Sunday, October 20.

The last day to vote early is Monday, November 4.

Of course we have the Presidential Election. The down ballot candidates (below the President) are really important also.

In Illinois, all 17 congressman seats are up for election. In the Illinois General Assembly, all 118 State Representatives seats are up for election. In the Illinois Senate, 20 seats are up for election. Every two years approximately one third of seats are up for election. There are two Illinois Supreme Court seats up for election. You can see how important it is to vote in this election.

Head Scratcher

The man who was targeting former President Donald Trump in an apparent assassination attempt, camped out in front of his Palm Beach golf course for 12 hours – packing food and a rifle as he waited for President Trump to arrive at his private club. The kicker? Trump’s golf course is next door to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

You Can’t Make This Up

Recently, there has been a lot of stuff listed under the head you “can’t make this up”.

What happened in Baker City, California is a great example. In the middle of the night, a 36-year old sex offender broke into the house of a woman. Fortunately, the lady had a revolver, and she ordered the offender out of the house and to sit on the deck. When she called 911, she was informed that there were no police patrols between 2 am and 7 am. The offender finally just walked off and was later arrested after a struggle with police. The number of police calls that go unanswered in the United States is phenomenal. Even worse is that the number is growing.

Fall

The warm dry weather is causing the crops to dry more quickly than usual. In many areas farmers are already harvesting. That means our little deer friends will be losing their summer home and be running across the roads soon. The more the fields shrink, we will see them. In a month, much of the crops will be out and the moon will be bright. That means deer will be out and about, watch out for them. The October moon will be especially bright because it is a super moon. The October Moon is known as the Hunters Moon and with good reason. The first day of fall arrives on September 22, 2024, at 8:44am Eastern Daylight Time.

If you would like to donate to us, please visit:  https://isra.org/support-us/. 
Thank you for your support!

Education & Training

We have CCL Renewal classes at the ISRA Range on 10/13 1-4pm and 11/13 1-4pm. Also CCL Classes 4 nights from 5p-9p in total 16 hours. Oct 7-10 and 2 day CCL Class on 11/16-11/17 8:30am-5pm.

ISRA Academy will travel! Mandi is happy to schedule classes for groups or individuals at their local range or facility. Travel classes include: CCL renewal, CCL, NRA Basic Pistol, NRA Basic Rifle, NRA Range Safety Officer, and Stop the Bleed; additional classes continue to be added so please contact academy@isra.org for any training or class questions.

GET IN THE FIGHT, STAY IN THE FIGHT, JOIN THE ISRA

To Join the ISRA, Go To: https://isra.org/join-us/ 

ISRA members: The Spring and Summer 2024 Shooter is now on our website at: https://isra.org/illinois-shooter-newspaper/

Hawken 200^th Anniversary Raffle

In celebration of Hawken Rifle’s 200^th anniversary, we are holding a unique one-of-a-kind raffle. First prize is a 50 cal. Hawken Percussion Target Rifle, plus complete 6-piece kit. 2^nd prize is an 1858 Remington 44 cal. Pistol, 3^rd prize is a Lyman 54 cal. Pistol. Winning ticket drawn on October 20, 2024. <View the raffle flier>,  and <download the raffle ticket order form here.> 

The Illinois State Rifle Association

is the home of marksmanship in Illinois

Tidbits

September 20, 1777 – British General Charles Gray, and 5,000 British soldiers attack a small group of patriot troops commanded by Gerald Anthony Wayne that would become known as the Paoli Massacre. Gray with help of a loyalist spy got the password and was able to get into the camp attacking the sleeping patriots with bayonets killing and wounding 200 Americans.

General Wayne, who became known as “Mad Anthony Wayne”, returned the favor two years later. General Wayne’s troops assaulted a bridge fortification known as Stony Point on the Hudson. The 30-minute attacks Americans used only beets killed 94 British and captured 472 others. They soon learned you did not want to mess with General “Mad Anthony Wayne”.

September 21, 1780 – American General Benedict Arnold commits treason when he meets with Major John Andre of the British Army. They plan to handover West Point to the British for money and a position in the British Army, but there was more to it than just a position in the British Army and money. Benedict Arnold’s wife, Peggy Shippen, whose family were famous loyalists in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the sister to John Andre.

The plot was discovered, and Benedict Arnold did turn his coat from the American Continental Army to the British Army. It did not work out well for him. Major Andre, his British co-conspirator was caught and hung. Benedict Arnold was paid only 6,000 pounds of the 20,000 pounds bargained for. He moved to England but was not well received. It seems no one likes a traitor. Arnold did go into the shipping business and was successful. He died at the age of 60 and was buried without military honors.

September 22, 1862 – President Abraham Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared all slaves to be free. The Emancipation Proclamation turned the Civil War from an economic war into a war against slavery. With one stroke of the pan, Abraham Lincoln freed more than 3 million slaves.

