Executive Directors Message

The Black Friday sales have passed, Cyber Monday is over and the icy winds of winter are sweeping through the towns, cities and prairies of Illinois.  The outdoor shooting season is mostly over except for a few shotgunners and hunters.  Don’t worry, Spring will be here before you know it.  In the meantime, there are lots of activities that you can do.  You can start by cleaning all those guns you have been shooting all summer.  It would also be a good idea to check over all those guns you don’t shoot that often.  Don’t forget the heirlooms that were entrusted to you by dad, Uncle Charlie and others (in my case, my mother’s shotgun which took many pheasants over the years).  It is particularly nice to recall those treasured memories as we handle those firearms.  It is all part of the shooting tradition; don’t forget to relay those memories to others.

For those who reload, it is clear what you have to do to get ready for the next shooting season.  You have a lot of work to do and if you don’t start now you might not make it.  It is easy to put all those chores off until tomorrow but if you do that too often, tomorrow will be your first match and you won’t be ready.  

One great thing that has happened in Illinois over the past few years is the number of indoor shooting ranges that have been built.  A number of those ranges have winter shooting leagues as well as practice times available.  There is nothing better for you than a dose of “powder therapy” after a hard day, week at work, or if you are fighting the terrible contagion of cabin fever. 

Many ranges, shooting clubs and outdoor stores offer a variety of classes during the Winter.  You might find shooting classes, firearm maintenance classes as well as other classes which you can take advantage of.  They all will improve your skills as a member of the shooting community, and then Spring will suddenly arrive and you will be ready.

The anti-gun crowd is celebrating their wins both in Congress and in State Legislatures across the nation. It is clear by their requests for money on Giving Tuesday that they don’t give a hoot about your rights or the Second Amendment.  The battle in the Spring Legislative Session is getting closer by the hour.  The ISRA is doing everything possible to prepare for the coming attacks.  IGOLD will be very important this year.  We will set the date soon after the Spring Legislative Calendar is released.

The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms has petitioned the United States Supreme Court to review the ban on interstate handgun sales to law-abiding gun owners from other states.  The first step is to petition the United States Supreme Court for Writ of Certiorari.  That means the Justice will review the case to see if it merits consideration.  If it grants the petition, the short hand term is receiving Cert.

The Justices will review the case to see if the case was argued well, contains all the necessary facts, and meets the very high standards for a case to be argued before the Supreme Court.  Cases are often turned down because the original case was poorly done.  If everything isn’t correct in the original case the Justices cannot make corrections.  It is better to turn down a case than make a bad ruling that will bind the country.

Thanks for being a member.

Upcoming Events: ISRA Calendar
For more information, visit www.isra.org

Saturday, December 1, 2018
The Well Armed Woman
Range Work Day: Decorating the Range 8 AM

Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Air Rifle League and Practice

Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Air Pistol League and Practice

Saturday, December 8, 2018
Range Safety Officer Class

Illinois Gun & Trade Shows

Premiere Firearms Auction
Rock Island, IL – Rock Island Auction Company
Dates: November 30-December 2, 2018

Kendall County Gun Show
Yorkville, IL – Kendall County Fairgrounds
Dates: December 1 & 2, 2018
Hours: Saturday: 8:00am-4:00pm
             Sunday: 8:00am-2:00pm
Admission: $6.00

Kankakee Gun Show
Kankakee, IL – Kankakee County Fairgrounds
Dates: December 8 & 9, 2018
Hours: Saturday: 8:00am-4:00pm
             Sunday: 8:00am-2:00pm
Admission: $6.00

Pekin Gun & Knife Show
Pekin, IL – Avanti’s Dome
Dates: December 8 & 9, 2018
Hours: Saturday: 9:00am-5:00pm
             Sunday: 9:00am-3:00pm
Admission: $6.00

Crown Point Gun Show
Crown Point, Indiana – Lake County Fairgrounds
Dates: December 8 & 9, 2018
Hours: Saturday: 9:00am-5:00pm
             Sunday: 9:00am-3:00pm
Admission: $5.00

Kane County Sportsman’s Show
St Charles, IL – Kane County Fairgrounds
Date: December 9, 2018
Hours: Sunday: 7:30am-1:30pm
Admission: $5.00


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