Richard Pearson

I want to thank everyone one who filled out witness slips of opposition to HB1091 HFA#1.  You all did a great job on short notice.  This time of year we are on what is known as “24 hour posting notice“.  That means bills being called in the committee have to be posted 24 hours before the committee or it can’t be called.  What happened with HB1091 HFA#1 is a great example of how the system works.  HB1092 HFA#1 was posted to committee at 1:22pm for hearing the next day at 5pm.  We were alerted at about 2pm that the bill was posted to committee.  We got the alert out calling for witness slips shortly after that.  Then the time of the committee was changed back to 2pm the next day, just making the 24 hour posting notice.  This gave the Second Amendment side as little time to react as possible.  Of course, the anti-gun side knew all this was going to happen so they had the advantage.  Still, with your help, we won that round. 

HB1091 HFA#1 was really a redo of SB1966 from last session.  It would require every FOID card holder to be fingerprinted, ban the private sale of firearms, raise the cost of a FOID card by 1400% for new applicants and 300 % for renewals.  This bill is the anti-gunners’ dream.  We will see this bill again in some form in the Illinois House.  The Illinois Senate version of the bill is SB0568.  It is sponsored by Senator Ram Villivalam (D-8 Chicago).  This bill could pop up at any time.  We will keep you posted.

In the past I have talked to you about shell bills and how they work.  HB1091 HFA#1 is a great example of how shell bills are used.  A shell bill is a bill without significant language that is passed out of committee and placed on Second Reading.  Bills can be amended on Second Reading.  An amendment is written but just lies there until it is time to put it on a shell bill.  The sponsor will pick the shell bill but no one knows what that number is except that party’s leaders and staff.  The sponsor calls the shell bill in committee and adds the Floor Amendment in that committee.  The new language replaces whatever is in the shell bill and then the sponsor tries to pass it out of committee.  If it does pass out of committee, it is on the floor of whatever chamber it is in (House or Senate) on Second reading.  It can be moved to Third Reading and passed in a matter of minutes.  That is why shell bills are tough to deal with and why we appreciate your effort so much.  Thank you again.

In the case of People of the State of Illinois vs. Vivian Claudine Brown, a new White County Circuit Judge has reissued an Order declaring the FOID Act unconstitutional and dismissing the charges against Ms. Brown.  To refresh everyone’s memory or if you are unfamiliar with the case, here is a thumbnail sketch of what happened.  

Vivian Brown is a disabled female living in White County, Illinois.  She feared being attacked by her estranged husband.  Somewhere she acquired a single shot .22 caliber rifle to keep by her bed for self-protection.  She had no FOID card but was eligible for one and had nothing that would disqualify her.  Someone reported shots fired at Ms. Brown’s home.  The police arrived and found no shots had been fired but, of course, they found the. 22 caliber rifle.  It was a false report designed to get Ms. Brown in trouble, which it did.  Ms. Brown did not have the funds to hire an attorney so a public defender was appointed to argue her case.  A White County Circuit Judge found the FOID card unconstitutional in the home and dismissed the charges against Ms. Brown.  

Since this is a constitutional issue, such cases go directly from the Circuit Court to the Illinois Supreme Court.  Ms. Brown could not afford to carry the case forward.  Hearing about the case, the Illinois State Rifle Association and the Second Amendment Foundation stepped forward to help Ms. Brown.  There were technical problems with the original ruling so the Illinois Supreme Court sent the case back to White County.  The case was reargued and a new order issued.  Once again, the White County Judge found the FOID card unconstitutional in the home.  This time the Court’s decision is clear. Here is the decision: "A Citizen in the State of Illinois is not born with a Second Amendment right, nor does that right inure when a citizen turns 18 or 21 years of age.  It is a façade.  They only gain that right if they pay a $10 fee, complete the proper application, and submit a photograph.  If the right to bear arms and self-defense are truly core rights, there should be no burden on the citizenry to enjoy those rights, especially within the confines and privacy of their own homes.  Accordingly, if a person does something to disqualify themselves from being able to exercise that right, like being convicted of felony or demonstrating mental illness, then and only then may the right be stripped from them.”

