Richard Pearson

On Wednesday afternoon we once again witnessed how fast legislation can move in Springfield.  HB 1092 was passed out of committee and was called for a vote on the House floor within two hours.  The lobbying team got word of this possibility and the ISRA administrative staff put out an Action Alert immediately asking everyone to call their State Representative asking them to oppose HB1092.  The bill did pass 69-43-0.  HB1092 now moves to the Senate.  Please call your State Senator and ask them to oppose this bill.  We are down to 16 legislative session days before adjournment at midnight on May 31st.  Please stay tuned for these important Action Alerts.

The number of national background check in April was 3,514,070.  Illinois accounts for 890,000 of those.  Background checks are run every night on FOID card holders and another separate check is run of ICCL holders.  The number of people wanting to become firearm owners is still increasing.  I recently did an interview on the causes for the increased desire to own a firearm.  If you look around and simply watch what is happening all around us, those reasons become obvious. 

The push for more gun control is an easy out for politicians who won’t or can’t face the truth.  They are, of course, aided by the anti-gun crowd and supported by the national news media.  The anti-gun side is a tool of the left wing who wants total control of everything.  They can’t get it if there is a large armed citizenry who might rise up against them.  The Second Amendment is one of the main reasons left wing Democrats want to pack the Supreme Court.  They not only want to destroy the Second Amendment, but everything in the Bill of Rights.  These people are a formidable enemy and can’t be minimized or discounted in any way.  The level of their power is rising and it is already impossible to stand against them alone.  I urge all of you to join pro-gun groups like the ISRA. 

Federal Bankruptcy Judge Harlin Hale has dismissed the National Rifle Association’s bankruptcy case.  The judge ruled the case was not filed in good faith.  He did not dismiss the case with prejudice which means the case can come back in some form.  This opens the door for Letitia James, New York Attorney General, to pursue the case.  Reuters News reports the Biden Administration pressured Judge Hale to dismiss the case.  I am sure that is no surprise to anyone but still it is a blow to Second Amendment advocates.  There is nothing that would make Joe Biden happier than to damage the NRA.

There is no doubt the NRA and its five million members will fight on.  The New York lawsuit is distracting and makes the job of the NRA harder and damages its membership and fundraising efforts.  The annual budget for the NRA is 300 million dollars a year.  It sounds like a lot but considering all the things they do, I understand it.

I am sure many of you have been noticing pro Second Amendment ads on national television.  Those ads are being produced and paid for by the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA).  The SAF is a 501c3 organization and the CCRKBA is a 501c4 organization.  The ISRA frequently works together on lawsuits and other projects with both organizations.  I recommend both organizations. 

The ISRA lawsuits are still in the waiting mode.  Our work is completed now and we have to wait for the courts or others to respond before we can move forward.  We are fundraising for the ISRA Legal Assistance Committee (ISRA-LAC) to carry these lawsuits forward.  The Vivian Brown case is still waiting for an Illinois Supreme Court date.  The ISRA-LAC is a 501c3 tax deductible organization if you itemize your taxes.

If you have gotten a stimulus check or a return on your income taxes, the ISRA-LAC would be a good place to put some of it.  The address is ISRA-LAC, PO Box 494, Chatsworth, Illinois 60921.

My seemingly eternal quest for ammunition had disappointing results this week.  Clerks in sporting goods stores and gun shops tell me that some people come in everyday looking for ammunition and if they find it, they buy it.  Most of us cannot make these daily rounds.  Still, ammo is loosening up but it is not cheap.  Keep trying.

Three U. S. soldiers stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, have been arrested for purchasing and reselling firearms to street gangs and others on Chicago’s south side.  The three soldiers, Demarcus Adams, Juris Brunson, and Brandon Miller purchased 91 firearms in Kentucky and Tennessee.  The United States Attorney has charged them with making false statements during the purchase of a firearm, engaging in firearms business without an FFL, wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to commit Title 18 offenses.  This is a federal case so it is unlikely they will just get a slap on the wrist and walk.  This was a criminal enterprise so laws making it tough on law-abiding citizens would have no effect in stopping any of this. That’s just a hint lawmakers!

