Thursday Bulletin – January 22nd, 2025
Executive Director's Message Richard Pearson |
Safe Storage of Firearms Act By Ed Sullivan, ISRA Lobbyist The Safe Storage of Firearms Act, designated as Public Act 101-0031, is now fully implemented. Under this legislation, firearm owners are
required to secure their firearms in a safe storage device if certain individuals are present on their premises. The term "premises" is defined broadly as any location under a person’s control, including homes, businesses, or vehicles. Therefore, a safe storage device is necessary for these areas unless the firearm is carried by the owner. The law specifies three categories of individuals who trigger the safe storage
requirement: persons under eighteen years of age, individuals considered "at-risk," and those prohibited from owning firearms. An “at-risk” individual is defined as someone whose statements or behavior suggest to a reasonable observer that they may be at risk of attempting suicide or causing harm to themselves or others. Additionally, the legislation mandates that firearm owners report any lost or stolen firearms within forty-eight hours of becoming aware of the loss or
theft. Violations of the Safe Storage Act are subject to civil penalties, meaning that individuals may face lawsuits for non-compliance. For example, if a visitor with a criminal record—classified as a prohibited person—were to steal a firearm and subsequently commit a crime, the victim could pursue legal action against the firearm owner for negligence due to improper storage. Similarly, if a criminal were to steal a firearm and suffer
injury during a police encounter, their family might file a lawsuit citing negligence. Concerns have been raised regarding the focus and implications of this law. The Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) continues to evaluate possible legal challenges to its constitutionality. * * * As always, it is important to
support the ISRA any way you can so that we can continue to follow and fight Illinois legislation that impedes Second Amendment rights. Thank you for your continued support! Donate to the ISRA Today! For more information on how you can help, call the ISRA office at (815)
635-3198, or e-mail us at member@isra.org today. Join the ISRA Today! * * * My Recommendations For NRA Board Of Directors You should be receiving your NRA ballot in the mail soon and every year I am asked who I recommend for the NRA Board of Directors. The members below are from my October 2025 list. Remember, these are my recommendations - if you have other
ideas that is fine. The important thing is that eligible voting members actually DO VOTE. The turn out for NRA Board of Directors elections have been miserable. My criteria for my picks are simple. I must know them and they must actually do something that matters. Reading a resume alone doesn't get it for me. I much prefer sweat over talk. I know many of the candidates on the list but that doesn't mean I am going to
recommend them. To be eligible to vote in NRA elections you must be a five year or a Life, Endowment, Patron or Benefactor member of the NRA. The NRA Board of Directors has 76 members. One third of them (25) are elected each year for a three year term. The 76th board member is elected for a one year term at the annual meeting. Eligible members can vote for up to 25 candidates. The problem is that for every person you vote beyond that first vote
makes each subsequent vote less valuable. The fewer people you vote for the more weight your vote has. The term for this is “bullet voting” which is highly appropriate for a rifle association. There is a balance between one and twenty five. I believe the practical number is five. Below are my five recommendations. Robert Beckman - Cincinnati, Ohio. Lynn Gibson - New Athens, Illinois. Amanda Suffecool -
Wayland, Ohio. Todd Vandermyde - Yorkville, Illinois. James Wallace - Newburyport, Massachusetts. Remember, this is just what I think. Remember, your vote is still YOUR VOTE. ISRA Partners With StopBox The ISRA is excited to partner with
StopBox! While we don't agree with this safe storage act, we realize that many of our members are at risk because of this. If you have a handgun or select shotguns and rifles that needs to be secured, this is an answer for you. Any proceeds from the sale of StopBox will be used to continue the fight for your gun rights. Scan the QR code to order today or call the office at 815-635-3198 for more
information. Legislative ALERT!! ATTENTION: Fellow Illinois Gun Owners IGOLD is one of the most important grassroots events of the year, yet participation continues to collapse at the very moment our rights are under the
greatest threat. Every year, Illinois gun owners face dozens of anti-gun bills in Springfield. And every year, fewer people show up to fight them. In 2025, only about 500 people attended IGOLD. There are more than 2.25 million FOID card holders in the State of Illinois. Yet most choose to sit on the sidelines, assuming someone else will carry the load. That is not civic engagement – it is surrender. And surrender guarantees
defeat. Now it is 2026 – the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence – and we are staring down legislation designed to end gun sales in Illinois altogether. The bill is called the RIFL Act, and it is nothing less than a financial kill-shot aimed at the firearms industry and every law-abiding gun owner in this state. If passed, the RIFL Act would impose $821 million in mandatory costs on firearm manufacturers – roughly
$1,628 per firearm sold in Illinois. Any manufacturer that does not comply would face fines of $10 million per month. Dealers who sell a firearm from a non-compliant manufacturer would be fined $10,000 per transaction. This is not regulation. It is economic annihilation. The result is obvious and intentional: manufacturers will exit the Illinois market, dealers will shut their doors, and lawful gun sales will grind to a halt. Concealed
