Thursday Bulletin – May 15, 2025
Executive Director's Message Richard Pearson Thank You to all who joined us in Springfield for IGOLD 2025! |
Where We Stand Today - 2.5 Million active FOID cards - 518,993 Active CCL cards - 340,395 FTIP Transactions for
2024 - 979 FTIP Denials for 2024 - 948 FDLC licenses - current Litigation Update ISRA AS PLAINTIFF • Meyer
v. Raoul (18-20 yr CCL cases) (S.D. Ill.) - Summary judgment filings are filed and awaiting a ruling. A trial may be rescheduled if necessary depending on the outcome of the summary judgment motions. Hopefully recent favorable rulings on this issue in other courts will have a positive effect on the rulings in our case. • Miller v. Smith (foster
care/home day care firearm prohibitions) (C.D. Ill.) – Discovery proceeding in District Court after reversal by Seventh Circuit for further briefing in light of Bruen standard. ISRA SUPPORTING • Schoenthal v. Raoul (public transportation CCL case) (7th Cir.) – Judgment in Plaintiffs’ favor; currently on appeal; briefing completed. Awaiting an oral argument date. • Harrel v. Raoul (AWB/LCM case) (7th Cir.) – Judgment in Plaintiffs’ favor; currently on appeal in a briefing
schedule. In the meantime, the District Court’s injunction has been stayed. No hearing date scheduled. • Atkinson v. Garland (federal felon restoration) (N.D.Ill.) – Awaiting ruling on Motion to Dismiss in District Court after remand by Seventh Circuit to interpret law in light of Bruen. Court may be waiting to see if SCOTUS takes similar
issue case (Range) out of Third Circuit, which ruled in petitioner’s favor. • People v. Brown (in-home FOID card requirement for firearm possession) (Ill. Supreme Ct.) – FOID requirement (license, fees) struck down as unconstitutional by White County Circuit Court. Case appealed to Illinois Supreme Court for a third time, where the Court
will hopefully have to confront the issue presented. Currently in briefing schedule. • Reece v. Raoul (PICA “injunction week” AW purchase) (Ill. 3rd Dist. App. Ct.) – On May 13th, oral arguments were presented in this case. The judges listened very attentively and were interested in our arguments. While this is not an guarantee of
a favorable ruling, it is refreshing to have this happen. Ruling most likely to come in three months or so. • Kuhlman v. Hines ("clear and present danger" civil rights violation) (C.D. Ill.) – Motion to Dismiss denied. Discovery pending in District Court. • Brunke v. Raoul (challenge to "clear and present danger" statute) (N. D. Ill.) – Discovery pending in District Court. As always, the Illinois State Rifle Association fights for you. Not a member? join today! Join the ISRA HERE. Donate to Legal Assistance
HERE! Legislative Update Both the Illinois House and Senate are in session. We are always on alert for movement on legal matters. In the Illinois House, we continue to watch SB8, the so-called “Safe Storage Act”. As
always, we will keep you updated if we hear any news. You can follow along by clicking the ISRA Legislation Page. Fraud In Goverment? What Else Is New? Two Iowa Senators, Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, have discovered that the ATF assigned false job classifications to employees so that their pay could be increased, illegally. I
am SHOCKED...SHOCKED, I tell you...that such a scheme would be perpetrated by government officials! Not. Thank you for Entering the IGOLD Raffle! I want to thank all of those who entered or donated to the 2025 IGOLD Raffle. Your contributions are critical to protecting the Second Amendment in Illinois! Drawing is
May 28th, 2025. Winners need not be present to win. Buy 2025 IGOLD Raffle Tickets Online! CLICK
HERE I want to thank all of those who are entering or donating to the 2025 IGOLD Raffle. Your contributions are critical to protecting the Second Amendment in Illinois. Those who have email will have their raffle tickets emailed to them. Since you are reading this online, I’m sure this includes you. Those who don’t
have email will receive them by USPS snail mail. Emailing your tickets to you is faster, more efficient, and less expensive. Every penny we save is one more penny to help us in our epic fight to protect the Second Amendment. Be sure to watch your email. I hope to see you on Wednesday May 14th at the Bank of Springfield Convention Center Doors open at 10:30 am. I am really excited to hear Col. Grossman speak. Thank you, again, for supporting the ISRA! Make sure to get your tickets in ASAP and receive your commemorative pin! 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 ISRA Takes Next Steps in DOJ Requests Like you, we're fed up with anti-Second Amendment legislators in Springfield who are hellbent on stripping away our constitutional rights as law-abiding
citizens. And while we continue to challenge these unlawful laws in court -- and remain confident of victory -- we also have some good news to share. In fact, very good news! As you recall -- last month -- the U.S. Department of Justice launched an investigation in California after law-abiding citizens were facing up to 18-month delays in Los Angeles for their concealed-carry
licenses. The DOJ is arguing that this is a violation of 2A rights! In fact, Attorney General Pam Bodi said this "infringes" on 2A rights and her "Department will actively enforce the Second Amendment just like it actively enforces other fundamental constitutional rights." How refreshing to finally have a President and a U.S. Justice Department committed to protecting our 2A
rights! We're also aware that we face the same delays here in Illinois that keep law-abiding gun owners from receiving their concealed-carry licenses and FOID cards in a timely manner, or their firearms, if they were unfairly seized by law enforcement officials. It's simply unacceptable and an infringement on our rights. So, we are asking for your help. We'd like to hear from you about your "delays." Please tell us your issue, and how long you've been waiting for your concealed-carry licenses and FOID cards, or for the return of your firearm. You can email
