October is here with deer hunters actively in the woods…As Jackie Gleason used to say at the beginning of his Saturday Night comedy show, and away we go!  I expect the Presidential Campaign to heat up very quickly.  For a long time, we were only seeing Donald Trump signs, but now Biden-Harris signs are popping up.  Both campaigns are at a full gallop.  For those who want to know how far away the election is, we have put a countdown to the election clock on the ISRA website on the bottom of the home page. 

The shooting of two California police officers, by an unknown assailant at the time of this writing, has prompted Joe Biden to call for more gun control.  Joe ‘always on top of the situation’ Biden called for a ban on semiautomatic rifles.  The assailant used a handgun but Biden dutifully read from his script.  In the past, you may recall Biden called for a ban of magazines that held 100 clips.  Yes, you read it correctly.  Make no mistake; Biden wants to ban them all.

Protesters outside the hospital where the policemen were being treated protested the treatment of the officers and hoped they would die.  While this is disgusting, it shows the ilk we will be facing if Biden wins.  If you recall, Biden was for defunding the police but now says he is against the idea.  We have a serious case of ‘I was for it before I was against it’.  This is good of example of political double talk.

Biden will be obedient to the teleprompter and a tool of the mob (or as I prefer to call them, the left wing’s militia).  If Biden gets in we will see the police defunded and bans on firearms that individuals can use to defend themselves.  We have only 46 days before the election.

The ISRA has the privilege of hosting the Drew Cup Smallbore (.22 rimfire) Rifle Match.  The Drew Cup is held in honor of William Drew who was a British rifle competitor from the middle of WWI until the end of WWII.  This event pits the best United States Junior Smallbore competitors against the best British Junior Smallbore competitors. This year, the United States will hold its portion of the match on October 17, 2020, at the ISRA Range in Bonfield.  Once this match is fired, the results are certified by witnesses.  The British will do the same thing on their side of the Atlantic.  The results will then be compared and the winner announced.  This is the first time the ISRA has hosted this national/international event. Every ISRA member should be proud that we have been chosen for this world class event.  Thanks to all those dedicated instructors, coaches, juniors and our wonderful range volunteers who made this possible.

I know many of you are concerned about the litigation the ISRA is involved in.  Disappointingly, nothing is moving right now.  I expect nothing to happen until after the November election.  The same is true for what is going on in Springfield.  The General Assembly is not scheduled to meet until the week before Thanksgiving and if the Coronavirus is still around, I don’t expect them to meet then.  Like many of you, it would not surprise me if the Coronavirus would mysteriously subside after the election.

We were all encouraged when a three judge panel of the Ninth Circuit ruled the California magazine ban was in conflict with the Second Amendment.  As expected, California Attorney General Becerra has requested an En Blanc hearing (which means the full court will hear the case) on the California magazine ban.  We will see.

As I have said for gun owners, it’s all on the line.  Remember that and act accordingly.  Early voting starts on September 24th so if you are not registered, get it done right away.  The nomination of Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize should boost his chances for re-election among undecided voters and maybe a few Democrats.  While the left’s anti-military stances and their redistribution of wealth schemes appeal to some, it is Trump’s strong military polices that have actually caused more peace in the Middle East than we have seen in 50 years.  Good for you Mr. President.

By the time this is over we will all be happy to return to inane TV ads for car insurance, Medicare supplements, pillows, sheets, prescription drugs, and other things that cause the mute button on our remotes to wear out.  In all seriousness, we only have a few days left to election.  Scary.

I regard the Illinois State Rifle Association and its members as Guardians of the Second Amendment.  At times like these we have to become more than guardians, we must become warriors for the Second Amendment.  While there are more than 5,000,000 new gun owners in the United States, that is only a repudiation of the anti-gunners’ arguments but it doesn’t necessarily mean they answer the call at the voting booth.  We all must to get them to the voting booth for a vote for Second Amendment candidates.  There is not a lot of time.

