Well here we are in the middle of a pandemic.  The restaurants are closed although you can get carry outs, the bars are closed, schools are out and on and on it goes.  What a great time to catch up on your reading.  If I remember correctly, you have some firearms that need to be cleaned.  Now is the time to complete that little chore.  How about going to the range and getting in some practice.  Indoor ranges are required to have 100 cubic feet of fresh air per firing point and outdoor ranges have infinite amounts of fresh air per firing point.  Either way, a Range is a pretty safe place to be during a pandemic.

I have been getting calls regarding slow approvals for purchasing firearms.  I have spoken to the Illinois State Police (ISP) and they are working.  Not only is the ISP overwhelmed, so is the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).  On Monday, March 16^th, the NICS experienced a 300% increase over normal volume.  The ISP is probably waiting for replies from the NICS which is slowing down the process.  This all started in February when there were nearly 3,000,000 background checks performed.  I have heard of long lines at gun stores so I am not surprised.  I do not expect this problem to level out until May, but that is just a guess.  In the meantime, we are seeing thousands of new firearm owners.  I suggest to all instructors to set up a 2 or 3 hour safety class at a reasonable price to help these new members to the firearms owning family.  We should welcome them.

The time has come to deal with the problem of excessive wait time for those who have renewed their ICCL.  We are looking for people who properly applied for their ICCL but have no other problems such as a clerical error, certificate error, picture error or address change after the start of the renewal.  Please email us at member@isra.org with the following information:

1.  When was your renewal date?
2. When did you apply?
3. Are you willing to be a plaintiff?
4. Please provide your name, address, and phone number.  We will get your email from your   correspondence.  I am sure we will have a number of these to go through so please just reply to what we have asked for.

When some people get elected to local offices their opinion of themselves really gets elevated.  They develop a God like attitude.  People who get elected as mayors or village presidents to city councils, and as village trustees, seem to be the most susceptible to this attitude.  The Mayor of the City of Champaign is one of those.

On March 12, 2020, the City of Champaign, Illinois, passed a Declaration of Emergency which included the ability of the Mayor to order the discontinuance of selling, distributing, dispensing or giving away of explosives or explosive agents, firearms or ammunition of any character whatsoever.  This is patently illegal and a clear example of unconstitutional government overreach.  This has been tried in North Carolina, New Orleans and a few other places.  The courts have always come down on the side of the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens to own and purchase firearms and ammunition. 

After hurricane Katrina, the abuse by certain public officials and their illegal seizing of firearms, ammunition and other private property was addressed by Congress.  In 2006, Congress added a section to the U.S. Code (42 U.S.C. 5207) known as the Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.  This section is designed to address the abuses of public officials, police, judges, health care people and others who are in a position of authority and abuse the civil rights of others.  The Emergency Declaration passed by the City of Champaign may be a good example of the Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law if it is ever implemented.  I would remind everyone that when you take any public office, become a law enforcement officer and many other positions, you swear an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States, not some illegal local ordinance.

The punishment for depriving a person of their civil rights under Color of Law is tough and wide ranging, with a possibility of life imprisonment to the death penalty.  There are other municipalities that have passed emergency declarations that leave out the section on firearms and ammunition.  Orland Park wisely removed the section on firearms and ammunition and I am sure there are many others.  You might check to see what your community has done.  If they have passed an emergency declaration that includes firearms and ammunition, ask them to remove that section.  I would like to know.

The training season never really stops at the ISRA Range.  Our latest class, AR15 Maintenance, went very well.  For those who have taken the AR15 Maintenance Class, we will be offering an advanced maintenance class in the near future.  This is a good class to take if you are attending the CMP Rifle Marksmanship 101 Training Course which is scheduled for September 26^th & 27^th at our Range.  The Marksmanship 101 Course will be taught by the United States Army Marksmanship Unit. 

The schedule for the Illinois General Assembly is really unsettled at this moment.  It appears that certain bills may be called and only those involved with those bills will be admitted into the Capitol Complex.  That would include the legislators, staff, witnesses, and lobbyists.  Everyone else will have to watch from their home or office.  Witness slips, emails and calls to your legislators will be all the more important.  At this time, session will be cancelled next week.  I still expect to be in regular session in May.
 
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Upcoming Events: ISRA Calendar
For more information, visit www.isra.org

Defensive Tactics for Concealed Carry Level I - CANCELLED
Saturday, March 21, 2020

2020 Illinois State Indoor Precision Pistol Championship – Elgin, IL
Saturday & Sunday, March 21 & 22, 2020

The Well Armed Woman
Sunday, March 29, 2020

Range Work Day
Saturday, April 4, 2020

Range Safety Officer Class – RESCHEDULED TO THE FOLLOWING:
Saturday, April 4 & 11, 2020

2020 Illinois State Indoor Precision Pistol Championship – Highland, IL – RESCHEDULED:
Sunday, April 5, 2020

Gun & Trade Shows
NOTE:  Please contact the Show to check on cancellations

Peoria Gun & Knife Show - CANCELLED
Exposition Gardens – Peoria, IL
Dates: March 21 & 22, 2020
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
             Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $5.00

PVSA Gun/Sportsman Show CANCELLED
Kendall County Fairgrounds – Yorkville, IL
Date: March 22, 2020
Hours: Sunday: 8:00-1:00
Admission: $5.00

Crown Point Gun Show
Lake County Fairgrounds – Crown Point, IN
Dates: March 28 & 29, 2020
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
             Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $5.00

Decatur Gun & Knife Show - CANCELLED
Decatur Conference Center & Hotel – Decatur, IL
Dates: March 28 & 29, 2020
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
             Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $5.00

Sauk Trail Gun Show - CANCELLED
Bureau County Fairgrounds – Princeton, IL
Dates: March 28 & 29, 2020
Hours: Saturday: 8:30-4:00
             Sunday: 8:30-3:00
Admission: $2.00

Kane County Sportsman’s Show
Kane County Fairgrounds – St Charles, IL
Date: March 29, 2020
Hours: Sunday – 7:30-1:30
Admission: $7.00

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