Fox 32 (Chicago Area) to "expose" Sparta's World Shooting Center tonight on 9pm news

A member saw a teaser for tonight's news on Fox 32 to include losses incurred at the World Shooting Center in Sparta. The center is the IDNR's crown jewel of the shooting sports. Be aware that the IDNR has staffing and budget issues.

Is this timed to be opposition to firearms and the second amendment? Watch and find out. Fox 32 is available in the Chicago metro area and on the web.

If you can't watch on your TV, try the Fox 32 stream. 

Posted Mon May 13 14:59:14 CDT 2013

State police prepping for concealed carry law

SPRINGFIELD — Even though lawmakers have been unable to agree on a plan allowing Illinoisans to carry concealed weapons, the Quinn administration has launched the process of building a computer system designed to handle future gun permits.

State purchasing documents show the Illinois State Police is spending $175,000 to begin automating the process used to identify people who will be prohibited from getting permits.

The contract, which is a part of a long-sought overhaul of the state’s beleaguered Firearm Owner’s Identification card program, represents just one piece of the additional manpower and computer upgrades state police officials say they’ll need to bring Illinois in compliance with a federal court order allowing citi-zens to carry concealed firearms ...

Read the whole story in the Southern Illinoisan. 

Posted Sun May 12 13:52:41 CDT 2013

Illinois: Last holdout on concealed gun
They are reading about Illinois across the nation

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The courts, the Capitol and the clock are complicating a debate over how to end the prohibition on carrying concealed firearms in Illinois.

There are fewer than 30 days to go before a judicial deadline for developing a framework on allowing public weapons possession in the only state that currently has a ban. Attempts at legislative remedies failed in the House late last month, including one endorsed by the National Rifle Association that could resurface. Senators may try a version of their own as early as this week.

Sen. Kwame Raoul, a Chicago Democrat, is refining an earlier concealed-carry proposal that drew gun owners' derision last month. Discussions with Senate Democrats could produce a consensus plan that could get a vote within days, spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon said.

A federal court order in December that found the ban unconstitutional set a June 9 deadline for solving the problem. The question divides lawmakers along geographical and political lines and even splits the two chambers — both led by Democrats ...

Read the whole story in SFGate.com  

Posted Sun May 12 13:51:22 CDT 2013

THE FOOLISHNESS CONTINUES - Dart Proposes May-Issue Cook County CCW

As many readers know by now, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart today announced that he would seek passage of a county concealed carry ordinance in the likely event that the Illinois General Assembly failed to pass a state-wide CCW law by the court-imposed June 9 deadline.

Under Dart’s proposal, law-abiding Cook County citizens would have to report to the sheriff’s office, hat in hand, and try to convince Dart that their lives were worth protecting. If Dart was feeling particularly benevolent that day, the citizen could then grease Dart’s palm with a $300 application fee before being subjected to who knows how many additional indignities at the hands of Dart’s political hacks. If the applicant survived this rigorous process, they’d be able to carry a concealed firearm under what promises to be the most restrictive concealed carry ordinance in the nation.

Dart’s proposal is an insult to the good people of Cook County. But, that is to be expected from a guy who spent a decade in the General Assembly carrying water for the gun control movement. What really raises eyebrows is Dart’s supposed reason for making the ordinance so restrictive. According to published reports, Dart wants to prevent Cook County from becoming like the “wild west.” Our only response is that the good sheriff should pick up a newspaper once in a while and read it.

Readers should note that the ISRA will never support any form of “may issue” concealed carry. Likewise, we will not support any proposal that carries exorbitant fees, useless red tape, or other features designed to discourage law abiding citizens from protecting themselves.

Remember...here is what you must do to ensure that “shall issue” concealed carry becomes reality:

1. Call your Illinois State Representative and Illinois State Senator. Politely tell the person on the phone that you are a law-abiding Illinois gun owner and that you will not support any form of “may issue” concealed carry. Politely inform the person that you expect the representative or senator to vote for “shall issue” concealed carry when it comes to a vote in their chamber. If you do not know who your State Representative or State Senator is, the Illinois State Board of Elections has an interactive search page here: /www.elections.state.il.us/DistrictLocator/DistrictOfficialSearchByAddress.aspx

If you already know who your legislators are and just need the contact info, you can find that here: www.ilga.gov/house/. and here: www.ilga.gov/senate/.

2. Pass this Alert on to your friends and family; tell them to make calls as well.

3. Post this alert to any and all Internet blogs or bulletin boards to which you belong.

4. Make a generous donation to the ISRA today...we need your financial help to win this war against the anti-gunners.

Remember – only you have the power to ensure victory for “shall issue” concealed carry!

Posted Wed May 8 00:38:24 CDT 2013

Press Release:
SAF Wins Permanent Injunction v. Public Housing Gun Ban In Illinois

BELLEVUE, Wash., May 2, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Second Amendment Foundation has won a permanent injunction against the Warren County, Ill. Housing Authority's ban on the possession of firearms by residents or guests.

The case was filed more than a year ago in U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Rock Island Division. Ronald G. Winbigler , a resident of Costello Terrace in Monmouth, is a physically disabled former police officer who wanted to keep a handgun in his residence for personal protection.

SAF filed the lawsuit on his behalf, and they were represented by attorney David Sigale , who noted, "People do not lose their Second Amendment rights just because they are of limited means. It is an indignity to make the waiver of constitutional rights a condition of government-subsidized housing."

SAF Executive Vice President Alan Gottlieb was delighted with the ruling.

"We brought this case because it was unconscionable," Gottlieb said, "in the wake of our victory in McDonald v. City of Chicago that a public entity in Illinois would engage in this kind of discrimination against a citizen. The WCHA has removed the lease provisions, and agreed that they were unconstitutional."

In an order signed by District Judge Sara Darrow , plaintiffs are awarded reasonable attorney's fees and costs. In her ruling, however, she did not make a constitutional declaration, but only recognized that SAF and the WCHA had agreed in that issue.

"Public housing is the last place one would expect to encounter residency provisions that run counter to the Bill of Rights," Gottlieb said. "We're delighted that this issue has been resolved to the benefit of Mr. Winbigler and citizens like him."

The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation's oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 600,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control.

This press released was posted on PRNewswire.  

Posted Thu May 2 21:46:13 CDT 2013

THE MADIGANS ARE PLAYING POLITICS WITH YOUR FAMILY'S SECURITY

As most readers know by now, the appeals court has directed the Illinois General Assembly to pass a concealed carry bill by June 9th. As might be expected, the leadership of the House and Senate have been employing every trick in the book to avoid complying with the court order.

The first stalling tactic came when Attorney General Lisa Madigan asked for a review of the decision by the full appellate court. The court refused and told the legislature to get back to work and pass a concealed carry law by the deadline.

Once Madigan's request was shot down, it was time for the General Assembly to work its own special brand of magic. Gun grabbers in the House introduced a "concealed carry" bill with a couple of dozen amendments containing foolish restrictions on concealed carry along with unacceptable gun control provisions.

After that came gun-hater Kelly Cassidy's "concealed carry" bill which was so insanely restrictive that it only garnered 31 votes in the House.

A few days after Cassidy's flop, the House voted on the ISRA-supported HB0997 carry bill. Unfortunately, the bill fell a few votes short of the supermajority requirement imposed by House Speaker Mike Madigan. Once again, the security of law-abiding Illinoisans took a back seat to the politics of gun control.