This year the Gun Rights Policy Conference will be virtual; the title is Elect Freedom.  You will be able to view it online.   All 120 speakers have recorded a section.  Normally those speakers which give updates about what is going on in their states or territories get five minutes.  Lucky for you, my report was only four minutes and nine seconds.   It was broadcast the weekend of the 19th and 20th.  Go to Google Gun Rights Policy Conference and register online.  It will be worth your time.

The case of Kyle Rittenhouse is complicated.  There is no question that Kyle Rittenhouse was attacked.  Rittenhouse did an excellent job of keeping control of his rifle and prevented rioters from seizing it.  The rioters would have beaten and killed Rittenhouse if they could have.  There is no question in my mind that Kyle Rittenhouse shot in self-defense.  It should be noted that at this time, none of those who attacked him have been charged or arrested.

The media immediately cried vigilantism but there is more to it than that.  Throughout the land, I believe, American citizens are fed up with watching cities being burned, looted, businesses destroyed, innocent citizens attacked, fearing for their own lives and the lives of their children.  We all know our community, our neighborhood, ourselves and our families could be next.  We also know that nothing will be done to these rioters.  As I have said before, these people are the militia of the left and are protected by left wing politicians and the media.  In Minnesota, Biden’s campaign staff paid for rioter’s bail.  Someone is also funding them and coordinating their activities.  This is sedition and should be treated as such.

I think at this point, some of the liberal mayors are seeing the ANTIFA crowd getting out of their control and they are beginning to fear them.  They should.  They will learn the lesson of what happens when you engage in the practice of appeasement.  Paraphrasing Winston Churchill: Appeasement is feeding the crocodile hoping you will be the last to be eaten.  In the end, those who practice appeasement will be eaten nevertheless.

All this is part of the movement to turn the United States into a socialist Country which will destroy the United States.

Once again, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) has reported record breaking numbers for August.  This year, every month has broken a record for the same month previously.  In all, there were 3,115,063 NICS checks in August.  Of this, 46% were for new and renewing concealed carry licenses.  Who would have believed 20 years ago that we would see about 1,433,000 background checks for concealed carry licenses in a month and approximately 1,682,000 gun purchases in August, no less.  The National Shooting Sports Foundation reports that 40% of new firearm purchases are first time buyers.   That is roughly 682,800 new gun owners in August.  More importantly, this has been going on month after month after month.  Once again, I urge instructors, ranges, and firearms dealers to make every effort to accommodate these people and make them feel welcome in the gun owning community.

Do these new people a favor and invite them out to shoot with you.  When you do, there are a few things you should remember.  These people are new so when you explain things to them, don’t use jargon.  Very carefully and patiently explain what each term means.  They need simple stuff, not a lecture in ballistic coefficients.  Secondly, start them out with a .22, not some hand cannon you think is cool.  Be aware that many of these people may not have a lot of upper body strength and they will tire quickly.  

Start them off on a sandbag or rest, sitting at a table or bench.  Give them the 10 basic rules of gun safety to take home after you review each rule with them.  Fifty rounds is enough for the first time.  I like to start people on a nice paper plate at five yards.  I have taught quite a few people, particularly women, and the system works.

The demand for firearms, ammunition and training classes remains high.  There are many who have applied for a FOID card but have not gotten it yet.  If you are still waiting for your FOID, don’t let that stop you from taking a class.  Anyone can take firearm training classes as long as you are not a prohibited person.

Fall harvest is beginning and that means deer will be moving and driving will become challenging.  Deer move all the time but tend to be really active when the moon is up.  October will be very busy because it is a Blue Moon month.  That means there will be two Full Moons in October, the 1st and 31st.  The Dark of the Moon comes on the 16th but that is usually a very busy time during harvest so deer will be moving despite the lack of moon light.  Be sure to drive with your headlights and driving lights on to catch a reflection in their eyes. 

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