The FBI Uniform Crime Report is out for 2016.  Remember, it takes a full year to collect and verify all the data; the 2017 report won’t be out until January 2019, just in case you think this is a misprint.  According to the 2016 report, citizens took out 331 bad guys in justifiable homicides, and the police took out another 435.  That is a total of 766 of these bums permanently out of the gene pool.  Moreover, we don’t have to support these people in prison.  In Illinois, the average cost of keeping a prisoner is $38,268 per year.
 
In New York City it is a staggering $168,000 per year. Whatever it is, wherever you are, it is a ton of money.  This, of course, does not count the cost to the tax payers when they would have gotten out of jail, nor the pain they would have inflicted on innocent citizens when they committed their next crime.  Some will say I have no faith.  Nope, I don’t.
 
The number of NICS checks has been tabulated for 2017, at a staggering 25,235,215, making it the second highest number ever totaled.  The highest was 27,538,673 in 2016.  Right now we are seeing bargain basement prices on entry level AR15s.  The high-end models with lots of features still remain close to their usual prices.  Those models take more work and are tuned for accuracy.  If you don’t own an AR15, one of the entry level models is just fine to get starred.  Now is the time to buy.
 
Ammunition prices are also getting near or at the bottom.  Now is a great time to buy for the Spring, Summer and Fall shooting season.  Visit our website at isra.org and find the link at the bottom of the page for ammo.com.  You can check prices there.
 
Each year, the ISRA Range in Bonfield hosts the Winter Wars match.  Saturday, January 13^th, will be the 16th Winter Wars Match.  This is a great place to shoot your vintage model rifle that was used in a winter battle.  Rifles that qualify would be M1s, Springfield 1903s, Enfield 1917s, Mosin-Nagants, AK-47s, SKSs, Enfield 303s and many more.  If you have one of these rifles, drag it out, dust it off and come have some fun.  Scoring is simply a hit or miss proposition, you either hit the target or you don’t. This is obviously a fun match!  A warm fire, hot chili and warm beverages will be available.  Those poor folks in Florida or other hot places never have a chance to have a good time like this.
 
I have received several calls and emails in the last couple of weeks asking if being an ISRA member qualifies a person to purchase from the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP).  The answer is yes, it does, as long as you have a valid FOID Card (for those from Illinois).  In fact, anyone from any state can join the ISRA to qualify for the CMP.  I’m sure these inquiries have a great deal to do with the future release of the 1911s.  I do not know when that date will be but I will let you know when I find out.  I do know that when the 1911s are released they are going to go like hot cakes on a cold January morning.  You will need to have your ISRA membership card in hand.   The ISRA is the state affiliate of the CMP.
 
Thanks for being a member.
 
Upcoming events: ISRA Calendar
For more information, visit www.isra.org
 
Saturday, January 13, 2018
Winter Wars XVI
 
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
ISRA Wednesday Night Air Gun League
ISRA 10 Meter International Air Pistol League
 
Saturday, January 20, 2018
ISRA Range Safety Officer Course (ISRA Range members only)
 
Saturday, January 27, 2018
AR15 Instructional Class