Meanwhile, over in the Senate, anti-gun Sen. Kwame Raoul was crafting a so-called "compromise" concealed carry bill. Under the provisions of this bill, applicants for concealed carry would pretty much have to surrender most of the protections they enjoy under the Bill of Rights. Furthermore, the bill would have given Cook County special powers to deny carry permits, even though the applicant had passed muster with the FBI and Illinois State Police. In other words, average citizens living in Cook County would be denied the right to defend themselves. Of course, it would be a different story for the county sheriff's political supporters.

Just yesterday, Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced that she has asked the U.S. Supreme Court for a 30-day extension for filing an appeal of the lower court's requirement that Illinois pass concealed carry. Madigan's latest stunt is purely political as she hopes to push back any action on concealed carry to a time where it becomes an issue in the 2014 elections. In essence, the political interests of the Madigan family trump the security of your family.

At the moment, we are not sure how all this will play out. There are numerous possibilities and, when your action is needed, we will alert you. So, keep an eye on your in-box.

You may rest assured that the ISRA will not waver in its commitment to deliver a "shall issue" carry bill. We will not accept any bill that denies people the right to self defense because of their ZIP Code. We will not accept any requirements that make it impossible for everyday law-abiding citizens to afford the cost of a permit in terms of either time or money. We will not accept any sort of "compromise" bill that bans semiautomatic firearms or limits magazine capacity or any of the other gun control garbage on the grabbers' wish list.

We will not accept any sort of "may issue" carry bill. The ISRA and its fellow litigants in the McDonald and Shepard cases did not go to the expense of trial just to bring home a half a loaf or less. In fact, any politician who votes for a "may issue" carry bill will instantly earn a grade of "F" - regardless of past voting record. Yes, our commitment to your security runs that deep.

In the mean time, here is what you need to do to help ensure that a "shall issue" carry bill passes:

1. Contact both your State Senator and your State Representative. Politely tell the person who answers the phone that you are a law-abiding Illinois gun owner and that you will not accept any "may issue" concealed carry bill or any bill that excludes Cook County or any other jurisdiction. Advise the person that you expect the Senator or Representative to vote for "shall issue" legislation such as that provided for in HB0997. If you do not know who your State Senator is, the Illinois State Board of Elections has an interactive search page here: www.elections.state.il.us/DistrictLocator/DistrictOfficialSearchByAddress.aspx

Once you know who your State Senator and State Representative are, you can find their contact info here: www.ilga.gov/senate/ and here: www.ilga.gov/house/

Posted Tue Apr 30 15:16:33 CDT 2013

ISRA Ranges are open!

...But there is a little standing water on pistol range #1, wear boots!

Posted Fri Apr 19 15:20:48 CDT 2013

ISRA-Supported HB0997 held for consideration after not getting a super-majority

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois House tonight defeated a concealed weapons proposal favored by gun rights advocates, a setback that could spur negotiations toward finding common ground with lawmakers who back gun control.

The legislation represented a signature showdown in the critical gun debate that is in the spotlight this spring because a federal appeals court has set an early June deadline for Illinois to put in place a concealed weapons law.

Under the proposal, guns could have been carried on mass transit buses and trains but banned from taverns, schools, casinos, stadiums, child-care facilities, universities and government buildings, including courthouses, legislative offices and the state Capitol.

Rep. Brandon Phelps, the legislature’s leading concealed carry advocate, challenged his colleagues to vote for what he viewed as reasonable parameters on where people could carry guns in public, who is allowed to carry, who decides whether a person is eligible and how much training should be required.

“This could be our last chance,” Phelps said, saying he had made changes to address numerous concerns of gun control lawmakers. “We keep giving and we keep giving and we keep giving.”

But the Phelps legislation needed to reach a three-fifths level of support because he is seeking to have a uniform state law that supersedes tighter home-rule ordinances desired by Cook County, Chicago and other large cities in Illinois. That meant it needed 71 of 118 lawmakers to vote in favor. The measure got 64 votes, however. Another 45 House members voted against and four voted present. ...

Read the whole story in Chicago Tribune. The bill is held for consideration and could be called for another vote.

Posted Fri Apr 19 03:44:31 CDT 2013

Concealed Carry Sparks Heated Debate

SPRINGFIELD -- Debate over concealed carry of guns in Illinois erupted on the floor of the general assembly in Springfield Wednesday, and Representative Mike Bost of Murphysboro was right in the middle of it.

The debate was over a concealed carry bill and amendment that would include the words "may issue" a concealed carry permit instead of "shall issue." Some house members, including Bost, think that little change in words would be a huge change in meaning.

"You bring a whole bill that has questions whether it is even constitutional," said Bost.

Republican Representative Mike Bost took issue with granting local police the discretion to allow concealed guns.

"This is not the bill everybody has talked on, everybody wants to see out here," said Bost. "It is a ploy."

Bost and others believed that wording would severely limit access to concealed carry permits.

However, when Democrat Representative Scott Drury of Highwood got up, the argument became even more heated. ...

Read the whole story @ WSIL TV. 

Posted Thu Apr 18 13:06:38 CDT 2013

Politicians are protected — but not the rest of us

Illinois — where politicians force law-abiding citizens to bring a bat to a gunfight.

An amazing video released Wednesday that shows a Chicago shopkeeper fighting for his life should be a commercial for Second Amendment rights in this, the only state that doesn’t allow citizens to carry a concealed handgun for protection.

The video, posted by the Tribune’s Breaking News Center, shows in vivid and frightening detail how armed thugs robbed a gift and sports store Tuesday in the Logan Square neighborhood.

You can see the gunman demand the money. You see the store owner’s brother-in-law with a gun to his head. You see the shots being fired, and the bat wielded by a wounded and desperate Luis Quizhpe, the 62-year-old proprietor who fought for his life.

“This video really shook me up, seeing that poor man fight for his life,” said Valinda Rowe, a spokesman for the Illinois Carry gun-rights group. A federal court has ruled that Illinois must rewrite its law to allow some sort of concealed carry, but Chicago Democrats in Springfield are trying to make that all but impossible.

“There are situations in the city where law-abiding people are at the mercy of thugs,” she said. “And the legislators from Chicago are trying to stop folks from protecting themselves: What are they thinking?

“All this gentleman had is a baseball bat. He’s totally at their mercy. What we’ve got is an emboldened criminal element because they know people in Chicago aren’t protected.” ...

Read the whole story at Chicago Tribune Mobile. 

Posted Fri Apr 12 10:27:26 CDT 2013

NRA-ILA:
U.S. Senate Sets Stage for Gun Control Votes

Today (April 11), by a vote of 68-31, the U.S. Senate voted to move forward with debate and votes on a variety of gun control proposals.

The underlying bill that will be considered by the Senate is S. 649, the so-called “Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013”. This bill would criminalize the private transfer of firearms by law-abiding citizens, requiring friends, neighbors and many family members to get government permission to exercise a fundamental right or face prosecution. It is expected that a number of amendments will be offered to S. 649, including a ban on commonly and lawfully-owned firearms and magazines and language to criminalize the private transfer of firearms through an expansion of background checks. This includes the misguided “compromise” proposal drafted by Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

NRA’s position on these proposals is unmistakably clear—we are unequivocally opposed to S. 649, the amendments mentioned above, and any other anti-gun amendments. As we have noted previously, expanding background checks at gun shows or elsewhere will not reduce violent crime or keep our kids safe in their schools. Given the importance of these issues, votes on all anti-gun amendments or proposals will be considered in NRA’s future candidate evaluations. ...

