Gun sales are breaking records month after month. The number of new firearm owners grows by the thousands not only in Illinois, but everywhere. These new gun owners understand that what we are seeing in the streets may soon come to their front door. Everyone needs to get their head out of the sand and get ready. The new gun owners need training and so do a lot of the old gun owners, by the way. Every instructor, NRA, USCCA, and Concealed Carry, needs to be offering and advertising classes right now.
These people need your help and you need to be stepping up to the plate. The ISRA is developing a list of instructors throughout the state. If you are an instructor and want to be on that list, please get you credentials together.
The ISRA Range is a laboratory for developing classes to meet the needs of today’s gun owner. Examples are the AR15 Maintenance Class, the Introduction to the AR15 Class and the Defense Tactics for Handgun Course. If you are interested in any of these classes, email us at member@isra.org.
The Second Amendment was dealt a disappointing blow on June 15th when the U.S. Supreme Court denied Writ of Certiorari for all 10 Second Amendment cases that were asking to be heard. One of those cases was Wilson vs Cook County, an ISRA case, which we have been working on for 18 years. Thousands of hours of research and legal fees went into this case alone. The other, Culp vs. Raoul, also an ISRA case, was another important case dealing with Second Amendment issues across state lines. The other 8 cases were from other states and were all important in their own individual ways. In my opinion, the reason these cases were denied is because Chief Justice Roberts is weak on Second Amendment issues. While this is a setback, it is better than to have the rulings go the wrong way. Justice Thomas and Justice Kavanaugh are stalwarts on Second Amendment issues and have fought for us diligently. This does not mean that we are going to quit. We will have new cases moving forward soon. What this does mean is that every gun owner in the U.S. better support the re-election of Donald Trump. We have to get more conservative Judges on the Supreme Court. I warned everyone a long time ago that this is going to be a long and hard fight with twist and turns that seem to come at the most inopportune times. The ISRA never gives up, we just reload and go right back at it.
The Minneapolis City Council is leading the way on defunding the Minneapolis Police Department. There are a few other cities following behind. These police departments will be replaced by some form of community public safety committee which will reflect the values of the community. What does that mean? That means the mob will run the show and, so far, they have only shown the willingness to destroy, not build. They shout and complain but with no experience or even desire to maintain order. This idea and these people are trouble and they want to be trouble; if they succeed we are headed for a dark future. What will happen if the police are defunded is that a vacuum will be created. The mob says the police roll will be filled by the so called Public Safety Committees and Social Workers. What that means is that if you or someone in your family is robbed, beaten, raped, or murdered, the social worker will commiserate with you or tell you how sorry everyone is and the perpetrators will get a good talking to if they are ever caught.
What will happen is the rule of law will collapse and groups like the Nazi Brown Shirts will rise just as they did in Germany in the 1920s. Those leaders will rise to simply crush any resistance or thought that is not approved of. People like you and me will either have to join them or fight them. Militias will have to be formed to fight them. All this is a very grim but it could happen.
Remember when the Coronavirus hit and the President tried to be in charge? A great mournful howl came from some governors and big city mayors. They said that was their jurisdiction and it was. When they took over, it was an exercise in incompetence. Edict after idiotic edict rolled out of their mouths. They let criminals out of jail who immediately went back to their old ways of robbery, rape and murder. Those criminals are now happily looting and rioting because they know nothing will happen to them.
Then when the riots began, using the death of George Floyd as cover, those same governors and mayors, who demanded the Coronavirus situation was under their authority, vacillated and dithered. The riots are a lot harder to deal with than the Coronavirus and even worse, there was no trough of public money to belly up to and get a share. Leadership means you lead during the hard times but these governors and mayors were only masquerading as leaders. Now the President may have to step in and make the hard decisions and do what those same gutless governors and mayors will criticize. Of course, the lame street media will pile on.
What we have all observed with these rioters is that they are highly organized and well-funded by someone. The question is who is that person or persons? The rioters always follow the protesters or mix in with them. How do all these rioters get there? Someone is paying them, paying their expenses and paying their bail to get out of jail.