The 2021 ISRA Junior Highpower Team is having a raffle to earn money for the Illinois Hard Dogs.  The tickets start at $10 per ticket.  There are 6 prizes that include firearms.  The drawing will be held at the CMP National Highpower Rifle Matches on August 6, 2021.  If you are interested in purchasing a ticket(s) you can contact Mike James at mikej308@comcast.net or you can call the office at 815.635.3198.

Tidbits:
May 17, 1846 - Border disputes with Mexico and the annexation of Texas finally lead to Congress declaring war on Mexico.  General Winfield Scott invaded Mexico from the sea at Veracruz with 10,000 troops.  This would be the largest United States sea born invasion until WWII.  The United States troops fought all along the 265 mile March to Mexico City.  Mexico City was called the “Halls of Montezuma” by the U. S. Troops which became part of the Marine Hymn.  The land ceded to the United States encompassed all or part of the states of California, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Oklahoma and Kansas.  The size of Mexico was reduced by half.

May 14, 1804 - Lewis and Clark leave St. Louis to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase.

May 14, 1787 - Delegates to the Constitutional Convention assemble in Philadelphia.  They had no idea they were going to write one of the greatest documents in history.

May 14, 1796 - Edward Jenner, a country doctor from Gloucestershire, England, begins testing the first smallpox vaccine.  Dr. Jenner had noticed the milkmaids who contracted cowpox never contracted smallpox.  He injected a young boy with fluid from a cowpox blister and later scratched and covered the boy’s skin with smallpox fluid.  The boy did not get smallpox.  Smallpox was feared in those times.  Even if you were lucky enough to survive, you were scarred for life.

May 15, 1942 - The bill establishing the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) becomes law.  Ann Miller, my second grade teacher, was one of the first women in the WAC.  I don’t recall discipline ever being a problem in her class.

May 17, 1767 - George Washington criticizes “Taxation without representation“ in the Virginia House of Burgesses.  He was referring to what is generally known as the British Townshend Acts which a series of taxes.  Since then, we have learned that taxation with representation isn’t that great of an idea.

May 18, 1917 - Congress passes the Selective Service Act (the draft), allowing the United States Government to draft people into the military.  That Act still exists even though we now have volunteers serving in the Armed Forces.  It would still be implemented in time of emergency.

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

Friday, May 14, 2021
MTG Night Shoot, Low Light/Flashlight Handgun Skills

Saturday, May 15, 2021
Triple Threat Defense LLC Defensive Tactics for Concealed Carry – Level II
MTG Intro to Defensive Pistol Course

Sunday, May 16, 2021
MTG Mastering the Revolver
761^st Gun Club Rifle Day

Tuesday, May 18 & 25, 2021
Tuesday Night Irregular Rifle League

Wednesday, May 19 & 26, 2021
ISRA Benchrest League
F-Class Rifle League
Combat Paper & Steel League

Thursday, May 20 & 27, 2021
ISRA Smallbore Prone/F-Class League

Saturday, May 22, 2021
Range Safety Officer Course

Sunday, May 23, 2021
ISRA Bullseye Match & Combat Match
Marksmanship League
3 Hour IL CCW Certification Renewal
CCL Qualification

Saturday, May 29, 2021
The Well Armed Woman

Sunday, May 30, 2021
Handgun Drills
Intro Shotgun

Gun & Trade Shows

Quad Cities Gun Show – Rock Island, IL
QCCA Expo Center
Dates: May 15 & 16, 2021
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
             Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $6.00

Kane County Sportsman’s Show – St Charles, IL
Kane County Fairgrounds
Date: May 16, 2021
Hours: Sunday: 7:30-1:30
Admission: $7.00

Boot City Gun Show – Terre Haute, IN
Boot City Opry
Dates: May 21 & 22, 2021
Hours: Friday: 12:00-7:00
             Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Admission: $5.00

Crown Point Gun Show – Crown Point, IN
Lake County Fairgrounds
Dates: May 22 & 23, 2021
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
             Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $5.00

Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show – Kankakee, IL
Kankakee County Fairgrounds
Dates: May 22 & 23, 2021
Hours: Saturday: 8:00-3:00
             Sunday: 8:00-2:00
Admission: $6.00

Sandwich Sportsman’s Club Swap Meet – Sandwich, IL
Sandwich Sportsman Club
Date: May 23, 2021
Hours: Sunday: 8:00-3:00
Admission: $3.00














 



























































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