Read the whole story at NRA-ILA. 

Posted Fri Apr 12 06:51:28 CDT 2013

Someone forgot to tell Biden that it's not about hunting

Vice president Joe Biden this morning compared many gun owners to car lovers. “They just like the feel of that AR-15 at the range,” he explained, “it’s like driving a Ferrari.”

Biden distinguished gun owners who shoot at a range from hunters, whom he described as responsible gun owners. “There is a whole new sort of group of individuals now who – I don’t know what the numbers are – that never hunt at all,” Biden said, expressing concern over the latter group. ...

Read the whole story and watch the clip (video, not magazine!) @ NRO.com  

Posted Thu Apr 11 19:15:27 CDT 2013

PoliceOne Gun Control Survey: Are legally-armed citizens the best solution to gun violence?

When it comes to reducing gun violence in America, nobody else in the country has anything close to the experience-based perspective from which cops can speak.

PoliceOne has scored a major scoop in police journalism by conducting a survey of more than 15,000 law enforcers regarding their thoughts on gun control in America.

These men and women — most of whom actually work the street — have a front row seat to see gun violence in America. They put their lives at risk when they do their jobs, actually coming face-to-face with violent encounters involving firearms. ...

Read the whole story here.  from Policeone.com

Posted Tue Apr 9 09:18:25 CDT 2013

The Passing of Mark Larson

The ISRA mourns the loss of Rock River’s Mark Larson. He will be missed.

Funeral services celebrating Mark’s life will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 10, at Vandemore Funeral Home, Geneseo. Burial will follow in Dayton Corners Cemetery, Colona. Visitation will be 3-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.



Please view his obituary in the Quad City Times. 

Posted Mon Apr 8 15:15:44 CDT 2013

Denied: Gun Store Owner Refuses to Hand AR-15 Over to Mark Kelly

Washington DC - -(Ammoland.com)- Diamondback Police Supply owner Douglas MacKinlay has halted Mark Kelly’s attempted purchase of an AR-15 over concerns that Kelly was not in fact buying the gun for himself, and therefore could not have passed question 11a of the NICS background check form 4473.

You’ll recall Kelly’s AR-15 had been on hold for 20 days because it was a trade-in firearm, and during those 20 days Kelly has not been shy about the fact that his plan was to buy the gun and give it to someone else all along. ...

Read the whole story here  from Ammoland.com

Posted Thu Apr 4 09:29:36 CST 2013

IGOLD Raffle Winners drawn

Ticket Numbers:

First prize – Range Officer 1911 – 0380
Second prize – XDM .40 Cal – 1630
Third prize – XDM 9mm 3.8 barrel – 5330
Fourth prize – BSA 12x50 Binoculars – 0428


These were drawn on March 29th at 11:00 am with outside witnesses. Congratulations to the winners.

Posted Thu Apr 4 06:33:26 CST 2013

Obama has ‘credibility loophole’ on guns Obama has ‘credibility loophole’ on guns

Barack Obama is scheduled to drop in to Denver today to tout that state’s new, restrictive gun control laws, and he’s already facing a huge credibility problem with police, to say nothing of the Washington Post Fact-Check slap at his repeated claim that 40 percent of all gun transactions in this country happen without background checks.

The president will reportedly travel next week to Connecticut to gloat over that state’s pending new gun restrictions as well. Today Connecticut lawmakers are taking action on those proposals as Bellevue gun rights advocate Alan Gottlieb is coincidentally in neighboring Massachusetts speaking at a gun rights rally. ...

•Gun control •Barack Obama •Alan Gottlieb •Colorado •Connecticut •credibility . .

Advertisement

Barack Obama is scheduled to drop in to Denver today to tout that state’s new, restrictive gun control laws, and he’s already facing a huge credibility problem with police, to say nothing of the Washington Post Fact-Check slap at his repeated claim that 40 percent of all gun transactions in this country happen without background checks.

The president will reportedly travel next week to Connecticut to gloat over that state’s pending new gun restrictions as well. Today Connecticut lawmakers are taking action on those proposals as Bellevue gun rights advocate Alan Gottlieb is coincidentally in neighboring Massachusetts speaking at a gun rights rally. ...

Read the whole story here  from Dave Workman, examiner.com

Posted Wed Apr 3 12:39:04 CST 2013

ISRA Press Release:
One Rampage Too Many - Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy Has To Go

CHICAGO, March 31, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA):

The ISRA is once again calling upon Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to fire Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy . This latest call for McCarthy's ouster comes after a mob of young thugs - estimated to be in the hundreds - swarmed the Magnificent Mile shopping district Saturday night and began beating dozens of innocent shoppers. This latest mob action appears to be the most serious in a string of events over the past two years involving gangs of youths randomly attacking shoppers on North Michigan Avenue.

"Just like dyeing the Chicago River green on St. Patty's Day, cracking tourists' heads on North Michigan Avenue is becoming a Windy City tradition," commented ISRA Executive Director, Richard Pearson . "The first warm night of the year, and all hell breaks loose in the city's most tony shopping district. It should be clear to everybody by now that Supt. McCarthy has lost control of the city. What are things going to be like when the weather really heats up? What has to happen before Emanuel wakes up and gives the nod to a more effective top cop?"

"The ISRA has been cautioning folks against making Chicago a leisure time destination for a few years now," continued Pearson. "Unless you're the kind of person who wants to be terrorized, beaten, raped or robbed, then you should definitely find another place to vacation. For the law-abiding citizen, Chicago has become just too dangerous to visit."

"While vicious mobs have been busily destroying Chicago's tourism industry, Mayor Emanuel and Supt. McCarthy have been busy as well – vilifying law abiding firearm owners," said Pearson. "If they spent more time thwarting crime and less time trying to take guns away from hunters and sportsmen, then Chicago might be a better place in which to live and work."

"The sad events of Saturday night will certainly bolster efforts to pass concealed carry legislation down in Springfield," said Pearson. "Good people have a right to defend themselves against lawless thugs. I'm positive that the prospect of encountering armed citizens would make such flash mobs vaporize in a hurry."

The ISRA is the state's leading advocate of safe, lawful and responsible firearms ownership. For more than a century, the ISRA has represented the interests of millions of law-abiding Illinois firearm owners.

This press release is posted on PRNewswire.  

Posted Sun Mar 31 13:15:22 CST 2013

ISRA Range:
300 yard range is now open

The Thursday Bulletin has contained notice for several weeks about the temporary closure of the ISRA range, which is now open again.

Posted Mon Mar 25 11:33:34 CST 2013

Smile for the camera

One of our friends at IllinoisCarry.com created this image that compares the IGOLD march with an event that happened yesterday in the Thompson Center. Click on the image for higher resolution.



Posted Fri Mar 22 14:46:54 CST 2013

Springfield Report
Message from NRA Lobbyist Todd Vandermyde, 3/20/2013:

Another day, another debate. Yesterday the house spent almost 3 hours debating amendments to the carry bills.

A reworked magazine ban with a "grandfather" clause was filed. However, you must register yourself and your magazines with the state police. The State Police have unlimited rule making as to how to enforce is which could mean fees and or anything else they want, like fingerprints.

