On May 16, 1945, President Harry S. Truman made the decision to go forward with an attack on Japan using an atomic bomb. Two months later a plutonium based atomic bomb was successfully tested near Alamogordo, New Mexico. This was known as the Trinity Test. The United States developed two types of bombs, a uranium based bomb and a plutonium based bomb. Scientists were sure the uranium based bomb would work but they were unsure about the plutonium based bomb because little was known about plutonium, a trace element found in uranium. The plutonium core was about the size of a grapefruit but much more powerful. The project name for the development of the atomic bomb was the Manhattan Project. The cost was two billion dollars, about what the government pays for a toilet seat today.
Kathleen Willis’s draconian FOID card bill was posted to Committee as SB1966. SB1966 was a Public Defender Bail Program bill. The bill was hijacked and it will be amended which will turn the bill into HB96 FA1. Since this bill has already passed the Senate, if this bill passes the House all that needs to happen is the Senate has to concur with the House and the bill will be on the Governor’s desk. There will be no hearings in the Senate.
Remember, the title of SB1966 will remain the same so don’t be fooled. The original sponsors may also change. This is the kind of General Assembly trickery that we expected. This is the most dangerous bill we have ever faced.
This Legislative Session has revealed the true intent of the anti-gun crowd to even the blindest of gun owners. We have seen the introduction of a bill with universal ammunition taxes, the introduction of a ban that includes every type of semi-auto firearm including .22s, and a FOID card bill that would literally make it impossible for most people to have a FOID card. In the past there were some gun owners who did not come to the defense of others gun owners because it did not affect them. It has always been clear to many of us that everything is on the table and the anti-gun crowd wants it all. Now it should be clear to all gun owners. This is not an Illinois problem alone. Cory Booker, Senator from New Jersey who is running for President, has even more outlandish proposals.
Cuckoo Cory Booker’s proposals come right out of the anti-gunner’s playbook that we see here in Illinois. They include but are not limited to: a National FOID card that is only good for five years, requiring gun owners to apply for those cards at designated locations; fingerprinting on all gun owners who are completing a firearm safety course; microstamping of ammunition; banning high capacity magazines; one gun a month; lost and stolen firearm reporting; higher funding for the ATF to investigate firearm dealers; investigating the NRA’s tax status and on and on it goes. Cory Booker may be just another cookie cutter anti-gun crackpot but, nevertheless, he and others like him are dangerous. Don’t ever underestimate them.
We must fight tooth and nail to hold on to what we have. When the 2020 elections arrive, every gun owner must participate. We have to hold the United States Senate, take back the United States House of Representatives and support President Trump. As Benjamin Franklin said, “We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”
The National Rifle Association Annual Meeting (NRAAM) has concluded after a somewhat contentious members meeting. Of course, the media is salivating at the idea of problems in the NRA. Is the NRA perfect? The answer is no, but then neither is any other organization. The NRA is about a million times better than Congress, for example.
Here are the facts that gun owners have to face. The NRA, private gun ownership and the Second Amendment have been under the heaviest, well-funded, well organized attacks in history and the attacks are likely to get worse. People like Michael Bloomberg, George Soros and others have it in for the NRA and you and me. Michael Bloomberg is attacking the NRA’s tax status. The NRA is a 501(c)4. The ISRA, ACLU, and AARP are among similar organizations with a 501(c)4 status. The reason the ISRA is a 501(c)4 is because the IRS assigned that status to us. Bloomberg is trying to make it a big deal not because he can win, but because he wants to create dissension among the members and the public, as well as cost the NRA a ton of money.
The NRA was founded in New York in 1871 and is a New York corporation. The slimy Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, and his slimy Attorney General, Letitia James, are called left wingers in polite society. In a not such polite society, they are just plain old communists.
Gabby Gifford is busy fundraising and using these funds to splinter gun owners away from the NRA. An example is Minnesota Gun Owners for Safety. Their purpose is to allow the anti-gun main stream media to report there is dissension among gun owners. This is a well-funded front group like the Moms and Everytown. They are aimed at the general public who doesn’t understand gun ownership. These are just a few examples of the attacks.
