Thursday Bulletin – May 29, 2025
Executive Director's Message Richard Pearson |
Learning The Lessons of Memorial Day I was fortunate to grow up in a small Illinois town in which patriotism was paramount. I was born in late 1942. World War II was raging. All eyes were on the telegraph office
and, when the station master left with a telegram, the brassy taste of fear filled everyone’s mouth. Women watched and went to each other’s aid when a telegram was delivered. My mother was one of those woman in the support group and, one day, she was the recipient of one of those telegrams. My dad had been severely wounded but was alive...good news in a back-handed way. As you can imagine, Memorial Day was a special
day everywhere after WWII, but nowhere more than in my hometown. In those days after WWII, Memorial Day was on May 30th and nearly everyone attended community Memorial Day services. I was still a small child, but I understood how important it was. The high school gymnasium was where the services were held. I recall it was always hot and humid, but it didn’t matter because everyone was totally focused on what was going on. In those days, all of the soldiers' graves were decorated with fresh flowers. Many people donated lilacs, tulips, marigolds and peonies. A few days before Memorial Day, we all hoped the peonies would bloom at the right time. Everyone contributed flowers for the bouquets. The American Legion Women’s Auxiliary was in charge of making the bouquets. Baskets of flowers were taken to the Legion Hall and tables were set up for assembly of the
bouquets. I, and a couple of other little kids, kept the ladies assembling the bouquets supplied with donated flowers. I suspect it may have just been busy work to keep us occupied, but it helped us to realize the importance of it all. We decorated about 250 graves. Since then, the number has grown to nearly 400. Now we set up crosses to represent every soldier in each of the three cemeteries we serve. A service is held at each
cemetery. Times have changed, as they always do, but the importance of Memorial Day is just as great as it has ever been. We need to take teaching our children about Memorial Day seriously. By taking the time to observe the day and explaining the solemn duty to do so for our children and grandchildren, we teach by example and keep the memory of our heroes alive now and in the future. Litigation Update Reece v. Raoul - Unfortunately, the Third District Appellate Court ruled against us. The next step would be a Petition for the Illinois Supreme Court to hear the
case. *This case addresses the grace period that allowed law abiding citizens to purchase firearms after Judge McGlynn's ruling. The state police later said that those firearms were illegally purchased and could not be registered under the PICA law. This case challenges the state police ruling. Schoenthal v. Raoul - Oral arguments in Seventh Circuit this morning, Wednesday, May 28th. A very good job by the attorney arguing our side. A decision will probably come in a few months. *This case challenges the law that says that concealed carry license holders do not have a right to carry on public
transportation. 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 - Session Shenanigans On Tuesday, May 27, Senate Bill 8 was passed out of committee on a straight party line vote. The committee was convened a day early and then put on a one hour posting notice to get the bill to the House floor. Shenanigans as usual. Then on Wednesday, the bill passed the House 69-40 with some
Democrats not voting or even voting No after debate was limited by leadership. As if that wasn't enough on Wednesday, the Attorney General's Office staffers were seen talking to legislators about a bill to fix legal issues concerning clear and present danger with the FOID card and the lawsuits around FOID. Problem is there was no bill on record that matched the discussions that the ISRA
team had heard about. Then at 5:16pm we learned of Amendment 1 to HB850 being sent straight to the house floor. This amendment completely replaced the original bill, and was never heard in a committee. At 5:49pm it was released to the floor
and called on the floor at 6:05pm. The original bill about Radon was amended to become a FOID card review bill and sent directly to the floor for a vote in less than an hour. This amendment does nothing to fix the constitutional due process issues surrounding FOID, and it was created without much due process itself. HB850 as amended passed the house 74-40 around 7:30 pm after delays by GOP
lawmakers who were trying to point out the many issues with this bill in debate. It now heads to the Senate where it will likely pass and still not fix the many. many issues with our unconstitutional FOID card system. From nothingness to more encroachment in 2 hours. Welcome to Springfield in the last week of session. You can follow along by
clicking the ISRA Legislation Page. Say Cheese? - You Can't Make This Stuff Up On Monday, at a restaurant called Momty's Grill in the Chicago suburb of Roseland, three men took part in an argument over what kind of cheese was
being added to a sandwich. As reported in the Chicago Sun-Times, the initial argument started between a server and a female customer who, frustrated by the dispute, called her son. When the son showed up at the restaurant to take his mother's side, events took a decided turn. With the mother and son still on premises, a group of men then entered the restaurant and
inserted themselves into the argument, punching the woman's son in the face and then following the son out of the restaurant and down the street as he tried to retreat. It is unknown why the men decided to join the argument and escalate the tensions. Being threatened, the son pulled out a gun and shot two of the men multiple times. The police said in their report that the
son was responsible for at least one of the deaths which occurred, but that he was justified in his actions as self defense. This just goes to show that, oftentimes, there is no rhyme or reason to the “when” or “why” behind violence and the ultimate need for some means of self-defense. Violence and crime can come at a time you least expect it! Having a concealed carry permit