carry becomes meaningless. Hunting with a firearm disappears. Heirloom collections are eventually confiscated through attrition. The Second Amendment is erased not by repeal – but by design. Supporters claim the money raised would go to gunshot victims. In reality, it will reward criminal misuse while punishing lawful ownership. This bill does nothing to stop crime. It only disarms the people who follow the law. This is the slow march
toward eliminating the Second Amendment in Illinois – and it only succeeds if gun owners remain silent. IGOLD takes place April 15, 2026, at the Bank of Springfield Center. You need to be there. Take the day off work, carpool and bring friends and family. Show lawmakers that 2.25 million Illinois gun owners will not be ignored, sidelined, or legislated out of existence. Whether we win or lose this fight is up to us – and
history will judge what we did when our rights were on the line. The RIFL Act will price us out of our 2A rights — HELP ISRA STOP THE RIFL ACT! Be sure to attend IGOLD this year! Stand up, show up and defend the Second Amendment. See you there! * * * IGOLD - Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day Info Come to the BoS Center in Springfield, Illinois, for Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day on April 15, 2026. The most important day of the year for gun owners in Illinois, IGOLD is when gun owners gather in Springfield to speak with one voice and send a message to the legislature. Dave McDermott, the well
known self-defense attorney, will be one of the speakers at IGOLD. You don't want to miss his address. Please mark your calendars to reserve this date. If your club or business would like to bring a bus-load of people to IGOLD, the ISRA will pay for parking meters and parking spaces. Tables are available to those who wish to display their products, organization or services to those attending. Political candidates may also purchase a
table. Tables are $100.00 each. If interested, please call the office at 815-635-3198. You can find the latest information at the ISRA's IGOLD Page. For more information on how you can join, help, or donate, call the ISRA office at (815)
635-3198, e-mail us at member@isra.org or click the links below: Join the ISRA Today! Donate to the ISRA Today! *
* * Litigation Update ISRA AS PLAINTIFF There is an old song entitled "Life Gets Tedious Don't It". Whoever wrote this song must have been thinking of the court system in the United States. I am thinking in particular about the ISRA lawsuit Harrel v Raoul. Our
case, and others, focus on the PICA or, as it is most commonly known, the so-called assault weapons and magazine ban. This case is in the Seventh Circuit awaiting a decision. The question is... what is holding up the decision? There may be several reasons. Could it be the upcoming Primary Election? Possibly they don't want to decide because they know we are right, or maybe the governor is influencing the court? While all of these are a
possibility, I think the most likely course is the Viramontes v Raoul lawsuit that deals with the so-called assault weapons and magazine ban. Viramontes came out of the Seventh Circuit and is under consideration to be heard by the Supreme Court of the United States. I suspect that our case, the other cases combined with our case, Viramontes, the Maryland so-call assault weapons case and others that are on the way to the Supreme Court will all be combined with the
Supreme Court's decision applying to all of them. All the chips will be in the center of the legal poker table. We will have to keep the faith while we sweat this one out. Personally I think we have a Royal Flush. ISRA SUPPORTING Schoenthal v Raoul (7th Cir.) – At this time we have not heard anything from the Supreme Court of the United
States on whether or not they are going to take the Schoenthal v Roaul case. We do know they are considering it. We need extra support right now, so please... donate HERE. Not an ISRA member? Join the ISRA and support 2A rights in Illinois - click HERE. ISRA Academy Announces 2026 Massad Ayoob Group Classes The Illinois State Rifle
Association is very excited to announce we are hosting multiple Massad Ayoob Group classes this year including MAG20 Live Fire, MAG30, MAG40,
and MAG80. Please click on the class title to learn more about each one, including per-requisites. MAG20 will be May 2-3, 2026 MAG30 will be June 12-14, 2026 MAG40 will be August 20-23,
2026 MAG80 will be August 26-30, 2026 MAG40 will be held in Sparta, IL, at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex, all others held at ISRA Range in Bonfield, IL. Registration is now open!! Register early as seats are limited!! Please use THIS LINK to register for MAG20, MAG40, or MAG80. Please use THIS
LINK to register for MAG30. Introducing - The “ISRA Paladin” Sustaining Membership I am pleased to announce that the ISRA is introducing our new sustaining membership. The membership is called the “ISRA Paladin.” When you become an ISRA Paladin, you join the front line in defending the
Second Amendment in Illinois. Your commitment helps power the ISRA’s training, education, and legal efforts that protect the rights of every law-abiding gun owner in our state. What is a PALADIN—and why should you become one? In the time of King Charlemagne, the Paladins were his most trusted and honorable knights—sworn to act with courage, defend the innocent, and protect what was just. Their loyalty and
leadership made them legends. Today’s ISRA Paladins carry that same spirit. They stand firm for freedom, safeguard the innocent, and defend our rights against those who would take them away. You can be a Paladin member and an Annual, Life, Endowment, Benefactor, or Patron member concurrently. Every bit helps. Your invitation to this membership should be arriving in the USPS mail starting this week. The
letter will explain the further details of the ISRA Paladin membership. If you would like to become a ISRA Paladin member, please call the office at 815-635-3198. Thank you for your continuing support of the mission of the ISRA! Every Eligible Person In Your Home Should Have A FOID Card. We often receive calls about a husband who has passed away and left his wife with a gun collection. The problem is the wife does not have a FOID card. Don’t let this happen in your household.