Staff had indicated late Monday that the magazine ban would be part of the special order on firearms on Tuesday. Your calls and our lobbying efforts thwarted that as they did not call the ban for a second vote. We believe they failed to call it because your calls are making the difference and they are still short votes.

While leadership is attempting to twist arms to find votes, your calls and emails are making the difference. Keep it up. We know that hearing that there is an impending vote at any minute, gets to be frustrating only to have the vote not take place. But such is the nature of the beast that we are forced to deal with. Chicago politicians control the process and can move things at a moment’s notice. All we can do is try to keep you, the members, informed as to the latest happenings at the capitol.

The fact that they schedule the magazine ban for a vote then don't follow through is a testament to your effectiveness and fact that you are among the most dedicated Second Amendment supporters in the country. The fact that you have held back the Chicago machine should be a badge of honor.

Keep it up and keep making those calls. Together we will prevail.

Posted Wed Mar 20 08:27:31 CST 2013

ISRA Press Release:
Survey Results Show Gun Owners Do Not Support Gun Control And Don't Trust Politicians

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., March 18, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA):

A weekend internet survey conducted by the ISRA reveals that gun owners solidly support the right to keep and bear arms and overwhelmingly reject gun control schemes currently before Congress and the Illinois General Assembly.

The survey was accessible from the ISRA's Internet page and was also distributed by way of the ISRA's e-mail alert service. In all, more than 4,500 individuals responded to the 50-question survey over a two-day period. Of those 4,500 respondents, 97% reported that they owned at least one firearm.

Survey results indicate that recent gun control proposals are not very popular with gun owners. No less than 99% of respondents expressed opposition to banning AR-15 style rifles. Similar majorities oppose banning AK-47 style rifles and other semiautomatic rifles, pistols and shotguns.

Proposed regulation of ammunition also failed to garner support among those surveyed. A full 99% of respondents oppose limits on how much ammunition a person could buy. Similar numbers oppose registration of ammunition purchases, microstamping of cartridges, and ammunition taxes to pay for crime victim medical bills. Contrary to what is reported in the media, 98% of gun owners surveyed oppose limits on the capacity of rifle, pistol and shotgun magazines.

Background checks were also unpopular with those surveyed. Results show that two-thirds of respondents oppose background checks on private gun sales – even if the government was required to destroy all records of the background checks.

Much of the gun control movement's standard wish list found little support among respondents. Gun owner licensing met with 95% opposition while both gun registration and mandatory liability insurance for gun owners are opposed by 98% of those who took the survey.

The ISRA survey results also revealed some significant credibility gaps as witnessed by the fact that less than 5% of respondents feel that the police could protect them from crime. Less than 8% feel that gun control effectively thwarts crime while less than 20% of respondents feel that gun control organizations are acting in good faith. About 90% of respondents feel that politicians who promote gun control are only doing so for political reasons. The credibility of the press took a hit as 97% of respondents feel that media is biased against private firearm ownership. Less than 1% of respondents identify with the policies of big name gun controllers like Rahm Emanuel , Chuck Schumer or Michael Bloomberg .

The survey results show that personal safety was an important issue to respondents. Just over 80% of respondents feel that they could become the victim of violent crime while about half feel unsafe travelling outside their neighborhoods. These concerns most likely drove the 99% support for allowing law-abiding citizens to carry defensive firearms.

"We've been a bit skeptical of the reports in the media claiming that firearm owners support gun control," commented ISRA Executive Director Richard Pearson . "Although our poll was not strictly scientific, it tends to support what we know intuitively. That being that firearm owners stand strongly by the 2nd Amendment while eschewing gun bans, licensing and registration. We are happy with the overall results of the survey. We did find it unsettling however that about 75% of respondents say they feel less welcome in the United States than they did 5 years ago. Sad, but given the current political climate, those feelings are understandable."

The ISRA is the state's leading advocate of safe, lawful and responsible firearms ownership. For more than a century, the ISRA has represented the interests of millions of law-abiding Illinois firearm owners.

This press release is posted on PRNewswire.  

Posted Mon Mar 18 09:58:44 CST 2013

Message from NRA Lobbyist Todd Vandermyde, 3/14/2013:

Earlier today, we were told by more than one legislator that leadership was trying to bring back the magazine ban for a vote today.

Evidently they are having a hard time finding the last 3 votes to pass their confiscation bill. This afternoon reports are coming in about gun owners lighting up the phone lines in opposition to the magazine ban.

The House adjourned this afternoon without taking up the magazine ban, but will be back tomorrow morning. Your calls are having an impact and please keep it up. Your work today bought us more time in this fight to keep them from getting the votes to pass their latest attack on the Second Amendment.

Posted Thu Mar 14 17:12:48 CST 2013

ISRA Highpower New Shooter Service Rifle Clinic is now FULL!

This clinic, as mentioned in the Thursday Bulletin, is now full, thanks for your support.

Posted Thu Mar 14 10:23:59 CST 2013

Concealed Carry passes at Will County Illinois Legislative Committee

Concealed Carry passes at Will County Illinois Legislative Committee 3/12/13 the Will County Illinois Legislative Committee voted 4 to1 in favor of the Concealed carry resolution proposed by Steve Balich and re-written by Don Moran. An amendment proposed by Steve Balich which came from Illinois House Bill 1155 (amendment 27) also passed 5 to 1 ...

Read the whole story here  Thewillcountynews.com

Posted Wed Mar 13 08:26:40 CST 2013

Cancelled IGOLD Buses - Refunds

For those individuals who has their bus cancelled for IGOLD due to the weather, the ISRA is giving refunds. Please contact the office at 815-635-3198 for further information.

Posted Mon Mar 11 13:51:50 CST 2013

TOM DEMMER, IL90th District, is hosting a Town Hall Meeting on Gun Rights tonight, 8 March, 6:00 pm, Rochelle IL, City Council Chambers.

Tom Demmer (R) is the new representative of the 90th District.

Come out to the Rochelle City Hall tonight and share your viewpoint!

Posted Fri Mar 8 09:54:00 CST 2013

IGOLD UPDATE:
SOME NORTHERN BUSES CANCELLED DUE TO POOR WEATHER

The following buses have been canceled: Lombard, Dundee, Hodgkins, Joliet #1, Rosemont, Evergreen Park.

Many affected bus riders are forming car pools and will still make it, we hope to see you here. Please drive safe.

Posted Wed Mar 6 06:48:51 CST 2013

ISRA Press Release:
House Speaker Mike Madigan Seeks To Keep The 'Wrong People' From Carrying Guns

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., March 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA):

Anyone who has lived in the greater Chicago area for any amount of time knows that racial code words are a subtle, yet powerful feature of the local dialect. Code words allow self-conscious racists to discreetly mask their xenophobia. For example, around Chicagoland a "regular customer" is often used to denote that someone is White while someone who is "funny looking" is probably something other than White.

Over the past several days, the Illinois General Assembly has been debating the court-ordered imposition of a concealed carry law here in Illinois. One of the major sticking points for passage of a concealed carry law is whether Illinois will be a "shall issue" state or a "may issue" state. A shall-issue law would require that officials issue concealed carry permits to any law-abiding citizen who passes a background check and meets certain training and proficiency requirements. On the other hand, a may-issue law would result in county sheriffs issuing concealed carry permits at their whim – and probably only to a select group of their friends and political supporters.

