Thursday Bulletin – March 6, 2025
Executive Director's Message Richard Pearson |
From The “You Can't Make This Stuff Up” File In Miami, Florida, two would-be robbers burst though the door of a grocery store, brandishing pistols and scaring everyone. Suddenly, shots broke out and
screaming and wailing filled the scene. The boss checked himself but found no holes or leaks. The same was true of the employees and customers. The would-be robbers weren’t so lucky. It seems one of the “not ready for prime time” miscreants accidentally shot his partner. The partner then returned the favor. The police and ambulances arrived and hauled the
under-rehearsed pair away. It is rumored that several police officers were treated for pleurisy-like symptoms caused by excessive laughter. Loose Lips Sink More Than Ships A California couple was flying in to San Diego, California. While on the flight, they discussed their exploits involving killing wildlife illegally, smuggling sea
turtle skulls, killing protected animals and illegal taxidermy. The ears of the two passengers in the seats ahead of them perked up. They found the couple's stories quite interesting and exciting. They wanted to hear more, and the couple was happy to oblige their new friends. The good news is this couple will be seeing their new friends a lot more often, at least for
awhile. The bad news, for them, is that the their new friends were California Game Wardens. Drat the luck! Coyote Attacks On Children Normally, when we think of self-defense, we think of being attacked by another human being. Of course, in bear country, that is not the case. But, where there are no bears or mountain lions,
we seldom think of self-defense against an animal. The rise of the coyote population has changed all of that. In a five day period, there have been numerous coyote attacks on toddlers. Three attacks in northeast Ohio, two attacks in Rhode Island and another child attacked in Fall River, Ohio. As their numbers grow, so do the attacks. Coyotes are not your friend.
If they are hungry, they will attack you, your children, your pets, or your livestock. Don't be doing the coyotes a favor by feeding them around your house or farm, or you will pay the price. Remember, these are wild animals, opportunistic hunters, and an invasive species in most areas. I appreciate all those people out there who help to keep the coyote population down. Legislative Update According to Capitol Fax, the Illinois General Assembly has a lot of work ahead of them. The deadline for moving bills out of committee in both the Illinois House and Senate is
March 21st. As of Monday night, the Illinois House Rules Committee has 3,312 bills awaiting action. Of those, 1300 bills are so-called “leadership bills”. Translated, that means those are shell bills that can be passed without language and amended after the deadline. The Senate is in a similar situation. The Senate Assignments Committee has 1979 bills, 900 of which are “leadership vehicles”. Look for a busy two weeks. As always we will keep you
informed. You can follow along by clicking the ISRA Legislation Page. Litigation Update Nothing is moving right now, but our attorneys are prepared when we do finally get a briefing date from whichever court. I know it is frustrating but I believe we are getting closer. We will keep you
updated. ISRA Academy Ladies Weekend – April 4 - 6, 2025 The ISRA Academy is hosting a Ladies Weekend with instructor Mandi Ehler at The World Shooting Complex in Sparta, Illinois, from April 4th to
April 6th, 2025. The NRA “Refuse To Be A Victim” program, which offers constructive tips and techniques for personal safety, will be held on Friday, April 4th. The NRA Basic Pistol shooting course, focusing on safety and fundamentals, will be held on Saturday, April 5th , and the NRA Basic Rifle Course, encompassing all things rifle-related, will be held on Sunday, April 6th , 2025. Reserve you spot today! For more information, please visit our website, email us at academy@isra.org or call the ISRA at: 815-844-9949. Register For “Bullseye 101” at Aurora Sportsmen's Club - April 5 The Aurora Sportsmen's Club is once again offering "Bullseye 101"--an introduction to Bullseye Pistol Shooting. This is a free, one day overview of bullseye and will be held on Saturday, April 5, at ASC. The session is open to ASC Members and invited guests. Shooters of all ages (10 year olds and up) and all skill levels are welcome to attend. Lunch is on your own, but we will organize a group pizza order. The classroom session in the morning will cover safety, scoring, equipment, and a seminar on improving your shooting skills. The afternoon session will provide an opportunity to shoot a National Match Course (or two) comprising the slow fire, timed fire and rapid fire stages found in any formal Bullseye match. Bullseye is a natural progression from shooting ASC