This case will be back before the Illinois Supreme Court.  The Illinois State Rifle Association and the Second Amendment Foundation will be there once again.  It is pretty clear what will happen to the FOID card if we win.  If we lose, we will be on the way to the United States Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court of the United States has decided to take the case of New York State Rifle and Pistol Assoc. v Corlett.  This case deals with New York State’s May Issue concealed carry permit system which does not like to issue permits.  New York is a “May Issue” State.  What that means is that some bureaucrat somewhere decides whether your life is worth defending.  You can meet every qualification and never get a permit.  In May Issue states, you have to have a need to get a concealed carry permit.  Of course, no need is ever good enough unless you are the friend of the Governor, Mayor or some powerful mucky muck.  There are cases in New York and other states in which people have been beaten, robbed, raped and threatened, sometimes repeatedly, and never got a permit.  Some have been forced to move away.  There is one case in New Jersey that a lady pleaded for a permit several times.  She was eventually murdered.  There is no reason good enough in these states.  A person should not have to have a reason; if they want a permit, they should get a permit.  Hopefully the SCOTUS will change all of that.  If they do, it will shatter a lot of stupid gun laws in the United States.

Reminder: There are a few openings for Massad Ayoob’s MAG-40 Class on June 10-13.  We offer a 10% discount to ISRA members for this course.  To register, contact Andy Kemp at 208.771.3413 or email andy1911@imaxmail.net.

The Illinois State Rifle Association fights for you.  We need members and donations to keep up this fight.  If you are not a member, please JOIN.  Donations are always welcome.  The ISRA Legal Assistance Committee is a tax deductible 501(3)c corporation.  Thank you for your support.

Tidbits:
April 29, 2004 - The World War II Memorial is dedicated.  The Memorial sits on 7.4 acres of land between the Capitol Building and Arlington National Cemetery.  The idea for the WWII Memorial came from Roger Durbin who served under General George Patton.  It took 17 years to build the WWII Memorial due to typical government bungling.  The United States Government donated 16 million dollars toward the memorial.  The rest of the 164 million dollar price tag came from donations.  Sadly,
Mr. Durbin did not live to see the final product of his idea.  He passed away in 2000.   

April 30, 1803 - Negotiations conclude on the Louisiana Purchase.  The price was 11.25 million dollars and a 3.75 million dollar debt to France was forgiven.  While it seems cheap today, it nearly broke the fledgling United States government.  Money had to be borrowed from European banks at six percent interest.  By 1823, the loan with interest amounted to 23 million dollars but it was paid off.  The Louisiana Purchase became the home of 13 states.

May 1, 1898 - The Battle of Manila Bay occurs.  The United States Fleet under command of Admiral Thomas E. Dewey, destroys the Spanish fleet.  Spain lost 10 ships and over 400 men.  The American losses amounted to only six wounded with no ships lost.  Dewey maneuvered the U. S. Fleet to within 5400 yards of the Spanish fleet.  Dewey’s command, “Fire when ready, Gridley“ started the American attack and became slang for let’s get things started. 

May 1, 1931 - The Empire State Building is dedicated.  The building became familiar to the American public in the 1933 movie “King Kong”.

May 2, 2011 - Osama Bin Laden is killed by Navy Seals.  The movie “Zero Dark Thirty” gave a pretty good account of what went into it all.

May 3, 1865 - President Abraham Lincoln is buried in Springfield, Illinois.  The train bringing the President home to Springfield made 180 stops along the way for people to pay their respects.  Crowds lined the railroad tracks even in remote places.  Abraham Lincoln was a talented man.  He is the only President to hold a patent.  Lincoln invented floating air chambers to go on riverboats to lift them out of shallow waters.  He is also in the Wrestling Hall of Fame.  Lincoln was quite a wrestler, winning over 300 matches.  He was known to get a little lippy inside the ring, taunting his opponents.  Lincoln was an excellent marksman.  He tested muskets and repeating rifles on what is now known as the National Mall.  The Spencer repeating rifle was one of his favorites.

May 5, 1921 - Coco Chanel debuts the world’s most iconic perfume, Chanel No. 5.  This perfume revolutionized the perfume industry and accelerated her career.  Chanel No. 5 is immensely popular to this day.  It’s not cheap but Mother’s Day is coming.  Hint hint.

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

Tuesday, May 4 & 11, 2021
Tuesday Night Irregular Rifle League

Wednesday, May 5 & 12, 2021
ISRA Benchrest League
F-Class Rifle League
Combat Paper & Steel League

Saturday, May 8, 2021
Woolard Brothers Memorial
RSO CPR & AED Training/Certification

Thursday, May 13, 2021
ISRA Smallbore Prone/F-Class League

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

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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