all this information to our new inbox and please include your full name, address and phone number: investigations@isra.org As always, we'll continue to keep you updated, and we won't back down until
our 2A rights are restored here in Illinois! “I am frequently asked if the ISRA sells our membership list. The answer is absolutely not.” ~ Richard Pearson Free Digital Addition of “Midwest Outdoors Magazine” for ISRA Members Beginning in May, for all current members who receive our email, a
digital copy of “Midwest Outdoors Magazine” will be available to you for FREE! You will receive an email from them at the beginning of each month with a link to the online magazine. If you were to purchase this, it would be $9.95 per year, but this is just another of the benefits of being an ISRA member. You can always opt out if you care to do so. Register NOW for ISRA Academy CCL Renewals Do not miss out on the ISRA Academy featuring CCL renewals each month. Be sure
to pre-register by checking the ISRA Range Calendar for times/dates and clicking on the event of your choice for more info. Click here for ISRA Range or call the ISRA Offices for more info
at 815-635-3198. Education & Training @ ISRA Range, Bonfield, IL. May 25 (Sunday) CCL Renewal & Qualification – Range 11, Clubhouse
9am-12pm May 25 (Sunday) CCL Class Day 2 – Range 11, Clubhouse 9am-5:30pm June 7 (Saturday) Range Tours 10am-11:30am & 1pm-2:30pm June 8 (Sunday) CCL Renewal & Qualification – Range 11, Clubhouse 1pm-4pm June 14 (Saturday) Holster Skills & Drills – Range 11 – 12pm-4pm June 28 (Saturday) CCL Renewal & Qualification – Range 11, Clubhouse 1pm-4pm July 13 (Sunday) CCL Renewal & Qualification – Range 11, Clubhouse 1pm-4pm July 18 (Friday) NRA Basic Pistol – Range 1 & Clubhouse 8:30am-5pm July 19 (Saturday) NRA Basic Instructor Training (BIT) – Clubhouse 8:30am-2:30pm July 20 (Sunday) NRA Basic Pistol Instructor – Range 1 & Clubhouse 8am-6pm July
26 (Saturday) CCL Renewal & Qualification – Range 11, Clubhouse 1pm-4pm August 10 (Sunday) CCL Renewal & Qualification – Range 11, Clubhouse 1pm-4pm August 14 (Thursday) IDNR Hunter Safety Course – Clubhouse 5pm-8pm August 16 (Saturday) IDNR
Hunter Safety Course – Clubhouse & Range 1 8am-4:30pm August 22 (Friday) NRA Basic Rifle Shooting Course – Range 11 & Clubhouse 8:30am-5pm August 23 (Saturday) NRA Basic Rifle Instructor – Range 11 & Clubhouse 8:30am-6pm August 23 (Saturday) ISRA Pistol Training 201 Course – Range
8 8am-5pm August 29-31 (Friday-Sunday) Rangemaster 3-Day Firearms Instructor Development & Certification Course September 2-5 (Thursday-Sunday) Massad Ayoob’s MAG-40 Course *** 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. ISRA Members: The Spring 2025 Shooter will soon be on our website. The Illinois State Rifle Association is the home of marksmanship in Illinois Tidbits May 15,
1765 – Parliament passes the Quartering Act which requires colonists to accommodate soldiers in their homes and provide them provisions including meals and stabling of horses. The act went on to say that if all lodging was filled, then other accommodations may be made as needed. This Act infuriated the colonists. The Third Amendment to the Constitution of the United States states that NO soldier, in a time of
peace, will be housed in private homes without the owner's consent. During a time of war, however, this may be allowed, but only in a manner prescribed by law. May 15, 1800 – President John Adams ordered the government to be moved to Washington D.C., leaving Philadelphia, PA. May 17, 1943 – The V-17 Bomber, the
Memphis Belle, flies its 25th and last bombing mission over Germany. In 1990, the film, “Memphis Belle”, was released. It is a fictionalized dramatization of the real flight of the Memphis Belle. Still, it is worth watching. May 18, 1860 – Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, is nominated for the Presidency of the United States in Chicago. May 18, 1980 – Mount Saint Helens erupts. The massive eruption killed 57 people and devastated some 210 square miles of southwestern Washington State. I remember seeing the volcanic ash floating over Illinois. It made for great sunsets for a few days. Just for the record...there is an even larger volcanic dome forming under Yellowstone National Park. If that
one goes, it's going to be mighty exciting around the world and here in Illinois, particularly. May 18, 1962 – Marilyn Monroe sings the sexually-charged version of “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy during his birthday celebration. JFK got in trouble for that one, I bet. May 20, 1927 – Charles Lindbergh takes
off in the first transatlantic flight from Roosevelt Field in Long Island, New York. It was the first ever nonstop flight across the Atlantic. May 21, 2000 – The bones of President James Garfield, particularly his spine, was put on display at the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Washington D.C. Wow! The exhibit was supposed to feature medical oddities from the museum's
archives. I think it showed multiple pieces from politicians in Washington. Well, Garfield's spine looked fine. Maybe those in Washington today should go find their own spines sometime. 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. 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 20, 2025 National Civil War, Military, and Collector Arms Show, DuPage County Fairgrounds, Wheaton, IL. Sept 27 – Sept 28, 2025 Chillicothe Sportsmen's Club Gun & Knife Show, Chillicothe Sprotsmen'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 – Village Pizza and Pub Elgin - 2496 N Randall Rd, Elgin, IL 60123 ; 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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