ISRA Thursday Bulletin - February 14, 2019
Published: Thu, 02/14/19
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ISRA Thursday Bulletin - February 14, 2019
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Executive Directors Message
Another Illinois gun company has bitten the dust, at least in Illinois. Lewis Machine and Tool (LMT) is the brainchild of Karl Lewis and was located in Milan, Illinois since 1980. LMT produces firearms for 45 countries around the world, specializing in high quality firearms for elite units like the British Special Air Services to their latest contract with the Estonian Defense
Forces. Those two contracts alone brought $55,000,000 into Illinois. Remember they deal with 43 other countries. I don’t know the value of those contracts but it could be in the hundreds of millions of dollars and beyond. Also remember that most of this money comes from oversees into Illinois - or did. No more. The need for expanded facilities and the relentless bombardment of anti-gun initiatives by the Illinois General Assembly, including burdensome
taxes and threats from assorted Illinois Governors, forced LMT to move to the welcoming arms of Eldridge, Iowa. The Illinois General Assembly should get the Economic Development Awards from Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky and Missouri.
HB 2331 - Rita Mayfield (D-Waukegan) has proposed a new sales tax of 3.75% percent on firearms and firearm components. The money is supposed to be used for youth programs. The programs are not specified but my guess is the monies would be shoveled into anti-gun programs. State Representative Brad Holbrook (R-Shelbyville) filed HR0101 which calls for a study to possibly make Chicago the 51st state. You will find HR0101 on the Bills and Resolutions page on the ilga.gov website. I am hearing HR0101 is gaining traction outside of Chicago. At this writing there are 64 gun bills the ISRA is tracking with as many as 150 to 200 more expected to come. I know many of you are waiting to file witness slips. The ISRA will not call for witness slips unless we know a bill is going to be heard in Committee. Yesterday, Wednesday, was a good example. In the House Judiciary Committee, 68 bills were posted for hearings and of those, 17 were gun bills. We were told that none would be heard and none were heard. The State of Illinois uses electronic witness slips. A witness slip that is filed on a bill that is not heard will vanish after the hearing. So, if anyone filed a witness slip on one of the bills posted for Wednesday’s hearing, those are now gone and a new witness slip will have to be filed next time. When the ISRA calls for witness slips, we really need them. We will try to be as accurate as possible. One of my goals at the SHOT Show was to test the new Glock Models 43X and 48. For a number of years, I have competed in a Glock League so I am very familiar with Glocks and how they operate. If you can operate one model and then get a new model, the learning curve is steep but pretty easy. Up until recently most Glocks had double stack magazines. The exception to that was the model 36 which is chambered in 45ACP and has been around for several years. It is single stack. The models 42 and 43 that came out a few years ago have single stack magazines and are chambered in .380 and 9mm, respectively. For the record, I have both models. Both models have 6 round magazines. The smaller capacity magazines make them easier to conceal. There are many people who wanted more magazine capacity but one has to remember that a concealed carry pistol is a series of compromises. Size, power, magazine capacity, caliber, accuracy and ease of handling are all on the table. You don’t always get them the way you would like them so there are choices you have to make. The models 43X and 48 are both single stack 9mms and both hold 10 rounds. The added grip length on the 43X is there to accommodate the extra 4 rounds. It handles better than my 43 but one has to remember neither is a target gun. Both guns will hold the 10 ring on a D-1 target at 15 yards when shooting off hand. The 48 is slightly larger all the way around and it shoots like it. Both
the 43X and 48 are good choices if they fit your need. Both models would be excellent for strong side inside the waist band carry or for off body carry in a purse or briefcase. That, of course, is up to you. For those who compete in Glock competitions, the 43X and 48 must be shot in the Stock or Unlimited Divisions and are not eligible for the Pocket Glock Division. Glock has filled about every conceivable practical size and caliber combination.
On my writing table I have a book titled “An Act of Bravery”, written by Sue Bowron and Fredrick Jones. It is the story of the journey and bravery of Otis McDonald. Fredrick Jones is the nephew of Otis McDonald and was with Otis during the fight for concealed carry and against the City of Chicago. Fredrick saw firsthand what Otis went through. Otis autographed a book for me and when I hold it in my hand, memories of Otis race through my mind. The battles we have ahead of us never leave my mind but neither does the bravery, tenacity and kindness of Otis McDonald. Although Otis McDonald is not with us anymore, his spirit certainly is and we miss him. We will make every effort to live up to the legacy he has left us with in the upcoming fight for the Second Amendment. Thanks for being a member. Upcoming Events: ISRA Calendar For more information, visit www.isra.org Saturday, February 16, 2019 ISRA Concealed Carry Renewal Class Monday, February 18, 2019 Illinois Concealed Carry Renewal Class Tuesday, February 19, 2019 Air Rifle League & Practice Wednesday, February 20, 2019 Air Pistol League & Practice Saturday, February 23, 2019 Emergency Self-Aid Buddy-Aid for Trauma Injuries Course Sunday, February 24, 2019 The Well Armed Woman Saturday, March 2, 2019 ISRA Concealed Carry Renewal Class Sunday March 3, 2019 Black Powder League Wednesday, March 27, 2019 IGOLD (Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day) Illinois Gun & Trade Shows Regional Firearms Auction Rock Island, IL – Rock Island Auction Company Dates: February 14-17, 2019 Illiana Gun Show Danville, IL – Knights of Columbus Hall Dates: February 16 & 17, 2019 Hours: Saturday: 9:00-4:00 Sunday: 9:00-3:00 Admission: $3.00 Highland Gun & Knife Show Highland, IL – Lindendale Park Dates: February 16 & 17, 2019 Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00 Sunday: 9:00-3:00 Admission: $6.00 New Berlin Gun Show New Berlin, IL – Sangamon County Fairgrounds Dates: February 16 & 17, 2019 Hours: Saturday: 9:00-4:00 Sunday: 9:00-3:00 Admission: $5.00 McHenry County Gun Show Woodstock, IL – McHenry County Fairgrounds Date: February 17, 2019 Hours: Sunday: 8:00-1:00 Admission: $5.00 Kendall County Gun Show Yorkville, IL – Kendall County Fairgrounds Dates: February 23 & 24, 2019 Hours: Saturday: 8:00-4:00 Sunday: 8:00-2:00 Admission: $6.00 Bloomington Gun & Knife Show Bloomington, IL – Interstate Center Dates: February 23 & 24, 2019 Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00 Sunday: 9:00-3:00 Admission: $6.00 Check out ISRA's website at www.isra.org! Tell us what you think! |