We are witnessing the First Amendment being used to beat up the Second Amendment with the exception that when Second Amendment people want to use the First Amendment, the rules change.

For example: a few days ago when the Moms Demanding Action were at the Capitol pushing for their anti-gun agenda, we never bothered them.  It is their right to be there.  One of our female members was also at the Capitol defending our Second Amendment Rights.  She happened to visit the women’s restroom which had several of the Moms in it.  When she was asked what she was doing there she told them she was a Second Amendment supporter.  At that point, the Moms started shouting at her and cursing her.  She went out to tell the Capitol Police and ask for help but, at that point, there was nothing they could do but escort her out of the building.  This is an old left-wing tactic to shut down opposition.  We will see this again and again.  Be ready for it.

It is not news that we have been fighting a stacked deck in the Illinois General Assembly.  As I have mentioned before, the draconian anti-gun laws we see being proposed are all about politics and not about good public policy.  Gun owners and the Second Amendment are whipping boys for criminal ills of Illinois and the Nation.  The solutions are not easy; the simple thing to do is blame you, me, and of course, guns.  It is time for gun owners to stand up, fight and not let this happen.

The Subject Matter Hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee is a prime example of the chicanery that occurs in Springfield.  HB1467 was a relatively clean Bump Stock Bill.  It needed some modifications but certainly was not as onerous as previous bills dealing with the same issue.  Then, without warning, Senator Harmon proposed an amendment to HB1467 that would allow local municipalities regulatory authority over certain types of firearms, namely their version of so-called assault weapons. If passed, this would be the camel’s nose underneath the tent.

On Wednesday, March 14, three bad gun bills were jammed through the Illinois Senate. Two of these, HB1465 and HB1468, are on the way to the Governor’s desk for signature or veto.  Both of these bills were described in last week’s Thursday Bulletin.  The third bill, the new version of HB1467, is described in the above paragraph.  When we passed the concealed carry bill, one of the provisions preempted municipalities from doing such regulation 10 days after the concealed carry act was passed.  The State has now gone back on its word.  This bill is simply to harass law-abiding gun owners.  HB1467 must go back to the Illinois House of Representatives for concurrence.  The Illinois House of Representatives will not be in session until April 9.  I urge you to call your local State Representatives and ask them to vote against HB1467.

If you recall, we fought very hard to get statewide preemption to prevent local municipalities from passing a patchwork of laws designed to entrap law-abiding gun owners. The goal here would be to eventually destroy concealed carry and as many other gun rights as possible. Of course, the anti’s will deny this but, nevertheless, that is their goal.

You will need to call Governor Rauner and ask him to veto HB1465 and HB1468.

Governor Rauner did the right thing when he vetoed SB1657.  SB1657 was designed to regulate small firearm dealers out of business.  The goal was to make firearms hard to get and much more expensive.  Make no mistake; SB1657 was a direct attack on law-abiding firearm owners and the Second Amendment.  Gun owners owe the Governor for that one.

Every two years I tell you this is the most important election we have ever had.  It is important to understand that and, as tired of hearing it as you might be, it is still true.  Suppose Pat Quinn was Governor? Think of where we would be right now.  Of course the fight is not over.  The anti-gun crowd is out twisting arms to try to override the Governor’s veto.  The veto clock will start running on April 10, when the Senate comes back to Springfield.  Be ready.

I know you understand what I am saying, but there are millions of gun owners who don’t understand or don’t know what is going on.  We all know gun owners who are unaware and it is our duty to try to make them aware.  Please take time to educate these people.  Of course, ask them to join the ISRA.

Thanks for being a member.

Reminder: Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day (IGOLD) is April 25^th!
                   MTG presents Massad Ayoob MAG-80 Class – June 6-10 at ISRA Range

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

Saturday, March 17, 2018
ISRA Junior Highpower Team 2018 Kickoff Meeting

Sunday, March 18, 2018
AR-15 Instructional Class

Wednesday, March 21, 2018
ISRA Wednesday Night Air Gun League
ISRA 10 Meter International Air Pistol League

Saturday, March 24 & 25, 2018
Project Appleseed

Sunday, March 25, 2018
ISRA Marksmanship League

Illinois Gun & Trade Shows:

Kankakee Gun Show
Kankakee, Illinois - Kankakee County Fairgrounds
Dates: March 17 & 18, 2018
Hours: Saturday: 8:00am – 4:00pm
             Sunday: 8:00am – 2:00pm
Admission: $6.00

Northwestern Chicago Survival & Green Living Expo
Grayslake, Illinois - Lake County Fairgrounds
Dates: March 17 & 18, 2018
Hours: Saturday: 9:00am – 5:00pm
             Sunday: 9:00am – 4:00pm
Admission: $14.00

McHenry County Gun Show
Woodstock, Illinois - McHenry County Fairgrounds
Date: March 18, 2018
Hours: Sunday: 8:00am – 1:00pm
Admission: $5.00

Sauk Trail Gun Show
Princeton, Illinois – Bureau County Fairgrounds
Dates: March 24 & 25, 2018
Hours: Saturday: 8:30am – 4:30pm
             Sunday: 8:30am – 3:00pm
Admission: $2.00

Lake County Gun & Sportsman Show
Antioch, Illinois – Antioch VFW
Date: March 25, 2018
Hours: Saturday: 8:00am – 2:00pm
Admission: $7.00

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