When any event happens where lives are lost, we all wonder what happened, could this have been prevented, who didn’t do their job, was the system at fault and a variety of immediately unanswerable questions.  Such was the case in the Aurora shooting a few weeks ago.  Answers to these situations are complicated and don’t pop up like your morning toast.

Many immediately blamed the Illinois State Police for not doing a proper background check.  That seemed unlikely since every FOID card holder goes through a background check every night except for a few holidays.  The Aurora shooter had gone through many background checks, along with other FOID card holders, and nothing ever came up.  The FBI began investigating.  A letter dated February 28, 2019, to Christopher Wray, Director of the FBI, was signed by Senators Durban and Duckworth, as well as by Congressmen Foster and Underwood.  The letter explains that the FBI inquiry discovered that either Mississippi law enforcement or the Mississippi court system failed to report the arrest or the conviction of the Aurora shooter to the FBI for inclusion in the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) data base.  That is the reason why the ISP could not find the information on the shooter, it wasn’t ever there.

The Gun Sanctuary movement is getting more traction across the country.  In New Mexico, the sheriffs in half the counties are refusing to enforce the unconstitutional draconian gun laws.  This has caused the anti-gun Governor of New Mexico, Michelle Lujan Grisham, to throw a Facebook hissy fit.  Too bad. Similar movements are reported in Oregon, Nevada, Delaware, Maryland and Washington State. Hopefully, this will deepen in the states where the movement is now and spread across the country to every state.  There needs to be a huge backlash culminating around the time of the 2020 elections.

The ISRA has a new system for updating the bills we are following and they will be updated in real time on the ISRA website.  If you go to the ISRA website and select Advocacy, there will be a drop down with Litigation and Legislation.  Click on Legislation and the bill list will pop up with our positions.  As of right now, gun bills are not moving.  There are a large number of shell bills that have been passed out of Committees.  These are bills without language but can be amended to become a bill very quickly.  Your ISRA lobbying team is keeping an eye on them.

When we review bills, we see a lot of anti-gun bills but every once in a while, we find one that is outstandingly stupid.  Such is the case of HB3016.  The sponsor is Representative Joyce Mason (D-Gurnee).  For years, everyone has been pushing gun locks and gun safes, both large and small.  These devices are permeating homes throughout the country.  As a reward for doing such a good job, Representative Mason would like to put a 1% tax on future sales of such devices.  No good deed goes unpunished!

One of the more popular classes the ISRA sponsors is the M1 Maintenance Class.  There are a lot of these historic rifles out there and people love them.  I am pleased to announce that on April 13^th, 2019, we will again offer this class.  These rifles, with blank adapters, are used in thousands of Military funerals each day.  There will be a section on rifles with blank adapters included in this class.  Space is limited.  Please check the ISRA website or email laura@isra.org.

IGOLD is quickly approaching on March 27^th.  Please make every effort to attend.  This may be the most important IGOLD ever.

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

Saturday, March 9, 2019
ISRA Concealed Carry Renewal Class

Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Air Rifle League & Practice

Saturday, March 16, 2019
ISRA Junior Highpower Team 2019 Kickoff Meeting
RSO Meeting
Basic Pistol Class for Women Only (Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club)
Illinois State Indoor Championship (Elgin Rifle Club)

Sunday, March 17, 2019
Illinois State Indoor Championship (Elgin Rifle Club)

Tuesday, March 19, 2019
Air Rifle League & Practice

Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Air Pistol League & Practice

Saturday, March 23, 2019
ISRA Concealed Carry Renewal Class

Sunday, March 24, 2019
Pistol Instructor Class
ISRA Marksmanship League
ISRA Marksmanship .22 Challenge
Illinois State Indoor Championship (Sandy Ford Sportsmen’s Club)
Illinois State Indoor Championship (Highland Pistol & Rifle Club)

Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day (IGOLD)

Illinois Gun & Trade Shows

Decatur Gun Show
Decatur, IL – Decatur Conference Center & Hotel
Dates: March 9 & 10, 2019
Hours: Saturday: 8:00-4:00
             Sunday: 8:00-2:00
Admission: $6.00

Belleville Gun & Knife Show
Belleville, IL – Belle-Clair Expo Center
Dates: March 9 & 10, 2019
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
             Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $6.00

Northwestern Chicago Survival & Green Living Expo
Grayslake, IL – Lake County Fairgrounds
Dates: March 9 & 10, 2019
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
             Sunday: 9:00-4:00
Admission: $14.00

Kane County Sportsman’s Show
St Charles, IL – Kane County Fairgrounds
Date: March 10, 2019
Hours: Sunday: 7:30-1:30
Admission: $5.00

Kankakee Gun Show
Kankakee, IL – Kankakee County Fairgrounds
Dates: March 16 & 17, 2019
Hours: Saturday: 8:00-4:00
             Sunday: 8:00-2:00
Admission: $6.00

McHenry County Gun Show
Woodstock, IL – McHenry County Fairgrounds
Date: March 17, 2019
Hours: Sunday: 8:00-1:00
Admission: $5.00

Crown Point Gun Show
Crown Point, IN – Lake County Fairgrounds
Dates: March 23 & 24, 2019
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
             Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $5.00

Aledo Gun Show
Aledo, IL – Aledo VFW Hall
Dates: March 23 & 24, 2019
Hours: Saturday: 8:30-5:00
             Sunday: 8:30-3:00
Admission: $3.00

Joliet Moose Gun Show
Joliet, IL – Joliet Moose Lodge
Date: March 30, 2019
Hours: Saturday: 8:00-4:00
Admission: $6.00

Sauk Trail Gun Show
Princeton, IL – Bureau County Fairgrounds
Dates: March 30 & 31, 2019
Hours: Saturday: 8:30-4:30
             Sunday: 8:30-3:00
Admission: $2.00


Check out ISRA's website at www.isra.org! Tell us what you think!