As expected, House Speaker Michael Madigan has been pushing for a "may-issue" bill to satisfy the court's requirement. Madigan supposedly prefers "may issue" for the purpose of keeping the "wrong people" from obtaining concealed carry permits. However, one does not have to be keenly perceptive to know that, coming from Madigan, "may-issue" and "wrong people" adds up to yet another set of Chicago code words. Within the context of Madigan's preferences, here is how "may issue" will translate into reality:

"May issue" means that if you are Black, you probably won't be granted a carry permit in Cook County.

"May issue" means that if you are Hispanic, you probably won't be granted a carry permit in Cook County.

"May issue" means that if your name is hard to pronounce, you probably won't be granted a carry permit in Cook County.

"May issue" means that if you pulled a Republican ballot in the last primary, you probably won't be granted a concealed carry permit in Cook County.

"May issue" means that if you contributed generously to Machine candidates, you will most likely be granted a concealed carry permit in Cook County.

"Madigan and the rest of the Chicago Machine are famous for doling out government contracts and services to their friends while systematically shortchanging minorities and those who are not ardent machine supporters," commented ISRA Executive Director, Richard Pearson . "If Illinois becomes a 'may issue' state, then one should expect that concealed carry permits will be issued as a quid pro quo perk rather than to facilitate the right of self defense."

"The ISRA believes that all law-abiding Illinois citizens have the right to defend themselves against violent criminals," continued Pearson. "We believe that law-abiding citizens are entitled to exercise that right by employing the best means of protection available – the defensive firearm. Therefore, the ISRA will fight against any attempt to pass a 'may issue' concealed carry law in this state."

The ISRA is the state's leading advocate of safe, lawful and responsible firearms ownership. For more than a century, the ISRA has represented the interests of millions of law-abiding Illinois firearm owners.

This press release is posted on PRNewswire.  

Posted Tue Mar 5 00:44:32 CST 2013

ISRA COMMENDS ARTIST JOE FOURNIER FOR GUN SAFETY CARTOON

CONTACT: Richard Pearson, Illinois State Rifle Association, (815) 635-3198 WEB SITE: http://www.isra.org 

SPRINGFIELD, IL - - The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA): 

The ISRA is commending political cartoonist Joe Fournier for his courage in publishing a cartoon that plainly reveals the true sentiments of so-called “gun safety advocates.” The nationally syndicated cartoon, which appeared Sunday in the “Chicago Tribune,” depicts Vice President Joe Biden gleefully assassinating NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre with a shotgun.  “Lawful firearm owners have known for a long time that the gun control movement wants us gone – by any means necessary,” said ISRA Executive Director Richard Pearson. “A few years ago, renegade Chicago priest Mike Pfleger openly called for the ‘snuffing’ of lawful firearm dealers and elected officials who oppose gun control. More recently, we heard Chicago Police Superintendent McCarthy say he would train and instruct his officers to shoot people holding concealed carry permits. Now we have a quarter-page cartoon in a major market newspaper where the Vice President of the United States appears to give the green light to murdering supporters of our 2nd Amendment. I hate to think of where this will all end.”  “But, in any case,” continued Pearson, “I’d like to commend cartoonist Fournier for his Rushdie-like courage in bringing this all to a head. The gun controllers no longer need to hide behind their hallmark platitudes about protecting the children and all that is good. The gun controllers may now muster and get behind Joe Biden in executing the final solution to the gun problem. Or so they may think” 

- - - The ISRA is the state’s leading advocate of safe, lawful and responsible firearms ownership. For more than a century, the ISRA has represented the interests of millions of law-abiding Illinois firearm owners.

Posted Sun Feb 24 14:00:16 CST 2013

ISRA Press Release:
Chicago Police Superintendent McCarthy Crosses The Line

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Feb. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA):

Chicago's embattled police superintendent dug himself deeper into a pit of controversy today by claiming that lawful firearm owners are agents of political corruption. Appearing on a Chicago Sunday morning talk show, superintendent Garry McCarthy expressed his conviction that firearm owners who lobby their elected representatives or who donate money to political campaigns are engaged in corruption that endangers public safety. McCarthy went on to express his belief that judges and legislators should rely on public opinion polls when interpreting our Constitution.

After totally dismissing the citizen's right to redress grievances, McCarthy trained his constitutional wisdom on the 2nd Amendment. Despite recent court decisions to the contrary, McCarthy opined that the 2nd Amendment limits citizens to owning smooth-bore muskets. McCarthy went on to say that he believes that the 2nd Amendment supports mandatory liability insurance for firearm owners and the mandatory application of GPS tracking devices to civilian owned firearms.

" Garry McCarthy 's understanding of our Constitution barely qualifies him as a meter maid, never mind the chief of the nation's third largest police department," commented ISRA Executive Director Richard Pearson . "What on earth would possess McCarthy to assert that constitutional rights should be meted out based on public opinion polls? Let's not forget that public opinion polls once opposed a woman's right to vote while it would be a safe bet that, at one time, polls would have shown lynching as an acceptable form of justice. It has been said that our Constitution exists to protect the minority from the tyranny of the majority. McCarthy's view of our Constitution is dangerous and unbecoming of a civil servant."

"McCarthy needs to understand that the lawful firearm owners of this state will continue to lobby their representatives and continue to support candidates who represent their interests," continued Pearson. "If Garry McCarthy doesn't like that, well that's just too bad. If McCarthy is so interested in influence peddling, he should pop into some of the gin mills ringing the Illinois Capitol and count the ruddy red noses of taxpayer-funded lobbyists for the City of Chicago."

The ISRA is the state's leading advocate of safe, lawful and responsible firearms ownership. For more than a century, the ISRA has represented the interests of millions of law-abiding Illinois firearm owners.

This press release is posted on PRNewwire  

Posted Sun Feb 17 17:02:24 CST 2013

Belleville News-Democrat : Police investigate assault, shooting in Highland apartment

An alleged intruder was hospitalized with gunshot wounds after apparently pushing into a home and assaulting two women.

The 33-year-old man is accused of forcing his way into an apartment in the 2600 block of Eagle Way Drive at about 3:30 a.m. The apartment building was home to two sisters, Debi Keeney and Donna Carlyle.

The man allegedly attacked the women while demanding money, and Keeney shot him with a small-caliber derringer-style revolver.

Keeney told police she was defending the life of her sister and had pleaded multiple times for the man to stop his assault and leave the apartment before she fired the gun. ...

Read the whole story here  from BND.com

Posted Mon Feb 11 18:21:48 CST 2013

Phelps: Illinois Residents Will Carry Handguns

WSIL -- The Illinois House is back in session this week and Representative Brandon Phelps has filed a new bill to legalize concealed carry of guns. Legislators have until June to pass the measure after a federal appeals court ruled the state's concealed carry ban is unconstitutional.

Phelps has been working to pass a concealed carry law for years and insists this time is different. "It's been far too long for law-abiding gun owners not to get their Constitutional rights and they're going to get it hopefully here soon," he said. ...

Read the whole story here  from wsiltv.com

Posted Sun Feb 3 01:01:57 CST 2013

Personal Defense Weapons Solicitation

Solicitation Number: HSCEMS-12-R-00011 Notice Type: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Synopsis: Added: Jun 07, 2012 11:47 am

This announcement is being placed in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) paragraph 5.207.  It is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items.  5.56x45mm NATO, select-fire firearm suitable for personal defense.  This announcement constitutes the only solicitation and proposals are being requested.  See attachments for complete details. ...

