Executive Directors Message

It’s time to start thinking about Christmas gifts for shooters.  Of course, the top item would be an ISRA membership for everyone you know.  If they are already an ISRA member, that’s okay, you can just extend their membership or better yet, upgrade it to a higher level.  Watch your mail for a special offer coming your way soon.  

Other gifts for shooters are a bit more difficult; it is kind of like trying on shoes for someone else.  Size, style and comfort are an individual preference.  Having said that, optics are a good choice.  Everyone can use another pair of binoculars or a spotting scope.  Beyond that, it would be best if Santa Claus coordinates with the recipients.  Most outdoor stores and gun shops have gift certificates available.  They may not be the right size but they are the right color.

For kids, things are different.  Some of my most fond memories are of my first BB gun, .22 rifle and shotgun.  I had been shooting the family’s model 34 Remington .22 under the watchful eye of my father, who was an excellent marksman.  I had been hoping for a BB gun and my birthday was coming up on December 21st.  It was most likely a Saturday because I was home from school.  My Dad worked a split shift so he was home at 10am and went back to work at noon or 1pm.   Dad walked in and my mother disappeared into a closet somewhere and came out with a long box.  I knew what it was or at least, I hoped what it was.  We sat down at the table and they handed me the box.  I opened it and sure enough, it was a brand-new Daisy Model 25 BB gun.  It was beautiful.  We immediately went outside and I was instructed on how to operate it safely.

After lunch, Dad went back to work and I went out to set up my first target range.  It was a cold, gray, blustery day but I never noticed.  A couple bales of straw, wooden stakes, some stovepipe wire, a few of Mom’s clothespins, and I was in business.  Included with the BB gun was 1000 BBs, a few cans and an endless supply of dried iron weed stems which rounded out my target array.  A pile of chicken manure served as my back stop.  I hadn’t figured out that you can recover BBs from most back stops but when I did, chicken manure was not on the preferred list of backstops.  It wasn’t quite heaven but it was close to it.  About 3:45, I was out of BBs and it was getting dark.  My new model 25 Daisy and I headed to the house.  At about 5:15, Dad came home and was astonished that I was out of BBs. 

On Saturday night, I got my allowance which was 25 cents a week.  I got that for taking out garbage, raking the yard, feeding the chickens, gathering eggs and yes, shoveling chicken manure.  We always went uptown on Saturday night and that 25 cents was burning a hole in my pocket.  I knew exactly where I was going, the hardware store, which carried ample supplies of BBs.  I have been investing my money in ammo ever since.  I am sure I would be far richer had I not done that but the memories and friendships that shooting has given me are worth much more than mere money.

Tomorrow will be the 77th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  Within a few days, the Japanese attacked American territories throughout the Pacific.  The United States was unprepared and because of that, thousands upon thousands of our soldiers died.  Beginning in the Clinton Administration, experienced soldiers were driven out of the military.  After September 11, 2001, the military was increased but when the Obama Administration took over, once again, military spending again went down.  Then there was the sequester.  Now, the Trump Administration increased military spending for a short time but suddenly the discussion has once again turned to cutting the military.  Is there waste?  There sure is, and that must be controlled but it is still cheaper than war.  One of the things I would like to see is an increase in the number of combat troops so they don’t have to be deployed so often.  Maybe we would see much less PTSD.  The cost of PTSD is high in both money and agony to our soldiers and their loved ones.  Besides, if the world blows up, we will need all the troops that we can get.  Right now, we are in the same place we were in 1940. 

New York State has long been a cauldron of anti-gun witches brew and the latest offering is no exception.  State Senator Kevin Parker has drafted legislation that would allow a person’s social media accounts to be reviewed from the previous three years to see if they are “fit” to purchase a firearm.  This is a clear infringement on your Second Amendment rights.  Of course, the left loves this idea.  I am sure we will see a similar proposal in Illinois.

**Come and join us at both Kankakee Gun Show and Pekin Gun & Knife Show this weekend!  We will have our recruiters at both sites to answer questions and assist you (and your new member) in signing up for our special recruitment drive.  See you there! 

Thanks for being a member.

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

Saturday, December 8, 2018
Range Safety Officer Class

Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Air Rifle League & Practice

Saturday, December 15, 2018
ISRA Concealed Carry Renewal Class

Illinois Gun & Trade Shows

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

Will County Gun Show
Peotone, IL – Will County Fairground
Dates: December 15 & 16, 2018
Hours: Saturday: 8:00am-4:00pm
             Sunday: 8:00am-2:00pm
Admission: $6.00

St Louis Regional Gun & Knife Show
Collinsville, IL – Gateway Center
Dates: December 15 & 16, 2018
Hours: Saturday: 9:00am-5:00pm
             Sunday: 9:00am-3:00pm
Admission: $6.00

McHenry County Gun Show
Woodstock, IL – McHenry County Fairgrounds
Date: December 16, 2018
Hours: 8:00am-1:00pm
Admission: $5.00


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