Thursday Bulletin – November 27, 2025
Executive Director's Message Richard Pearson |
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! The first Thanksgiving on American soil was held in 1621. The Wampanoag Native Americans taught the new settlers how to grow crops, making food more plentiful. The celebration of the bountiful harvest was attended by approximately 50 Englishmen and 90
Native Americans. It lasted three days. The "Pilgrims" sat at tables and the Native Americans sat on the ground, just like they did at home. Between feasts of venison, turkey, geese, ducks and other items, there were foot races and marksmanship contests. Yes, marksmanship contests have been here from the beginning! By 1675, there were about 25,000 new immigrants here and things weren't going so well. Thanksgiving celebrations were limited to
local areas that experienced a good harvest. In 1777, General George Washington declared a day of thanksgiving after the American victory over the British in the Battle of Saratoga. Thanksgiving celebrations were not a national holiday at that time. In 1827, a women by the name of Sarah Hale began lobbying for a national day of thanksgiving. Her efforts were spurred on after becoming the first woman editor of a
magazine. In 1863, Abraham Lincoln, upon the urging of Sarah Hale, proclaimed the fourth Thursday of November as Thanksgiving Day. Lincoln was also looking for a way to unite the country and thought this might be a good way of doing so. Thanksgiving Day became the gateway to the Christmas shopping season. In 1924, Macy's Department Store held the first Thanksgiving Day Parade with Santa Clause being the last float. In
1939, President Franklin Roosevelt moved the holiday back to the third Thursday of November to boost the economy but it was not popular with the American people. It was given the moniker "Franklin-giving". In 1941, Congress stepped in and officially made the fourth Thursday of November a national holiday. It has been that way ever since. In 1953, Swanson Foods over ordered and got stuck with 260 tons of excess turkey. Someone at
Swanson got the bright idea of packing the excess turkey in aluminum trays, along with cornbread dressing, gravy, peas and sweet potatoes, and selling them as precooked meals. The cost was 98 cents and they sold 10,000,000 trays the first year. Next time you go to the grocery store, look at how many pre-cooked meals one can buy. You can thank the history behind Thanksgiving for that. Be thankful for the blessings you have. My Two Cents – Trump's New Head Of The ATF President Donald Trump has picked Robert Cekada as the new head of the ATF. This pick is a refreshing change to the political hack the Biden administration picked. The ATF should be going
after the real criminals rather than make rules that turn firearm dealers into criminals because they missed a comma, a period, or screwed up a ZIP Code on a 4473 form. The ATF should be there to enforce the law. It should also help the firearms industry instead of making stupid rules that force them out of business. Criminals Free To Terrorize The Public In Chicago We are told that Chicago is a safe place by both Governor Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson. You can't carry a firearm on public transportation in Illinois. Around 9:30pm on November 17, 2025, a 26-year-old woman was riding
on the Blue Line, near the 100 block of West Lake Street, when she began arguing with a man on the train. He doused her with gasoline and set her on fire. She ran screaming from the train engulfed in flames, collapsing on the train's platform. Bystanders smothered the flames with whatever means they could find and comforted her until paramedics arrived. The woman's scalp and face were charred. She is in critical condition. Prior to the incident, the
assailant had been institutionalized for a time, but the orderlies could not control him so he was let back on the streets. Over time, he also managed to develop a long, criminal rap sheet, having been arrested 72 times and convicted 68 times. Repeatedly, he was let back on the streets each time only to re-offend. After the incident, the perpetrator escaped and was on the lam until the police finally found him. The criminal was, once again, taken
into custody, now charged with a Federal crime. It only took 72 criminal offenses and a heinous act upon an unsuspecting victim. Yup, Chicago is safe alright, for the criminals. Let's hope that the charges stick this time. A Message From Mandi Ehler Director of Training ATTENTION - Deer Hunters5 We would like to publish pictures of your deer in the Illinois Shooter. Please send us a photo with your name, the county in which you bagged the deer, and what type of firearm you used.
