By now all ISRA members should have received their annual membership drive packet. It is very important that every ISRA member try to recruit one or more new members. I attended the Pekin Gun Show in December. One of the excuses people use to not join the ISRA is that they are not interested in politics. Pericles, the famous Orator, Statesman and General from Athens during the Golden Age, advised the citizens of Athens, “Just because you do not take an interest in politics does not mean politics won’t take an interest in you.” This was sage advice 2500 years ago and still is today. There are many gun owners who use the ostrich approach to dealing with problems. That never works and it really does not work when fighting for our Second Amendment freedom. If you are not an ISRA member, JOIN TODAY at ISRA.org If you are an ISRA Member, recruit, and recruit some more.
IGOLD (Illinois Gunowners Lobby Day) 2019 is set for Wednesday, March 27. The rally will start at the Bank of Springfield Center, formerly known as the Prairie Capital Convention Center. This will be a very important IGOLD to attend. We will have more information after the New Year.
In Pickens County, South Carolina, a woman shot and killed an escaped convict when he kicked in the bedroom door of her home. Pickens County Sheriff stated that Bruce McLaughlin Jr broke into the woman’s bedroom armed with an improvised weapon. Sheriff Clark said McLaughlin was a big guy and there is no telling what would have happened had he not been shot. The intended victim had just taken a concealed carry class. Sheriff Clark recommends all civilians arm themselves and get training. I think we all have an idea what would have happened to this woman. If you haven’t taken a concealed carry class it is about time you did.
The Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Act (H.R. 788) has been lying around Congress for a while. It is time for this to be passed and laid on the President’s desk. Time is short and this needs to be passed before the new Congress is seated. This act benefits recreational target shooters, women, gun owners, hunters and sportsmen. It utilizes already existing Pittman Robertson funds. It is time to call Congressional Leadership and ask them to move this resolution.
*
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (202) 224-3135
*
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (202) 224-2934
*
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (202) 225-0600
*
House Major Leader Kevin McCarthy (202) 225-4000
December 7th was the 77th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Within a few days, the Japanese attacked American territories throughout the Pacific. The United States was unprepared and because of that, thousands upon thousands of our soldiers died. Beginning in the Clinton Administration, experienced soldiers were driven out of the military. After September 11, 2001, the military was increased but when the Obama Administration took over, once again, military spending again went down. Then there was The Sequester.
Now, the Trump Administration increased military spending for a short time but suddenly the discussion has once again turned to cutting the military. Is there waste? There sure is, and that must be controlled but it is still cheaper than war. One of the things I would like to see is an increase in the number of combat troops so they don’t have to be deployed so often. Maybe we would see much less PTSD. The cost of PTSD is high in both money and agony to our soldiers and their loved ones. Besides, if the world blows up, we will need all the troops that we can get. Right now, we are in the same place we were in 1940.
New York State has long been a cauldron of anti-gun witches brew and the latest offering is no exception. State Senator Kevin Parker has drafted legislation that would allow a person’s social media accounts to be reviewed from the previous three years to see if they are “fit” to purchase a firearm. This is a clear infringement on your Second Amendment rights. Of course, the left loves this idea. I am sure we will see a similar proposal in Illinois.
The holidays are over and the icy winds of winter are sweeping through the towns, cities and prairies of Illinois as 2019 is beginning. The outdoor shooting season is mostly over except for a few shotgunners and hunters. Don’t worry, spring will be here before you know it. In the meantime, there are lots of activities that you can do. You can start by cleaning all those guns you have been shooting all season. It would also be a good idea to check over all those guns you don’t shoot that often.
Don’t forget the heirlooms that were entrusted to you by dad, Uncle Charlie and others (in my case, my mother’s shotgun which took many pheasants over the years). It is particularly nice to recall those treasured memories as we handle those firearms. It is all part of the shooting tradition; don’t forget to relay those memories to others.
For those who reload, it is clear what you have to do to get ready for the next shooting season. You have a lot of work to do and if you don’t start now you might not make it. It is easy to put all those chores off until tomorrow but if you do that too often, tomorrow will be your first match and you won’t be ready.
One great thing that has happened in Illinois over the past few years is the number of indoor shooting ranges that have been built. A number of those ranges have winter shooting leagues as well as practice times available. There is nothing better for you than a dose of “powder therapy” after a hard day, week at work, or if you are fighting the terrible contagion of cabin fever.
Many ranges, shooting clubs and outdoor stores offer a variety of classes during the winter. You might find shooting classes, firearm maintenance classes as well as other classes which you can take advantage of. They all will improve your skills as a member of the shooting community, and then spring will suddenly arrive and you will be ready.
The anti-gun crowd is celebrating their wins both in Congress and in State Legislatures across the nation. It is clear by their requests for money on Giving Tuesday that they don’t give a hoot about your rights or the Second Amendment. The battle in the Spring Legislative Session is getting closer by the hour. The ISRA is doing everything possible to prepare for the coming attacks. IGOLD will be very important this year, please plan to attend Wed. March 27th.
The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms has petitioned the United States Supreme Court to review the ban on interstate handgun sales to law-abiding gun owners from other states. The first step is to petition the United States Supreme Court for Writ of Certiorari. That means the Justice will review the case to see if it merits consideration. If it grants the petition, the short hand term is receiving Cert.
The Justices will review the case to see if the case was argued well, contains all the necessary facts, and meets the very high standards for a case to be argued before the Supreme Court. Cases are often turned down because the original case was poorly done. If everything isn’t correct in the original case the Justices cannot make corrections. It is better to turn down a case than make a bad ruling that will bind the country.
The Democrats are now in control of the United States House of Representatives and Nancy Pelosi has stated that gun control is going to be one of their goals. California Congressmen Eric Swalwell (D-15) suggested, in a USA Today article, that Democrats will propose to confiscate or buy (a forced sale) semi-automatic firearms that would result in a war due to resistance, stating it would be a short war because the government has nukes. Conservative TV host John Cardillo posted a link of an NBC story dealing with Swalwell’s statements, adding that the Democrats want to eradicate the Second Amendment, seize all guns, and have the power rest in the state. The problem gun owners face is not in Congress alone, the same problem is in many state legislatures, including Illinois.
There are many problems to be sure, but too often we focus on the problems in America and ignore the benefits of being able to live in a free society. America is not a perfect country and we are not a perfect people but the opportunities that exist in our country is unprecedented in world history.
It is often frustrating to be on the front lines defending our Constitution. The 2nd Amendment is part of our Constitution and yet every day, there are new threats to our liberty. Perhaps, defending the Constitution should not be necessary but being in a country with a Constitution worth defending is something for which we should all give thanks.
The Illinois State Rifle Association will continue to stand up for our Constitutional rights, all of us here at the ISRA will take some time off to give thanks to God for the good things He has done for this nation. Defending the Constitution is a full-time occupation, but we all should be thankful for the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. The enemies of freedom will always try to chip away at these rights, but they can only go so far because of our Constitution.
The recent election in Illinois spells trouble for those of us who value the 2nd Amendment and it will take time and money to win the upcoming battles in Springfield and in the courts, but our Constitution makes it much harder for the gun grabbers to be successful. Elections may not always go the way we want them to go, but our Constitution is the backstop that protects our rights.
As we go into the New Year 2019 must keep us all strong!
Thanks for being a member.
Find Upcoming Events on ISRA Calendar visit www.isra.org
Mark your Calendar for IGOLD 2019
on Wednesday, March 27