goes a long way to keeping you and your loved ones safe. We at the ISRA will continue to fight for your right to defend yourself and encourage you to get your concealed carry license sooner rather than later! To view the story by Cam Edwards of BearingArms.com , click HERE. ISRA Range Tour – Open to the public – Saturday, June 7th On Saturday, June 7th, the ISRA Range in Bonfield will be conducting range tours for those who might be interested in joining the ISRA
Range. The ISRA Range is one of the few “Five Star” outdoor ranges around. You are welcome to take the tour and please bring a friend. On that day, the range will be hosting the USPSA Steel Challenge which is worth watching all by itself. There will be two tours. The morning tour starts at 10:00am and ends at 11:30am. The afternoon tour starts at 1:00pm and
runs until 2:30pm. I hope to see you there. “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. Empowering First Shots – June 21 & 22 Ladies, it’s time to take aim and boost your confidence! Join us for a FREE, women’s-only shooting event led by female instructors who are passionate about
empowering women in the world of shooting sports. No experience needed! A safety briefing will be conducted at the beginning of your time slot, followed by one-on-one instruction on the range. Expect to be at the range 2-3 hours. What to Expect: - Hands-on Training with expert female instructors
- A safe, supportive environment to learn or improve your shooting skills with all equipment provided
- One-on-one guidance tailored to your level
ISRA Academy Youth Shooting Sports Camp – June 29 This youth camp is for girls and boys ages 10-16, on June 29, 11am to 5pm. Youth camp provides everything
needed to give safety instruction, basics of pistol, rifle, shotgun, and black powder, all under the guidance of NRA instructors and range safety officers. Snacks, drinks and lunch, firearms, ammunition, and targets are provided. Class is limited to 40 students. Cost: $50. You must pre-register by June 20, 2025. 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. 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 21 & June 22 (Saturday & Sunday) Empowering First Shots – Range 1 & 2, Pavilion, Clubhouse 9am-6pm MORE INFO HERE 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 October 2-5 (Thursday-Sunday) Massad Ayoob’s MAG-40 Course August 3 (Sunday) NRA Certified Range Safety Officer Class – 8am – 6pm Women Only Classes at WRSC October 10 (Friday) “Refuse To Be A Victim” – 5pm - 9pm October 11 (Saturday) NRA Basic Pistol – 8:30am - 5pm October 12 (Sunday) NRA Basic Rifle – 8:30am
- 5pm *** 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: View the Spring 2025 Shooter HERE The Illinois State Rifle Association is the home of marksmanship in Illinois Tidbits May 30, 1868 – General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic issues general order number 11, which designated May 30th as a day to decorate the graves of fallen Civil War soldiers. General Logan was from Murfreesboro, Illinois. Originally, the day was known as Decoration Day but, in later years, it became known as Memorial Day to honor all the soldiers who fought in battles for the United States of America. May 31, 1889 – In Pennsylvania, the Southfork Dam collapses causing a catastrophe known as the Johnstown Flood. More than 2200 people died in the disaster. The people of Johnstown mostly worked in the steel industry. It was a thriving community of 30,000. The flood was caused by the collapse of the largest earthen dam at that time. The Southfork Dam was 72 feet high and 900 feet long. It was originally used as part of a canal system. The railroad soon overtook the canal business, however, causing neglect in oversight and maintenance of the dam, which ultimately contributed to the tragedy. The
flood waters reached 40 miles per hour and simply crushed people in their homes. One baby survived and was found 75 miles from Johnstown. He floated away on the floor of a house. A few days after the disaster, Clara Barton, who founded the Red Cross, arrived and took charge of the relief efforts. It took five years to rebuild Johnstown. June 1, 1871 – John Wesley Hardin arrives in Abilene, Kansas, and made friends with Wild Bill Hickok. John Wesley Hardin claimed to have killed 44 men in his frontier career. When Hardin and Hickok were together, it probably was not a good idea to pick a fight with them. It wasn't too good of an idea to pick a fight with them separately either. June 2, 1886 – Grover Cleveland becomes the first sitting President to get married in the White House. President Cleveland married Frances Folsom who was Cleveland's ward. Her father had been Glover Cleveland's law partner and, when her father died, he became her legal guardian. Frances was 27 years younger than Cleveland at the time. June 3, 1916 – President Woodrow Wilson signs the National Defense Act which expanded the size and scope of the National Guard. Wilson wanted to remain neutral in World War I but he realized that, most likely, it wouldn't be possible. Because of this, and the fact that the U.S. Army was kept busy with Mexican rebel Poncho Villa and his raids on the southwest United States, Wilson decided to
enhance the National Guard. June 4, 1942 – The Battle of Midway begins. The four day battle would see the outnumbered U.S. fleet succeed in destroying four Japanese aircraft carriers while only losing the Yorktown. It was the turning point of the war in the South Pacific. Aside from the four aircraft carriers, the Japanese also lost a
cruiser, 292 aircraft and suffered an estimated 2500 casualties. The United States lost the aircraft carrier Yorktown, one destroyer, 145 aircraft and suffered 300 casualties. 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. 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 4 - 5, 2025 Central Illinois Gun Collectors Association – New Berlin Gun Show, Sangamon County Fairgrounds, New Berlin, 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 Central Illinois Gun Collectors Association – New Berlin Gun Show, Sangamon County Fairgrounds, New Berlin, 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. Feb 14 – Feb 15, 2025 Central Illinois Gun Collectors Association – New Berlin Gun Show, Sangamon County Fairgrounds, New Berlin, 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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