Please email your pictures and info to member@isra.org . Wild Animals Aren't Pets People think wild animal are cute, and indeed some are, but that does not mean they should become pets. There have been many people who have tried to make pets out of raccoons, skunks and other
critters that have scratched, chewed on, or otherwise injured them in some way. In Ohio, a women decided to make a pet out of a baby buck deer. That was awhile ago and the buck grew up. Then came rutting season and the buck attacked her. She was killed. Let that be a lesson to all. GAT Guns BLACK FRIDAY SALE – Nov. 28,
2025 GAT Guns will be having its Black Friday Sale from 9am to 9pm on Friday, November 28, 2025. GAT Guns is located at 970 Dundee Avenue, East Dundee, IL. Firearm vendors will be present. Everything will be on sale. Please mark your calendars for some really great deals! The Range will be open all day! Please stop by the ISRA table to join or renew your membership! GAT Guns
website: CLICK HERE Litigation Update ISRA AS PLAINTIFF We are still waiting on a ruling on Harrel v. Raoul from the Seventh Circuit which we hope to get soon. ISRA SUPPORTING Schoenthal v. Raoul (public transportation CCL case) (7th Cir.) – Judgment in Seventh Circuit for State; Petition for writ of certiorari has been filed at the Supreme Court. The Second Amendment
Foundation, the Connecticut Citizens Defense League and several individual plaintiffs have filed an appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) in case of Grant v Rovella, the Connecticut "assault weapons ban." That is one more nudge toward getting SCOTUS to decide on so-called assault weapons bans. Thanks to all those who have and will continue to support the ISRA in our efforts to protect the Second Amendment in Illinois. This fight is far
from over. We need extra support right now, so please... donate HERE. If you would like to mail a check to the ISRA Legal Assistance Committee (donations to the ISRA LAC are tax
deductible), please send to: ISRA Legal Assistance Committee PO Box 494 Chatsworth, IL 60921 Not an ISRA member? Join the ISRA and support 2A rights in Illinois - click HERE. Legislative
Update We have reserved the Bank of Springfield Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, Springfield Illinois, for IGOLD 2026 on April 15, 2026. More details to follow. Please mark your calendars to reserve this date. You can follow along by clicking the ISRA Legislation Page. ISRA Memorial Brick Fundraiser – Honor Your Mentors We all have people in our lives who have influenced our lives in a positive manner, we do not want them forgotten. My father is a perfect example, he taught me how to shoot, hunt, and many other life lessons.
He was a WWII veteran with two purple hearts, I did not want him to be forgotten. To remember people like my father and those in your life that have made a positive impact over the years the ISRA has established a Memorial Brick Project. The memorial bricks are laid out around the flagpole at the ISRA Range in Bonfield, IL, which is located near Kankakee, IL. Please look over the attached flier and consider buying a brick for someone who has made a difference in your
life. For more info or to order your commemorative brick today, CLICK
HERE. ISRA Ruger 10/22 Collector Series Raffle – Tickets Now Available Buy your tickets early for the ISRA Ruger 10/22 Collector Series Rifle Raffle! Drawing will be held on January 7, 2026. Entries must be postmarked by December 30, 2025. You need not be present
to win. Dues and donations to the ISRA are NOT tax deductible. Winner of the Ruger Rifle must comply with all federal, state and local laws. Winner has 90 days to claim prize. Scan the QR code in the ad or CLICK HERE for more info or to purchase tickets. Questions?
Call the ISRA office at: 815-635-3198. ISRA Gen-5 Glock 30 Raffle - Tickets Now Available Right now, you can enter to win a pre-owned Gen 5 Glock 30® with six magazines. This pistol is gently used—fired less than 500 rounds—and calibered in .45 ACP.
It’s a solid, dependable choice for any Illinois gun owner. This raffle helps fund the ISRA’s work: training, safety programs, and defending the rights of law-abiding firearm owners across Illinois. Your support makes that possible. TICKET PRICES:
• 1 for $10
• 3 for $25
• 7 for $50
• 15 for $100 Drawing Date: February 3, 2026
Mailed entries must be postmarked by January 26,
2026.
You do not need to be present to win.
(All state and federal laws apply. Prize must be claimed within 90 days.) To get your tickets, CLICK HERE. Or call the ISRA office at 815-635-3198 and we’ll help you over the phone. Every ticket
you buy helps keep Illinois gun owners strong, trained, and protected. We’ve stood for your rights since 1903 — and we’re not slowing down. Thank you for standing with us. ATTENTION – Glock Models To Be Discontinued Glock has announced they are going to discontinue all of their double stack models and replace them with the V series models. The slim line models are not going to be discontinued. All this is supposed to happen on November
30th. ISRA Range – Once Fired Brass For Sale If you are an ISRA member and reload your own ammunition the ISRA Range has once fired brass for sale. Please contact Mike James at 847-456-3386. “I am frequently asked if the ISRA sells our membership list. The answer is absolutely not.” ~ Richard Pearson “Citizen's Use Of Force – Lawful And Justified To Criminal Attack” Class At The ISRA Range Renowned instructor Jeff Chudwin is going to present "Citizen's Use of Force-----Lawful and Justified to Criminal Attack" at the ISRA Range on December 14th from 9:00am to
1:00pm. You may sign up on the website. There will be other speakers as well. For ISRA members, the class is $50 which includes your spouse or significant other. For non-ISRA members, the cost is $75 a person. For anyone concerned about self-defense inside or outside the home, this is a must take class. Mr. Chudwin is both a former State's Attorney and Police Chief. CLICK HERE for the total description and to sign up for the class. Education & Training @ ISRA Range, Bonfield, IL.