Spouses should have a FOID card. Be sure that anyone whom you might want to handle your firearms has a FOID card. “Money can only buy happiness if you spend it on freedom. Join the ISRA today.” ~ Richard Pearson HURRY! Entry Deadline February 9th! ISRA Colt Anaconda 44 Magnum Raffle Buy your tickets early for the ISRA Colt Anaconda 44 Magnum Raffle! Drawing will be held on February 17, 2026. Entries must be postmarked by February 9,
2025. TICKET PRICES:
• 1 for $10
• 3 for $25
• 7 for $50
• 15 for $100 You need not be present to win. Dues and donations to the ISRA are NOT tax deductible. Winner of the Colt Anaconda 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. Questions? Call the ISRA office at: 815-635-3198. We appreciate your continuing support! 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! HURRY! Entry Deadline January 26th! ISRA Gen-5 Glock 30 Raffle 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. 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 Education & Training @ ISRA Range, Bonfield, IL.
*Every Thursday (unless otherwise noted) ISRA Precision Air Pistol Training – Range 12 & Clubhouse – 5:30pm – 7:00pm
January 24 & 25 (Saturday & Sunday)
Concealed Carry Class – Range 11 & Clubhouse – 9:00am – 5:30pm January 31 (Saturday) Armed Women of America – Range 11 & Clubhouse – 9:00am – 12:00pm January 31 (Saturday) CCL Renewal & Qualification - Range 11 & Clubhouse – 1:00pm – 4:00pm February 7 (Saturday) Range Work Day – 8:00pm – 4:00pm February 12 (Thursday)
CCL Renewal & Qualification - Range 11 & Clubhouse – 9:00am – 12:00pm March 21 & 22 (Saturday & Sunday) Concealed Carry Class – Range 11 & Clubhouse – 9:00am – 5:30pm March 22 (Sunday) CCL Renewal & Qualification - Range 11 & Clubhouse – 9:00am – 12:00pm March 29 (Sunday) Armed Women of America – Range 11 & Clubhouse – 9:00am – 11:00pm May 2 & 3
(Saturday & Sunday) Massad Ayoob – MAG20 – Range 8 & Clubhouse – 9:00am – 5:30 June 12 - 14 (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) Massad Ayoob – MAG30 – Range 11 – 8:00am – 6:00 August 20 - 23 (Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun) Massad Ayoob – MAG40 – World Shooting & Recreational Complex – 8:30am – 7:00 August 26 - 30 (Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun) Massad Ayoob – MAG80 – ISRA Range, Bonfield (more info
TBA)
*** 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: Check the ISRA website for the Winter 2026 Shooter HERE. The Illinois State Rifle Association is the home of marksmanship in Illinois Tidbits January 23, 1855 – John Moses
Browning is born in Ogden, Utah. He would become the most famous gun designer in history. John Browning's designs are still used today. Companies like Colt, Savage, Remington, Winchester and FN all use his designs. There have been attempts to improve on the designs, but most of those attempts have been minor. As early as the 1880s, John Browning worked toward making semi-automatic firearms. Many people do not know how intricate these
designs actually are. John Browning's semi-auto firearms were inspired from his slide-action firearms. January 23, 1968 – The USS Pueblo, a Navy intelligence ship, is captured off the North Korean coast in international waters. Even though the ship was in international waters, the North Koreans attacked the lightly armed vessel. The Commander was wounded, along with several other crewmen. The crew resisted trying to
destroy as many valuable documents as they could but, eventually, they were overcome by the North Koreans. President Lyndon Johnson ordered no direct retaliation against North Korea for this action. The crew of the USS Pueblo spent 11 months in North Korean prison camps, being tortured and beaten. Lyndon Johnson did not take the steps he needed, in my opinion. We owe the North Koreans a big one. January 24, 1781 –
Colonial Commanders begin to organize their forces to fight together. Brigadier General Francis Marion, known as the “Swamp Fox”, and Lieutenant Colonel “Light Horse Harry” Henry Lee attack Fort Watson, a British garrison, at Georgetown, South Carolina. The character in Mel Gibson's film “The Patriot” is roughly based on these events and these personalities. Frances Marion's tactics were an early form of guerrilla warfare. The British were notorious