Read the solicitation with attachments here  

Posted Fri Feb 1 16:22:41 CST 2013

Homeland Security has advice for confronting mass murders: scissors

WASHINGTON — Is your workplace getting shot up by a crazed gunman?

No problem — just grab a pair of scissors and fight back!

That’s some of the helpful advice in a new instructional video from the Department of Homeland Security that was posted on the agency’s Web site just a month after the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. ...

Read the whole story here  from NY Post.com

Posted Thu Jan 31 11:24:24 CST 2013

SH-216 Senate Committee Hearing video

Specifically, listen to timelines 1:12:54 to 1:19:17 - Wayne Lapierre

Timeline 2:08:43 - to 2:14:05: Heated exchange between Lapierre and Dick Durbin

Timeline 2:18:00 to 2:24:25: Durbin ...

View the video here  

Posted Wed Jan 30 18:01:31 CST 2013

Appellate Courts Weigh In on Right to Carry Gun

The US Supreme Court's decisions in District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. City of Chicago established that individuals have an enforceable Second Amendment right to possess firearms — including handguns — for self-defense, and that this right is protected against infringement by states and municipalities as well as the federal government.

The facts of Heller involved possession of a handgun within the home. Does the right to keep and bear arms extend outside the home? To many, merely asking that question seems preposterous. When the Second Amendment was adopted, the founding generation had just fought a war of independence using their own weapons, and it was fought not in their parlors but up and down a continent. Today, the need for a firearm for self-defense is as likely to arise on city streets as it is in our bedrooms.

Post-Heller, however, many state and federal courts have been gingerly in recognizing the constitutional right to bear arms, either openly or concealed, outside the home. Some, such as the Maryland Court of Appeals, have flatly stated that they will not recognize that the right applies outside the home until the Supreme Court says that it does. Now, the stage is set for this issue to be resolved, possibly by the Supreme Court, but certainly by some of the US appellate courts. The US Courts of Appeals for the Second and the Seventh Circuits recently have decided cases on this issue and more are in the pipeline, most notably in the US Courts of Appeals for the Fourth and Ninth Circuits.

In Kachalsky v. County of Westchester, decided on November 27, 2012, the Second Circuit grudgingly "assumed" the existence of a right to keep and bear arms outside the home. It nevertheless upheld New York's highly restrictive licensing system, which prevents the vast majority of ordinary citizens from obtaining a license to carry a concealed handgun for self-defense outside the home.

Two weeks later, the Seventh Circuit decided the consolidated cases of Moore v. Madigan and Shepard v. Madigan. With "meager exceptions," Illinois had banned the carrying of firearms outside the home. The Seventh Circuit invalidated that nearly complete prohibition, but stayed the mandate for 180 days to give the Illinois legislature time to enact laws that comport with the Constitution.

The judicial approaches taken in Kachalsky and Moore/Shepard are poles apart, and an analysis of several major points of difference is instructive. The principal difference is the degree to which the Second Circuit and the Seventh Circuit took to heart the Supreme Court's precepts in Heller.

New York state law generally bans carrying a handgun, openly or concealed, outside the home. Licenses are available to persons in certain occupations — including judges — and to merchants on their business premises. To obtain a license to carry a concealed handgun outside the home for purposes of self-defense, an ordinary citizen must show "proper cause." Kachalsky observed that "[t]his is the only license available to carry a concealed handgun 'without regard to employment or place of possession.'" To show "proper cause," the applicant must "demonstrate a special need for self-protection distinguishable from that of the general community or of persons engaged in the same profession." In other words, the vast majority of New Yorkers, by definition, are not allowed to obtain a license to carry handguns for self-defense. In Illinois, a license to carry a handgun for self-defense was not available to ordinary citizens at all.

A necessary step in the analysis in both Kachalsky and Moore/Shepard was to determine whether the individual Second Amendment right to self-defense recognized in Heller extends outside the home. The Second Circuit found Heller to be inscrutable on this point, and (quoting a Fourth Circuit case) referred to the scope of the right outside the home as a "vast 'terra incognita.'" However, the Second Circuit opined that Heller "suggests" that the right must have "some application" outside the home, and thus proceeded on this "assumption" without so holding.

The Seventh Circuit took a much more straightforward approach. In Moore/Shepard, Judge Posner observed that the "vast terra incognita" referred to by the other circuits "has been opened to judicial exploration by Heller and McDonald." Accordingly, the court analyzed the text of the Heller and McDonald opinions, and of the Second Amendment itself. The Seventh Circuit noted Heller's statement that the Second Amendment "guarantee[s] the individual right to possess and carry weapons in case of confrontation," and added that "[c]onfrontations are not limited to the home." Further, in McDonald the Supreme Court characterized Heller as holding "the Second Amendment protects the right to keep and bear arms for the purpose of self-defense[.]" Noting that the Second Amendment right to "bear" arms is distinct from the right to "keep" arms, the Moore/Shepard court concluded that bearing arms is unlikely to refer to the home, and that "a right to bear arms thus implies a right to carry a loaded gun outside the home." Most importantly, it found that "[t]he Supreme Court has decided that the amendment confers a right to bear arms for self-defense, which is as important outside the home as inside." ...

Read the whole story here  from jurist.org

Posted Tue Jan 29 19:43:30 CST 2013

CHICAGO MURDERS TOP AFGHANISTAN DEATH TOLL

The death toll by murder in Chicago over the past decade is greater than the number of American forces who have died in Afghanistan since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom, according to a police analysis.

In addition, police reports in Chicago – where President Obama once worked as a community organizer and where his former chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, now serves as mayor – show most of the city’s massive murder mayhem is black-on-black crime.

A WND review of the Chicago Police Department Murder Analysis reports from 2003 to 2011 provides a statistical breakdown of the demographics of both the victims and offenders in the 4,265 murders in Chicago over that time period.

Of the victims of murder in Chicago from 2003 to 2011, an average of 77 percent had a prior arrest history, with a high of 79 percent of the 436 murdered in Chicago in 2010 having arrest histories.

For the same 2003-2011 period, blacks were the victims of 75 percent of 4,265 murders. Blacks also were the offenders in 75 percent of the murders. ...

Read the whole story here  by MICHAEL THOMPSON, WND.com

Posted Sun Jan 27 15:37:30 CST 2013

FANTASTIC: Judge Jeanine slams The Journal News as “nothing but a bunch of cowards” Watch the Video!

Fantastic monologue by Judge Jeanine on the cowards at The Journal News for outing lawful gun owners because of the massacre in Newtown, CT.

Watch this Video! here  therightscoop.com

Posted Thu Jan 24 13:03:36 CST 2013

Gun backers move to block AG Lisa Madigan

SPRINGFIELD — Gun rights activists asked a federal appeals court Wednesday to reject a request by Illinois’ top attorney for another hearing on a lawsuit that aims to allow Illinoisans to carry loaded weapons in public.

In an 18-page brief filed with the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, attorneys for concealed carry supporters wrote that Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has not provided enough evidence to warrant a hearing on the case by the entire panel of judges that comprise the court.

“It has not come close to satisfying this burden of proof,” wrote William Howard, attorney for plaintiffs Mary Shepard and the Illinois State Rifle Association.

Madigan earlier this month asked for a review by the court of a lawsuit challenging the state’s ban on carrying concealed weapons. ...