The flap over the internal situation at the NRA is being promoted by these groups and the main stream media to try to tear the NRA apart. We are in a battle and fortunately we have two battle hardened leaders like Wayne LaPierre and Chis Cox in charge. They are just what we need right now. My advice to all those keyboard commandos is to stop attacking the NRA and attack the real enemy. My answer to the cry for new leadership is that there is no one better qualified than Wayne LaPierre and Chris Cox.
While we are on the topic of leadership, I could not be more pleased with the choices for NRA President, First Vice President and Second Vice President. I have been fortunate enough to sit on a Committee chaired by President Carolyn Meadows and with First Vice President Joseph L. Cotton. I personally know Second Vice President Willis Lee. There are no finer people on the planet than these folks. Just because the NRA is in good hands does not mean they can do it alone. We all must stand with them to make this perilous time result in a good outcome.
The ISRA had a membership booth at the NRAAM. It was great to see everyone who stopped by. We have registered for a booth in Nashville, Tennessee for 2020. Nashville is a little smaller so if you are going to attend, get your housing lined up now. Bring your walking shoes. I walked 18.2 miles in Indianapolis. As I said before, it is the world’s largest family reunion.
While at the NRAAM, I talked to several policemen who were at the convention center. The police requirements were so great that dozens of surrounding departments had to supply officers to watch over the attendees. They told me that crime was down in Indianapolis and the suburbs. This always happens when the NRAAM comes to town. A few years ago, I was in our booth in Nashville on Sunday afternoon. Three Nashville police officers came by to see what we were all about. I asked them why they weren’t out fighting crime and corruption. They laughed and told me that crime was down everywhere in Nashville, in some areas as much as 75%. In Indianapolis there were 6125 incidents reported and exactly none involved NRA members. One drunken protester was arrested for throwing his cell phone at President Trump. There were probably at least 100,000 guns, or more, there and crime was down. Hmmm, maybe the City of Chicago should ask the NRA to hold the Annual Meeting on the Southwest side. Just a thought.
The anti-gunners took it on the chin on Tuesday. New York City (NYC) asked the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) to stay the challenge to the draconian NYC gun laws mounted by the Second Amendment Foundation. SCOTUS said NO!
Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership (JPFO) maintains the JPFO Gun Confiscation Clock. The clock now shows 12 minutes to midnight, a loss of two minutes. The reason for this is the introduction of H.R. 8 and HB 1112 in the United States House of Representatives. Last month I referred to the anti-gun pushes in the traditionally pro-Second Amendment States. This is what happens when gun owners take things for granted.
The Gun Sanctuary County movement continues to march along. The most recent is Polk County, Tennessee. I know what you are thinking, why in Tennessee? Well, things are not all roses and daffodils in Tennessee either. Anti-gunners are trying to dig in there also. Polk County brings the number of Gun Sanctuary Counties to more than 200 throughout the Country. There are more than 6000 counties in the United States.
The Effingham County Board has voted 8-1 to host discussions on coordinating efforts on making “New Illinois” the 51st State. Last Saturday, I attended a pro-Second Amendment Rally in Salem, Illinois. The Rally was attended by 410 people. When the topic of separation from Chicago came up, the crowd rose to give the speaker, Representative Brad Holbrook, a standing ovation. There will be more to come on this topic.
Massad Ayoob is a longtime friend of the Illinois State Rifle Association. On June 6, 7, 8 and 9, Massad will be presenting his famous MAG-40 class at the ISRA Range in Bonfield, Illinois. Bonfield is near Kankakee where there are excellent hotels and eating establishments. The cost for the class is $800 but if you are an ISRA member, you receive a 10% discount ($720). The other great part of this class is you don’t have to drive a couple of days or fly somewhere to get top notch training. Lunch is provided each day. If you have special dietary needs you will have let us know. We will try to accommodate you but, if not, you will need to bring your lunch. There are openings available at this time.
The Illinois State Rifle Association has won 16 court challenges in a row. The Illinois State Rifle Association Legal Assistance Committee is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization. You can make a tax-deductible donation to the ISRA-LAC online or by mailing your contribution to ISRA-LAC, PO Box 494, Chatsworth, IL, 60921-0494.
See paqe 45 for membership application and more details on SB1966 and how it will affect your gun rights! Its very important to contact your legislators to protest this bill!
www.ISRA.org
Thanks for your support!