for committing what today would be considered war crimes. Brigadier General Marion adapted the British tactics and used the “irregular warfare” tactics successfully against the British. January 24, 1965 – Sir Winston Churchill dies at the age of 90. In 1895, Churchill joined the Fourth Hussars, a light cavalry unit. He had a distinguished career in the Army serving in India, Sudan, and South Africa. In 1899,
he resigned to become a member of Parliament and eventually became First Lord of the Admiralty. Churchill foresaw an oncoming war in Europe. He was well ahead of his time and prepared the British Navy for World War I. Between 1929 and 1939, he made repeated appeals and warnings to the British government about the growth of Nazi aggression in Germany and Japanese aggression in the Far East. All of his warnings went unheeded. One of my
favorite things about Winston Churchill is that he loved both the US Army 1911 and 45 ACP. He was known to carry one quite often. January 25, 1920 – The Czech stage play “R.U.R.” or “Rossum's Universal Robot” introduces the word “robot” to the English language. In the play, robots are happy servants of humans but they eventually rebel and take over society. That idea was hatched over 100 years ago!
Maybe they had something there? January 26, 1945 – Audie Murphy is awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Audie Murphy was only 19 years old. He had been through nine major campaigns, wounded three times and credited with killing 241 German soldiers. He would receive 37 medals from the United States and other countries. He became the most decorated soldier in World War II. Among the medals awarded
to him were the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Stars with Oak Leaf Clusters, The Legion of Merit and the Croix de Gurre with Palm. Audie Murphy was an excellent rifle shot. Growing up, he hunted, supplying his family with rabbits. He came from a very poor family. Without his hunting skills, they would have gone hungry many nights. He is buried at Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C. January
27, 1943 – The United States Eighth Air Force begins bombing raids against Germany. The Army Air Corps had one of the highest casualty rates in World War II, but they did their job. January 28, 1986 – The Space Shuttle Challenger explodes 73 seconds after lift-off. The United States halted future missions for two years while the cause was being studied. The problem was found to be the design of O-ring
joints on the solid rocket boosters. Another problem was that NASA had developed a mindset and management style that fostered disregard of safety to prevent delaying the launch of “NASA's Teacher in Space.” The O-rings failed because of the record cold temperatures at Cape Canaveral. Had the launch crew been given a recommendation from the SRB engineers instead of a green light from the managers, the tragic loss of the 7 astronauts and the shuttle probably would
have never happened. 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. Jan.
24 – Jan. 25, 2026 Belleview Gun & Knife Show – Belle-Clair Fairgounds, Belleview, IL. Jan. 24 – Jan. 25, 2026 Sauk Trail Gun Show, Bureau County Fairgrounds, Princeton, IL. Feb. 7 – Feb. 8, 2026 Bloomington Gun & Knife Show – Interstate Center, Bloomington, IL. Feb. 14 – Feb. 15, 2026 Central Illinois Gun Collectors Association – New Berlin Gun Show, Sangamon
County Fairgrounds, New Berlin, IL. March 28 – March 29, 2026 Belleview Gun & Knife Show – Belle-Clair Fairgounds, Belleview, IL. March 28 – March 29, 2026 Sauk Trail Gun Show, Bureau County Fairgrounds, Princeton, IL. Other Events Jan. 25, 2026 Common
Caliber: Cold Weather Pistol – Range 10 & Clubhouse – 8:00am – 4:00pm 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. Range, 720 S Bloomington St, Streator, IL. ISRA Town Hall Monthly Meetings
Come and meet fellow activists and learn the latest on protecting our Second Amendment Rights! 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 Northwest Suburban - 3rd Tuesday of the month – Golden Corral, 1591 S Randall Rd., Algonquin, IL; Doors open 6pm; Meeting 7pm – 8pm South Suburban/Cook County - 2nd Thursday of the month – Kenootz Pizza, 4659 147th St., Midlothian, IL; Doors open 6:30pm; Meeting 7pm –
8pm Will County - 3rd Wednesday of the month – Silver Dollar Restaurant, 422 E. Mississippi Ave., Elwood, IL; Doors open 6pm; Meeting 7pm – 8pm Stand
Strong &
Thank you for being a member! |
|
|