Read the whole story here  from thesouthern.com

Posted Thu Jan 24 12:52:07 CST 2013

Lt. Gov. forming working group on concealed carry

SPRINGFIELD — Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon is inviting new lawmakers from across Illinois to work with her on a concealed carry law.

A federal appeals court panel ruled last month that Illinois’ ban on concealed weapons is unconstitutional. Attorney General Lisa Madigan is appealing the ruling. But lawmakers still face a 180-day deadline to pass a bill legalizing concealed carry.

Simon says she wants new legislators from both parties to join her firearms working group.

Illinois lawmakers tend to split along geographic rather than party lines on gun issues, with Democrats from outside Chicago aligning with Republicans. ...

Read the whole story here  from pantagraph.com

Posted Thu Jan 24 12:47:50 CST 2013

Feinstein unveiling her gun grabbing legislation

Anti-gun Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) is unveiling her proposal to ban so-called “assault weapons” Thursday that would greatly expand the types of firearms affected, including semi-automatic rifles, handguns and shotguns, along with standard capacity magazines.

Her measure, which was discussed by this column last month, would classify a firearm with a single “military characteristic” as an “assault weapon.” According to this report from KCBS, the CBS affiliate in San Francisco, Feinstein’s bill will limit magazine capacity to a maximum of nine rounds. ...

Read the whole story here  by Dave Workman, Examiner.com

Posted Thu Jan 24 12:45:31 CST 2013

NRA boycott kills outdoors show that banned assault weapons

A massive boycott sparked by the NRA and other gun-rights groups outraged that the nation's largest outdoors show banned the exhibition of assault weapons has caused the show's organizers to abruptly cancel the week-long event in Harrisburg, Pa.

The successful boycott was the biggest demonstration of support by the outdoors industry and outdoorsmen yet against gun control efforts being pushed in Washington and in several states.

"Reed Exhibitions has decided to postpone, for now, the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show given the controversy surrounding its decision to limit the sale or display of modern sporting rifles (also called ARs) at the event. The show was scheduled to take place February 2-10 in Harrisburg, Pa.," the organizer said in a statement Thursday.

The show is the biggest in the nation and features several outdoors groups, hundreds of exhibitors and the most popular TV hunting show stars. It draws thousands from the Washington-Baltimore area. As the assault rifle ban became known, exhibitors, sponsors and the TV stars withdrew by the dozens. ...

Read the whole story here  from Washington Examiner.com

Posted Thu Jan 24 12:39:43 CST 2013

Doctor treating teen: "Are there guns in the home?"
Hospital says: "This is standard practice"

Sam was admitted to Advocate Hope Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn on Jan 4. A resident and two medical students began jotting down notes for a routine medical history. At one point, Mrs. Insley said, they asked her to step out of the room.

"I felt uneasy, but I stepped out so my son wouldn't be embarrassed," she told me, saying she figured they would ask drug and alcohol questions. Sam doesn't take drugs or alcohol, she said.

Later that day, Sam told her what the doctors had asked him ...

Read the whole story in John Kass' column in the Trib. 

Posted Wed Jan 23 06:02:49 CST 2013

New security system could protect public from gun violence

See the Video here  from FOX News.com

Posted Wed Jan 23 00:18:28 CST 2013

Peoria-area school considers arming administrators

WASHINGTON -- School board members in a central Illinois town are thinking about arming and training a handful of administrators as auxiliary police officers so they can carry guns on campus.

Washington police Chief Jim Kuchenbecker said Monday that training Washington Community High Schools administrators as officers is a way around Illinois' law against carrying concealed weapons.

The chief and school Superintendent Jim Dunnan talked about the idea after December's school shootings in Connecticut and presented it to a parents' group last week.

Board members were expected to hear about the plan Monday.

Board President Tim Custis says members should at least be willing to consider the idea. ...

Read the whole story here.  from SJ-R.com

Posted Tue Jan 15 07:44:46 CST 2013

Illinois State Rifle Association Elated Over Receipt Of Top NRA Award

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Jan. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA):

The ISRA is pleased to announce that the organization has been selected as the National Rifle Association's "Association of the Year." The award is conferred annually by the NRA board of directors on the state affiliate that best serves the lawful firearm owners in its respective state.

"On behalf of the officers, directors and members of the Illinois State Rifle Association, I would like to thank the NRA board for this important recognition," commented ISRA Executive Director, Richard Pearson . "All of the credit for this award certainly goes to our fantastic cadre of volunteers. Whether it is hosting training classes, coaching young shooters, or writing letters to politicians in support of gun rights, our volunteers are the foundation upon which the ISRA is built. Without the help of our many hundreds of faithful volunteers, we'd hardly be able to conduct day-to-day operations, let alone win a national award. As we move through these turbulent times, the ISRA will continue to uphold the ideals set for us by the National Rifle Association of America."

The ISRA is the state's leading authority on safe, lawful and responsible firearms ownership. For more than a century, the ISRA has represented the interests of millions of law-abiding Illinois firearm owners.

Read the whole story here. (external link)

Posted Mon Jan 14 22:50:48 CST 2013

SPECIAL ALERT – BE CAREFUL OF WHAT YOU ARE READING

As many of you know by now, there is a near-viral posting going around the internet that insinuates that Chicago Police Superintendant Garry McCarthy plans to train Chicago police officers in methods of setting up concealed carry permit holders for murder. We’ve all come to know McCarthy as one of those guys that has a mouth that moves faster than his brain. But, at this time, the ISRA has no independent confirmation that McCarthy’s alleged remarks on a Chicago radio station are genuine, or within what context they may have been uttered.

Garry McCarthy’s record speaks for itself, and that record paints McCarthy as the most ineffectual big-city top-cops in the nation. That notwithstanding, we do not believe that McCarthy is stupid enough to publicly reveal that it is the official policy of the CPD to murder concealed carry permit holders in cold blood.

One thing we know for sure, our many friends who comprise law-enforcement’s rank and file are well trained on how to properly engage armed civilians – with a peaceful outcome as the main objective. Likewise, a key element of concealed carry training will be training on how civilians may safely interact with police officers. In 49 other states, armed engagements between lawful permit holders and police officers are unheard of. When CCW is implemented here in Illinois, the ISRA will spare no effort to ensure that such is the case here in Illinois as well.

If McCarthy was smart, he would put out a statement clarifying his alleged remarks so as to avoid further angst amongst the public.

And, as just a general word to our friends and members, we all understand that the past few weeks have been difficult for the entire nation. We’ve seen a horrific crime committed in Connecticut. As fallout of that crime, we’ve seen politicians and the media shift the blame for the crime from the irresponsible person who armed and trained a mentally ill young man, and over to responsible firearm owners. In the past few weeks, we’ve seen extremist gun controllers launch an all out attack on your rights. To make matters worse, inflammatory comments from people like Obama, Biden, Feinstein and Piers Morgan have stoked the fires of division. These so-called leaders would do well to ponder the consequences of tempting fate with unbridled passion. It’s a safe bet that there is a person or persons somewhere out there looking for an excuse to relive the horrors of the early 1990s. Such is something that this nation could not endure.

The bottom line is this – resist becoming an agent of division. Don’t spread unfounded rumors, and don’t make up any rumors of your own. Avoid debates that cannot be held in a civil manner. Instead, concentrate your energies on working to preserve and protect your gun rights through the legislative and legal processes. Believe it or not, the system still works.

Please distribute this alert to your friends and family and post it to any and all Internet bulletin boards and blogs to which you belong.