In the Chicago area, a woman was arrested for rioting. A week ago, this woman was living in a homeless shelter in Dallas, Texas; a week later, she is in Chicago. How did she get there, she didn’t walk. Then there is the matter of hundreds, maybe thousands, of pallets of bricks, some sawed in half for easier throwing, delivered conveniently to all the locations that rioters would go by, not to mention the stashes of hammers, crowbars and tools hidden nearby. “Who” not only pays these people’s bail but also pays attorneys to represent them. It is obvious that we are facing an ANTIFA organization that exists to destroy the U.S. as we know it. I am also sure there are some mayors, governors and other public officials in on it. Do not sell these people short. The United States hasn’t been in this much danger since the Civil War.
June 8th was the anniversary of the death of Benjamin T. Henry, inventor of the Henry Rifle. Henry sold out to Oliver Winchester in 1866. The Henry Rifle was patented in 1860 before the Civil War started but it wasn’t available for general distribution until July 1862. Abraham Lincoln was one of the first owners of a Henry Rifle. Despite the fact that several of Lincoln’s Cabinet members own a Henry, the War Department wouldn’t buy any of them. In the eyes of the War Department, there were two problems. First, it cost more than twice as much as a musket; second, they feared the soldiers would use too much ammunition.
Of course, the fact that a soldier with a Henry Rifle could fire five or six times more effectively as a soldier with a musket was ignored. In the long run, the Henry and Spencer repeating rifles would have shortened the war and saved many lives. Until the 1890s, soldiers were only allowed to have five rounds of ammo a month for practice. For every round over five they fired, they were fined $1.00. That was a pretty hefty fine for a guy making $13.00 a month. Where Henry rifles were used in the Civil War, they made a huge difference. Some regiments bought their own Henrys. Eventually, 1731 rifles were purchased by the government. The 7th Illinois Infantry carried Henry Rifles. In fact, Illinois troops had more repeating rifles, including the Spencer repeating rifles, than any other state but they were kept home because the War Department wanted to show them off in parades. This is why the term Military Intelligence is an oxymoron. Whatever the case, Benjamin T. Henry’s rifles changed the history of the U.S. He is a man worth remembering.
On June 14th, 1775, the U.S. Army was founded, known in those days as the Continental Army. I would like to wish Happy 245th Birthday to the U.S. Army and thank you to all those who have served or are serving. This includes not only those serving full time, but also the U.S. Army Reserve and the Army National Guard. You are all doing a great job.
On June 19, 1952, the U.S. Army Special Forces was created. On June 20, 1924, Audie Murphy was born. Audie Murphy was the most decorated soldier in WWII. Who was the second most decorated soldier In WWII? Nevil Brand from Kewanee, Illinois.
I have been receiving calls on H.R. 5717. This Resolution is in the U.S. House of Representatives. Proposed laws at the federal level are called resolutions unlike the state level where they are called bills. Resolutions at the state level are advisory. The title of H.R. 5717 is misleading, as always. It is known as the Gun Violence Prevention and Community Safety Act of 2020. In fact, the title is simply a lie. If passed, this resolution would increase taxes 30% on firearms and 50% on ammunition. The money, they say, would be used for gun violence prevention. That is just double talk. What it would actually do is provide money for anti-gun programs and make firearm owners pay for it. Call your Congressman and ask them to oppose this resolution.
Make your reservations now! There are a few openings available for this upcoming class: July 18-19, MTG Tactical Defensive Rifle, Kankakee, IL – $500. Contact Andy Kemp at andy1911@imaxmail.net or call 208-771-3413. See: MidwestTrainingGroup.net
Philip Hemphill’s Bullseye Clinic (July 18 & 19), MTG’s Advanced Handgun Skills (August 22 & 23) and the CMP Rifle Marksmanship 101 Training Course (September 25-27). Class size is limited to 20 students. Make your reservations now with laura@isra.org.
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Send Donations & Membership checks to: Illinois State Rifle Assn
PO Box 637 * Chatsworth, IL 60921
Call with questions: (815) 635-3198
Email: member@isra.org