On the litigation front, we are still waiting for the Seventh Circuit to give us a decision on the Harrel et al v. Raoul lawsuit which deals with the new Illinois gun ban.  Whatever the decision is, we will be on the way to the Supreme Court of the United States.

The Governor has signed HB0218 now known a PA 103-0559.  This new law forbids any advertising that could be construed as being aimed toward kids.  Of course, this sets up firearm manufacturers for all kinds of frivolous laws which will most likely be funded by anti-gun groups.  This bill also endangers all kinds of youth shooting programs which teach kids gun safety, marksmanship, and responsibility.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation has filed suit against the State of Illinois, in the United States Court for the Southern District of Illinois.  The case is known as the National Shooting Sports Foundation v Raoul. I expect more lawsuits to be filed against the State of Illinois as time goes on.

The last of the results are in from the NRA National Matches.

Mike James cleaned up in the High Power Rifle championships.  He was High Grand Senior across the course, High Grand Senior in Service Rifle, High Grand Senior in Mid Range, and High Grand Senior in Long Range.

In the NRA National Smallbore matches Jim Miller was High Master overall.  He also made two international teams, representing the United States on the Dewar Team and the Wakefield Team.

The days are starting to get noticeably shorter. If you do much driving, you can see the trees starting to get greater and greater variations in color, with greens beginning to start to turn yellow. Fall is just around the corner…

Now is the time to get ready for hunting season. I have checked a few stores and they have deer slugs on the shelf. Now is the time to buy. Most stores have a limit as to how many you can buy. I would get them before they are gone.

There are a variety of new hunting loads for the fall 2023 hunting season. I would spend some time and check them out. With the use of straight walled cartridges being legal in Illinois, these cartridges may be an excellent choice for new hunters. The Remington 360 Buckhammer and the Winchester 350 Legend may offer less recoil for some hunters. They are worth checking out. Winchester has a new 400 Legend, but I do not know the availability for the fall 2023 hunting season. Like anything else that has more power, it will have more felt recoil. I have noticed a few new shot loads for waterfowl hunters and upland game hunters. More about these new loads next week. You will need to look them over and find what is best for you and where you hunt.

I have found that you can have the best gun and the best ammunition, but it you don’t practice they don’t matter very much. Everyone needs to spend time at the range or shooting trap, skeet or sporting clays to sharpen their shooting skills. Plan on going to the range several times, not just once. It is better to shoot 10 boxes of shells in 10 different practice sessions, than to shoot 10 boxes of shells in one practice session. Now is the time to start.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed and remanded the Vivian Brown case, which could decide the constitutionality of the FOID Card. The ISRA has long awaited a case that could decide this issue. If you will recall, the Brown case began six years ago. Vivian Claudine Brown is a frail lady who was afraid of being attacked by a former domestic partner. Ms. Brown obtained a single shot .22 rifle to defend herself. She did not have a FOID Card. Someone turned in Ms. Brown knowing she did not have a FOID card. The police came to her house and arrested Ms. Brown and charged her with unlawful use of a weapon. Ms. Brown was represented by a Public Defender who argued her case in White County on constitutional grounds. The White County Judge agreed. The State of Illinois appealed the case. Because the case dealt with a civil rights issue, it went directly to the Illinois Supreme Court. The Court remanded the case back to White County twice stating that common law and constitutional issues were mixed together. Those issues are now separated. Finally, the Brown case made it to the Fifth Circuit in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. They remanded the case and now the issue of the constitutionality of the FOID card can be argued.

The Public Defender cannot argue Ms. Browns case beyond White County. The ISRA and the Second Amendment Foundation have argued and paid for the case on Ms. Brown’s behalf. This is one of the many reasons you should be an ISRA member!

The State of Colorado passed a law in the Spring Session that raised the age to purchase a firearm from 18, 19 or 20, to 21. Some courts have held that a person’s civil rights are vested at age 18. The Rocky Mountain Gun Owners asked the court to enjoin the State of Colorado from enforcing the new law. The Court has issued a Temporary Restraining Order against the State of Colorado. This case will undoubtedly move up the line.

Fox News has reported Congressmen Dan Beyer (D-VA) and several other Democrats are going to propose a 1000 percent excise tax on so-called “assault weapons and magazines.” This means your $500 AR-15 will cost $5000 and you $30 magazines will cost $300. The power to tax is the power to destroy. One of the grievances against Great Britain was taxation without representation. It turns out taxation with representation isn’t such a hot idea either.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Texas issued a stay on the ATF rule on unfinished frames and receivers in the VanDerStok v Garland lawsuit. Theses frames and receivers are used by hobbyists to build their own firearms. Now the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has overturned that stay in a 5 to 4 decision. While disappointing, this lawsuit is far from over. The Fifth Circuit can still hear the entire case and rule on the merits. Most people are guessing the Fifth Circuit will rule on the side of the plaintiffs. I am sure that this case will be heard by SCOTUS in the end.

Paula Lambert and Marissa Hughes both made the Randle Team, which is the international women’s team.  Marissa also received an award for outstanding marksmanship skills at the National Matches.

The ISRA Gold Women’s team took Second Place in the two-person team event at the NRA National Matches.  The team was made up of Claudia Boothe, Amanda Ehler and Jennifer Yoder.  Two Person teams can have four people on them who serve as team captains, coaches or alternate firing members.

Attorney Thomas Maag of Madison County, announced his intention to file suit against the Illinois gun ban (PICA) on Fifth Amendment grounds.  The claim is that to be forced to register a firearm the State of Illinois has declared illegal is a form of self-incrimination.  It is my understanding, there is precedence to support this suit in the Supreme Court of the United States in prior rulings.  We will see.

In another Second Amendment Foundation lawsuit, SAF, et al v ATF, et al, the Fifth Circuit has ruled the “Final Rule” on pistol braces is “likely illegal” because the Biden Administration and ATF violated the Administrative Procedures Act.  This is a victory for the SAF and other plaintiffs.  I am personally shocked, shocked I tell you, that the Biden Administration and ATF would have such a blatant disregard for the rights of citizens they disagree with. One would think, they think they are God Almighty.

Just a reminder the Supreme Court of the United States goes back in regular session on the first Monday in October.