September 23, 1779 – John Paul Jones Captain of American ship Bonhomme Richard defeats two British men of war, Serapis and the Countess of Scarborough, off the Eastern shore of England. The Captain of the Serapis was named Richard Pearson. Probably some distant relative of mine who I might now denounce.

September 24, 1789 – The first Supreme Court of the United States is established. There were six justices appointed for life. The reason they were appointed for life was so the executive branch and legislative branch couldn’t threaten them and force them to make political decisions rather than judicial decisions. The Chief Justice was John Jay and other justices included John Rutledge, William Cushing, John Blair, Robert Harrison and James Wilson. On September 26, all justices were confirmed by the US Senate.

The founding fathers is made up of three equal parts of government executive, the legislative, and the judicial. When George Washington appointed these justices, it completed the foundation for the United States that the founding fathers had envisioned.

September 25, 1789 – The first time was the United States approves 12 amendments to the US Constitution. These amendments were submitted to the states for ratification. In the end, 10 of the amendments would pass. These became known as the Bill of Rights. It would be December 15, 1791, before all states would approve the Bill of Rights.

 

Other Events & 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. 

If your club or organization is holding a gun show, event or class, let us know the details, and we’d be happy to post it in our Weekly Range Schedule.

Now - Sept 20   Rifle Postal Challenge – any suitable shooting site – must be witnessed to participate. Click to see in The Illinois Shooter newspaper.

Sept 21   National Civil War & Collector – DuPage Co. Fairgrounds, Wheaton 

Sept 21 – 22   Crown Point Gun Show, Lake Co. Fairgrounds, Crown Point, IN

Sept 28 – 29   Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club House, Gun & Knife Show, Chillicothe 

Sept 28 – 29   Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show, Kankakee Co. Fairgrounds
Oct 5 – 6  Central Illinois Gun Collectors Gun Show, Sangamon Co. Fairgrounds, New Berlin, Sat 9am - 3pm; Sun 9 am - 2pm, Admission $5 adults

Oct 13 Kane County Gun Show - Kane County Fairgrounds

Oct 26 - 27   Sauk Trail Gun Show, Bureau Co. Fairgrounds, Princeton

Oct 26 – 27   Will County Gun Show, Will Co. Fairgrounds, Peotone

November 1 – 2   Mt. Vernon Knife Show, Rolland Lewis Comm. Bldg,, Mount Vernon

November 2 – 3   Bloomington Gun & Knife Show, Interstate Center, Bloomington
Nov 9   Youth Wingshooting/Pheasant Hunt, Iroquois Co. State Wildlife Area, Beaverville. Call to register: 815-933-1383 or <click here for more information>.

November 9 – 10   Quad Cities Gun Show, QCCA Expo Center, Rock Island

Nov 10 Kane County Gun Show - Kane County Fairgrounds

November 16 – 17 Crown Point Gun Show, Lake Co. Fairgrounds, Crown Point, IN

Nov 23 – 24    Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show, Kankakee Co. Fairgrounds

Nov 30 – Dec 1   Central Illinois Gun Collectors Gun Show, Sangamon Co. Fairgrounds, New Berlin, Sat 9am - 3pm; Sun 9 am - 2pm, Admission $5 adults

Nov 30 – Dec 1   Sauk Trail Gun Show, Bureau Co Fairgrounds, Princeton

Nov 30 – Dec 1   Central Illinois Gun Collectors Gun Show, Sangamon Co. Fairgrounds, New Berlin, Sat 9am - 3pm; Sun 9 am - 2pm, Admission $5 adults

Dec 8 Kane County Gun Show - Kane County Fairgrounds

ISRA Grassroots Monthly Meetings
Come and meet fellow activists and learn the latest on protecting our Second Amendment Rights!

East Central Illinois - 3rd Thurs – Clifton Sportsman’s Club, 3106 US-45 #52, Clifton, IL; Doors open 6pm; Meeting 7pm – 8pm

Northwest Suburban - 3rd Tues – Golden Corral, 1591 S. Randall Rd., Algonquin, IL; Doors open 6pm; Meeting 7pm – 8pm

South Suburban/Cook County - 2nd Thurs – Kenootz Pizza, 4659 147th St., Midlothian, IL; Doors open 6:30pm; Meeting 7pm – 8pm

Will County - 3rd Wed – Silver Dollar Restaurant, 422 E. Mississippi Ave., Elwood, IL; Doors open 6pm; Meeting 7pm – 8pm
 

Stand Strong &
Thank you for being a member!

If you are not an ISRA member,  join today!

Donate: https://isra.org/support-us/

Visit www.isra.org

Upcoming Meetings: https://isra.org/isra-activities-and-events/

Upcoming Range Events: https://isra.org/the-range/#range-calendar

Stand by for the ISRA Range Post on Tuesday!