Club Pistol and knowledge of the process and protocols will open up new opportunities for shooting precision pistol. Pre-registration is required. You can find more information on the Bullseye 101 session HERE and REGISTER HERE . Upcoming Municipal Elections Tuesday, April 1 will be the municipal elections in Illinois. These elections are extremely important because this is from where the next round
of State Representatives and State Senators will emerge. It is very important that you review all candidates in these elections and vote for those who are pro-gun. NOTICE to all ISRA Members PLEASE CHECK YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARDS! We have had tremendous
problems with the mail in recent months, not being delivered. There are those that we have mailed Membership Renewal notices and they never received them. If your membership has expired or is close to expiring, please go online to our website, www.isra.org , or call the ISRA offices at 815-635-3198 to renew. Thank
you! Register NOW for NRA Range Safety Officer Classes NRA Range Safety Officer Class – 3/1/2025
(Sunday) 8:30am – 6:00pm / Range 1 & Clubhouse – Register HERE NRA Certified Chief Range Safety Officer Class – 3/8/2025 (Saturday) 12:00pm – 6:00pm / Range 1 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
3/9/2025 (Sunday) 8:30am – 6:00pm / Range 1 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
Register NOW for ISRA Academy CCL Renewals Do not miss out on the ISRA Academy featuring CCL renewals each month. Upcoming dates are: 3/16/2025 (Sunday) 9:00am – 12:00pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE 3/27/2025 (Thursday) 1:00pm – 4:00pm / Range 11 &
Clubhouse – Register HERE Henry 1000 Man Shoot Rifle Raffle Help us fund our youth shooting programs by purchasing tickets for our Henry 1000-Man
Shoot Silver Boy rifles! ISRA will be raffling off rifle #873 out of 1000, which comes in its original case, on March 31, 2025. Don't miss this opportunity to not only win a beautiful and rare firearm but also to support and encourage our young marksmen! If you prefer to call the office and purchase
tickets, you may do so between 8am and 4pm, Monday through Friday. You can also mail a check to the ISRA at P.O.Box 637, Chatsworth, IL. 60921. Be sure to include a note stating it is for the Henry Rifle Raffle. Ticket prices are 1 for $25, 5 for $100 and 15 for $250.
Purchase Tickets for the Henry 1000 HERE New IGOLD Merchandise in the ISRA Online Store Come visit the ISRA Online Store to view our new line of IGOLD merchandise. We have new items added every week and, if you have
something particular you would like to see available, let us know! We would love to hear your ideas and appreciate your input! Email them to us at: member@isra.org Visit the ISRA Online Store HERE Education & Training @ ISRA Range, Bonfield, IL. ISRA Academy is continuing to offer CCL renewals each month – 3/16/2025 (Sunday) 9:00am – 12:00pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE 3/27/2025 (Thursday) 1:00pm – 4:00pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE 4/27/2025 (Sunday) 9:00pm – 12:00pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE NRA Certified Chief Range Safety Officer Class – 3/8/2025 (Saturday) 12:00pm – 6:00pm / Range 1 & Clubhouse – Register HERE 3/9/2025 (Sunday) 8:30am – 6:00pm / Range 1 & Clubhouse – Register HERE Basic CCL Qualification – 3/15/2025 (Saturday) 8:30am – 5:00pm / Range 1 & Clubhouse – Register HERE 3/16/2025 (Sunday) 9:00am – 5:30pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE 3/23/2025 (Sunday) 8:00am – 5:00pm / Range
9 & Clubhouse – Register HERE 4/27/2025 (Sunday) 1:00am – 5:00pm / Range 9 – Register HERE Pistol Coaching Class / Level 1 – 3/22/2025 (Saturday) 8:30am – 4:30pm / Range 1 & Clubhouse – Register HERE 3/23/2025 (Sunday) 8:30am – 4:30pm / Range 1 & Clubhouse – Register HERE Pistol Optics Principles with Brian Hill of “The Complete Combatant” – 4/12/2025 (Saturday) 9:00am – 6:00pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE 4/13/2025 (Sunday) 9:00am – 6:00pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE *** Please contact academy@isra.org for any training or class questions and check the ISRA Range Calendar HERE for links to dates, times, descriptions of ISRA activities and events. Important Announcement - IGOLD The 2025 IGOLD date has been moved to
