ISRA Members: To view the Illinois Shooter - Spring 2026, click HERE.
Super Tidbit
In June, 1776, Philadelphia was in a sweltering heat wave with temperatures exceeding 90 degrees. Thomas Jefferson had rented part of the second floor of a home located at the corner of Market and 7th Streets. Jefferson was using
a small portable writing desk of his own design upon which he would eventually write the Declaration of Independence. But, at this time, the Committee of Five were struggling to come up with an instrument to declare independence from Great Britain. Conditions were difficult, to say the least.
There was a complex set of political movements in June, 1776, to bring all 13 colonies on board with the idea of declaring independence. New Jersey's Governor was William Franklin,
a relative of Benjamin Franklin, and a loyalist, who was blocking a vote for independence. He declared supporters of independence to be enemies of the state and to the liberties of this county. William Franklin was arrested and, on June 21st, a new delegate was chosen and directed to vote for independence.
The New York delegation could not get directions from the Provincial Congress ( New York’s legislature ) because pressure from the British Army caused them
to have to repeatedly evacuate. It would not be until July 10th that the authorization to vote for independence would arrive.
Other colonies were also having problems but, by the end of June, 11 of the 13 colonies were ready to support independence. Only Maryland and New York had not voted to support independence. Samuel Chase gathered resolutions from local Maryland jurisdictions and presented them to the Annapolis Convention urging the delegates to
change their minds.
As we look back, we might think... “why is this so hard?” The reason is that, if the British caught any of these men, they would be stripped of everything they owned and hanged. The British and the Loyalists were vicious. If the wives and children of these men starved and ended up in poverty, they didn’t care. Indeed, most of the patriots DID lose everything. More about that later this summer.
Despite all of
this turmoil, Thomas Jefferson and the rest of the Committee of Five kept working. Something had to happen soon or the coalition of those wanting independence would break apart. The tipping point was getting closer every minute of every day.
Tidbits
June 11,
1979 – Actor John Wayne succumbs to cancer at age 72. Some of my favorite films were “She Wore A Yellow Ribbon”, “The Quiet Man”, and “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance”, his last film. “The Shootist” was a film about a gunslinger dying of cancer.
John Wayne starred in about 250 films over the span of his career.
June 12, 1944 – All five Allied landing groups that took
part in the D-Day invasion link up in northwestern France. By this time, more troops had landed and the total solid force was 330,000 troops. The Allied landing forces that made up D-Day and the reinforcements eventually reached 3 million men.
June 13, 1944 – Germany launches the first V-1 flying bombs. They were nicknamed “Buzz Bombs” because of the sound they made when they were
coming in.
June 13, 1777 – The Continental Congress authorizes the enlistment of expert riflemen to serve the United colonies for one year in the just launched U.S. Army, which was America's first national institution established more than a year before the Declaration of Independence.
June 14, 1775 – The U.S. Army was founded on
14 June 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized enlistment of riflemen to serve the United Colonies for one year.
Happy 251th anniversary to the United States Army!
June 14, 1777 – The Continental Congress adopted the resolution stating that the flag of the United States shall be 13 alternating stripes of red and white and the Union shall be 13 stars on a field of blue.
Betsy Ross designed the new flag at the request of George Washington. Historians have not been able to prove whether or not this is true.
June 14, 1877 – The first Flag Day was observed on the 100th anniversary of the stars and stripes. Be sure you fly the flag on June 14th.
June 15, 1864 – Edward M. Stanton, Secretary of
War, approves the establishment of Arlington National Cemetery. There is more to the story. The ground which was to become Arlington National Cemetery was owned by Robert E. Lee. Stanton, and others in Lincoln's inner circle, were afraid Lee would try to reclaim the land. They didn't want him anywhere near Washington D.C. They believed Lee would not want his property back if Union Soldiers were buried on the land. They were
correct.
June 15, 1775 – The Continental Congress votes to have George Washington lead the newly formed Continental Army.
June 15, 1215 – King John of England is forced to sign the Magna Carta. This document is seen as the cornerstone of democracy. The Magna Carta also states that a person could only be tried by a assembly of his peers, which
became the cornerstone of trial by jury.
June 16, 1903 – Ford Motor Company is officially incorporated on this date at 9:30 a.m.
June 17, 1837 – Charles Goodyear obtains his first patent to produce rubber. Eventually, on June 15th, 1844, he would obtain his first patent for the vulcanization of
rubber.
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Gun Shows
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.
June 19 – June 21, 2026 Pecatonica Gun Show, Winnebago County Fairgrounds, Pecatonica, IL.
Sept. 19 – Sept. 20, 2026 Chillicothe Sportsmen's Club Gun & Knife Show, Chillicothe Sportsmen's Club House, Chillicothe, IL.
Sept. 19, 2026 National Civil War, Military, and Collector
Arms Show, DuPage County Fairgrounds, Wheaton, IL.
Oct. 24 - 25, 2026 Belleville Gun & Knife Show, Belle-Clair Fairgrounds, Belleville, IL.
Oct. 24 - 25, 2026 Sauk Trail Gun Show, Bureau County Fairgrounds, Princeton, IL.
Nov. 7 - 8, 2026 Bloomington Gun & Knife Show, Interstate Center, Bloomington, IL.
Nov. 28 - 29, 2026 Sauk Trail Gun Show, Bureau County
Fairgrounds, Princeton, IL.
Dec. 6 – Dec. 7, 2026 Chillicothe Sportsmen's Club Gun & Knife Show, Chillicothe Sportsmen's Club House, Chillicothe, IL.
ISRA Town Hall Monthly Meetings
Come and meet fellow activists and learn the latest on protecting our Second Amendment
Rights!
Livingston County – 4th Tuesday of the month – South Post Guns, 104 Livingston Rd., Streator, IL; Summer meetings are postponed until August.
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 – Algonquin/Dundee area - New Location - GAT Guns, 970 Dundee Ave, East Dundee, IL - Discounted Pistol Range from 4pm to 6pm, Social starts at 5:30pm, Meeting 7pm – 8pm, Catering fee $20
South Suburban/Cook County - 2nd Thursday of the month – New
Location: Papa Joe's Italian Restaurant, 14459 LaGrange Rd, Orland Park, IL; Doors open 6:00pm; 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