– 4:00pm November 30 (Sunday) NRA Certified Chief Range Safety Officer Class – Range 1 & Clubhouse – 8:30am – 6:00pm December 4 (Thursday)
Air Pistol Training – Range 12 & Clubhouse – 5:30pm – 7:00pm December 6 (Saturday) NRA Basic Pistol Instructor – Classroom/Range 1 – 8:00am – 6:00pm December 6 (Saturday) Range Work Day – 8:00am – 4:00pm December 7 (Sunday) Basic CCL Qualification – Classroom & Range 9 – 8:00am – 5:00pm December 11 (Thursday) CCL Renewal & Qualification
– Range 11 & Clubhouse – 9:00am – 12:00pm December 11 (Thursday) Air Pistol Training – Range 12 & Clubhouse – 5:30pm – 7:00pm December 14 (Sunday) “Citizen's Use of Force – Lawful and Justified Response to Criminal Attack” – Clubhouse – 9:00am – 1:00pm December 18 (Thursday) Air Pistol Training – Range 12 & Clubhouse – 5:30pm – 7:00pm December 27 (Saturday)
Armed Women of America – Range 11 & Clubhouse – 9:00am – 12:00pm December 27 (Saturday) CCL Renewal & Qualification – Range 11 & Clubhouse – 1:00pm – 4:00pm *** Please contact academy@isra.org for any training or class questions and check the ISRA Range for links to
dates, times, descriptions of ISRA activities and events.
ISRA Members: View the Fall 2025 Shooter HERE. The Illinois State Rifle Association is the home of marksmanship in Illinois Tidbits November 28, 1925 – The Grand Ole
Opry begins broadcasting over WSM radio out of Nashville, Tennessee. It has been on the air for 100 years and is still going strong. It's one of the longest running shows in the entertainment business. November 29, 1947 – The United Nations votes to adopt the Partition Plan for Palestine which created both a Jewish state and an independent Arab
state. In 1948, the Jewish state of Israel was attacked by Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. The Israelis were able to fight them off and survive. November 30, 1939 – The mighty USSR invades their tiny neighbor, Finland. The Russians, and the rest of the world, thought it would be a cake walk. Although few in number, the Finns put up a massive resistance. Many Finns were experienced hunters and expert
marksmen. One Finnish sniper is credited with killing over 500 Russian soldiers by himself. President Franklin Roosevelt extended $10,000,000 in credit to the Finnish government to aid their cause. The Finns were the only country to ever repay their debt to the United States, so far.
December 1, 1958 – Our Lady of the Angels school fire kills 95 children in Chicago.
At about 2:30pm, teachers on the first floor began to smell smoke. They ushered their students outside but did not sound a general alarm. At 2:45pm, the janitor found the fire and attempted to sound the fire alarm, but the alarm was either not heard or didn't work properly. The teachers and children on the upper floor had no idea that the lower floor was on fire until it was too late. Unfortunately, the school didn't conduct any fire drills, have a
sprinkler system, or employ any other measures that would have prevented the fire from spreading as rapidly as it did. I remember news of this fire when I was growing up. I watched the newsreel of it on the television. It was terrifying. Before the fire, we had fire drills every couple of weeks. Then, after this fire, we would have them even more frequently, often 2 or more times a day, just to be prepared. I had fun – I got to slide down the
chute! December 2, 1942 – In the basement of Stagg Field, at the University of Chicago, Enrico Fermi directs and controls the first successful nuclear reaction. This successful experiment was critical in developing the atomic bomb. When the experiment was complete, a coded message was sent to President Franklin Roosevelt. The message was: “The Italian navigator has
landed in the New World.” It was a new world, indeed. December 3, 1818 – Illinois becomes the 21st state. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 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. 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. 13 – Dec. 14, 2025 Kankakee Gun
& Sportsman's Show, Kankakee County Fairgrounds, Kankakee, IL. Dec. 14, 2025 Kane County Sportsman's Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, IL. Feb. 14 – Feb. 15, 2026 Central Illinois Gun Collectors Association – New Berlin Gun Show, Sangamon County Fairgrounds, New Berlin, IL. Other
Events Dec. 6, 2025 Sandy Ford International Pistol Event, Sandy Ford Sportsman Club Indoor Range, 720 S Bloomington St, Streator, IL. Dec. 6, 2025 Highland Pistol & Rifle Club International Pistol Event, Highland, IL. Jan. 3, 2026 Highland Pistol
& Rifle Club International Pistol Event, Highland, IL. Jan. 10, 2026 Sandy Ford International Pistol Event, Sandy Ford Sportsman Club Indoor Range, 720 S Bloomington St, Streator, IL. Feb. 7, 2025 Highland Pistol & Rifle Club International Pistol Event, Highland, IL. Feb. 14, 2026 Sandy Ford International Pistol Event, Sandy Ford Sportsman
Club Indoor Range, 720 S Bloomington St, Streator, IL. Mar. 14, 2026 Sandy Ford International Pistol Event, Sandy Ford Sportsman Club Indoor Range, 720 S Bloomington St, Streator, Illinois April 11, 2026 Sandy Ford International Pistol Event, Sandy Ford Sportsman Club Indoor Range, 720 S Bloomington St, Streator, 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 591 S Randall Rd, Algonquin, 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 Madison County – 1st Wednesday of the month – Piasa Armory, 625 Lewis and Clark Blvd., East Alton, IL; Doors open at 6:15pm; Meeting starts at 6:30pm (NO
MEETING IN DECEMBER- WILL RESUME IN JANUARY) Stand
Strong &
Thank you for being a member! |
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