May 14, 2025. This is due to a change in the legislative calendar. I am looking forward to seeing you there. The Illinois State Rifle Association is the home of marksmanship in Illinois Tidbits March 6, 1836 – The Battle of the Alamo ended. 5000 Mexican troops overwhelmed the 200 defenders of the Alamo. Nearly all of the people in the Alamo were killed. Only a few children and some women survived the battle. The delay caused by the defenders of the Alamo gave the Texas Army time to organize. The massacre of the Texans there enraged the rest of the State. On April 21,1836, the Texas Army and
the Mexican Army would clash again, this time with different results. March 7, 1862 – In Northeast Arkansas, the Battle of Pea Ridge, also known as the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern, was fought. This battle would determine the control of the Mississippi and Upper Mississippi Rivers. Although seldom spoken about, this was a very important
battle. By 1863, the Union would control the Mississippi and the Confederacy would be on the way to collapse. March 7, 1876 – Alexander Graham Bell patents the telephone. It is well known and I have spoken of it before, but there were many along the way who kept improving the telephone. One of those innovators
was actress Hedy Lamar, who patented technology which would eventually help lead to the mobile phone. March 8, 1916 – Mexican rebel leader, Poncho Villa, attacked the border town of Columbus, New Mexico. Villa sent 1500 of his men across the border to attack Columbus, which left 19 people dead and the town in flames. Remember the
“Zimmerman Telegram” I talked about last week? Did you know that Mexico smuggled Nazi spies into the United States during WWII? I'm just saying. March 8, 1917 – The Russian revolution began. The Russian Bolshevik Party becomes the Communist Party. We are still living with what happened, 108 years
later. March 10, 1864 – President Abraham Lincoln signed the commission officially appointing Ulysses S. Grant the rank of Lieutenant General of the United States Army. He was tasked with commanding all of the Union troops against the Confederacy, answering only to the President. March 11, 1888 – A blizzard, nicknamed the “White Hurricane”, hit the East Coast. The blizzard lasted for 4 days and spread up to 55 inches of snow in some areas. Approximately 1 in 4 Americans lived in the area affected by the 1888 storm. Over 400 people lost their lives and 15,000 people were stranded on elevated trains. A day before, the
temperature in the area was a balmy 50 degrees. Spring may have been in the air but everyone's expectations of an early Spring were premature. 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. Mar 1 – Mar 2, 2025 Kankakee Gun & Sportsman's Show, Kankakee Co. Fairgrounds, Kankakee, IL. Mar 7 – Mar 8, 2025 Prairieland Frontiersman Show, Sullivan American Legion, Sullivan, IL. Mar 9, 2025 Kane County Sportsman's Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, IL. Mar 29 – Mar 30, 2025 Sauk Trail Gun Show, Bureau County Fairgrounds, Princeton, IL. April 5 – April 6, 2025 Chillicothe Sportsmen's Club Gun & Knife Show,
Chillicothe, IL. April 13, 2025 Kane County Sportsman's Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, IL. May 17 – May 18, 2025 Kankakee Gun & Sportsman's Show, Kankakee Co. Fairgrounds, Kankakee, IL. June 6 – June 8, 2025 Pecatonica Gun Show, Winnebago County Fairgrounds, Pecatonica,
IL. Sept 27 – Sept 28, 2025 Chillicothe Sportsmen's Club Gun & Knife Show, Chillicothe Sportsmen's Club House, Chillicothe, IL. Oct 12, 2025 Kane County Sportsman's Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, IL. Oct 25 – Oct 26, 2025 Sauk Trail Gun Show, Bureau County Fairgrounds,
Princeton, IL. Nov 1, 2025 Bloomington Gun & Knife Show, Interstate Center, Bloomington, IL. Nov 9, 2025 Kane County Sportsman's Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, IL. Nov 29 – Nov 30, 2025 Sauk Trail Gun
Show, Bureau County Fairgrounds, Princeton, IL. Dec 6 – Dec 7, 2025 Chillicothe Sportsmen's Club Gun & Knife Show, Chillicothe Sprotsmen's Club House, Chillicothe, IL. Dec 14, 2025 Kane County Sportsman's Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, IL. ISRA Grassroots Monthly Meetings
Come and meet fellow activists and learn the latest on protecting our Second Amendment Rights! 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
Livingston County – 4th Saturday of the month – South Post Guns, 104
Livingston Rd., Streator, IL; Social Hour 4:30pm – 5:30pm; Meeting 5:30pm – 6:30pm Stand
Strong &
Thank you for being a member! |
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