Posted Sat Jan 12 17:40:17 CST 2013

Lisa Madigan seeks new hearing on concealed carry

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is trying to salvage the state's ban on concealed carry.

Madigan said Tuesday that she's filed a petition asking that all 15 judges on the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals review a lawsuit challenging the ban.

Last month, a three-judge panel struck down the ban on carrying concealed weapons in Illinois — the only remaining state where doing so is entirely illegal. They gave lawmakers 180 days to write a law legalizing it.

The judges said the ban was unconstitutional and suggested that legalizing concealed carry is long overdue. Gun advocates had vowed to challenge the ban on every front.

Madigan says the court's decision "goes beyond what the U.S. Supreme Court has held" and conflicts with decisions by two other federal appellate courts. ...

Read the whole story here  from Dailyherald.com

Posted Tue Jan 8 13:58:51 CST 2013

URGENT ALERT – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

ILLINOIS HOUSE ADJOURNS WITH NO MOVEMENT ON GUN BILLS – BUT DO NOT BE MISLED

As reported earlier, the House version of the Cullerton Gun Grab Bill was supposed to be debated before the House Judiciary Committee I at 2:00 PM today. The Chairman of the committee convened the committee, announced that there would be no gun bills debated for the rest of the session, then adjourned.

From all appearances, this was the end of the push for gun control in the legislature this session. But, don’t be confused – the session ends Wednesday. There is nothing saying that the legislature couldn’t call the bills anyway. So, be on guard and watch for alerts from the ISRA.

Also, be advised that the newly elected legislature, the 98th General Assembly, gets gaveled into action on Wednesday as well. With several pro-gun stalwarts leaving the legislature, and several brand new gun grabbers to contend with, the next session of the General Assembly promises to be turbulent times for law-abiding gun owners. We will update you as issues arise.

In short, the entire ISRA lobbying staff would like to say “THANKS” to all those gun owners who stood up this week and told the General Assembly, “NO . . . you can’t take our guns!” The huge response and reaction by the gun-owning public is largely responsible for the failure on the part of Senate President John Cullerton to move his massive gun grab this week.

We really hate to sound like a broken record, but protecting your rights this past couple of weeks has severely depleted our cash reserves. We honestly don’t like going to the well this often, but we badly need your financial help or we will not be able to field a full staff of lobbyists next week. It would be great if everybody receiving this alert could donate as little as $25, we would be able to continue full speed ahead against the Emanuel/Cullerton attacks on your gun rights. If you don’t step up to help protect your rights, nobody else will!

On behalf of all law-abiding Illinois firearm owners, thanks for your continued support!

P.S. Organizers are reporting record crowds at gun shows held this weekend in Marion, IL and the DuPage show in Wheaton.

Posted Sun Jan 6 21:01:13 CST 2013

LATE BREAKING ALERT – NEXT VOTE ON SEMI AUTO BAN WILL TAKE PLACE SUNDAY

YOUR IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

After getting nowhere in the Senate, the gun controllers have taken their campaign to destroy your rights to the Illinois House. Earlier today, Amendment #1 to SB2899 was introduced in the Illinois House of Representatives. Sponsored by rabidly anti-gun Rep. Eddie Acevedo, the amendment would do two things to you:

1. It would pick your pocket to pay for the confiscation and destruction of your own guns.

2. It would ban more than 50% of the rifles and more than 80% of handguns owned by Illinois citizens.

THIS BILL WILL BE VOTED ON BY THE HOUSE JUDICIARY 1 COMMITTEE ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON – YOU MUST ACT NOW!

To help save your guns, please contact the following Representatives and politely tell them that you are a law-abiding firearm owner and that you do not support SB2899 and that you expect them to vote the amendment down.

1. Rep. Elaine Nekritz,. (217) 558-1004 and (847) 257-0450

2. Rep. John Bradley, (217) 782-1051 and (618) 997-9697

3. Rep. Jill Tracy, (217) 782-8096 and (217) 223-0833

4. Rep. Michael Connelly, (217) 782-8028 and (630) 579-4848

5. Rep. Dwight Kay, (217) 782-8018 and (618) 307-9200

6. Rep. Lou Lang, (217) 782-1252 and (847) 673-1131

7. Rep. Sid Mathias, (217) 782-1664 and (847) 222-0061

8. Rep. André M. Thapedi, (217) 782-1702 and (773) 873-4444

9. Rep. Arthur Turner, (217) 782-8116 and (773) 277-4700

10. Rep. Ann Williams, (217) 782-2458 and (773) 880-9082

11. Rep. Michael Zalewski, (217) 782-5280 and (708) 442-6500

REMEMBER – THE AMENDMENT TO SB2899 WILL BE VOTED ON IN COMMITTEE SUNDAY AFTERNOON – START CALLING THESE REPRESENTATIVES BEGINNING SATURDAY AND CONTINUE CALLING THRU SUNDAY

Read the whole story here. (external link)

Posted Fri Jan 4 21:59:07 CST 2013

ISRA NOTICE: A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM ISRA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RICHARD PEARSON

January 4, 2013 - The Week in Review – The Unabashed Arrogance of the Gun Control Movement 

As most of you know, this has been a very tense week for the law-abiding Illinois firearm owner. As most of us were getting ready to ring in the New Year, Senate President John Cullerton and his band of gun controllers were secretly preparing a major offensive against your gun rights. We got wind of the pending attack on your 2nd Amendment rights early in the week and immediately called together our lobbyists and strategic planners to build a defense. 

When we finally saw the public release of the Cullerton plan mid-week, we were shocked at what we saw. Based on recent events, we fully expected to see legislative proposals to ban so-called “assault weapons,” and so-called “high-capacity ammunition feeding devices.” However, those affronts to your rights paled in comparison with what Cullerton’s proposal entailed. Here is a sampling of the extremist proposals advanced by Cullerton’s gun-grab plan: 

-          The Illinois State Police would be given full control over the design and operation of commercial gun ranges in the state. That control would extend from the design of the bullet backstops to qualifications of range employees and even to the color of the paint on the walls of the men’s room. The State Police would determine the hours of operation, what types and calibers of firearms could be discharged at the range, and even a minimum number of square feet. Every range customer would have to undergo a background check and each customer’s visit would be logged by the range operator. Any Illinois law enforcement agency could conduct unannounced and warrantless inspections and searches of ranges at any time. Those searches and inspections would extend to range customers and their property. That means that the Chicago Police Department would have the authority to raid a range in Peoria and roust the customers of that range. The bottom line is, this range regulation proposal has the sole objective of running commercial shooting ranges out of business. We had never seen anything like this before, but the intent was clear. 

-          All semi-automatic firearms would be either banned outright, or be so severely taxed and restricted that ownership would be impractical. We expected to see attempts to ban or regulate AR and AK type firearms, but what we saw in Cullerton’s proposal carried that to an extreme. Cullerton’s gun ban would extend to all semiautomatic rifles, pistols and shotguns. Additionally, many pump action rifles and shotguns would be banned as well. This ban would include such classics as the 1911 and the M1 Garand. Of course, all Glocks, Sig-Sauers, and other popular pistols would be banned as well. Estimates are that about 50% of rifles and 80% of handguns lawfully-owned by Illinois citizens would be subject to ban and confiscation under the Cullerton gun ban. 

-          A bizarre and convoluted scheme to register all “ammunition feeding devices” capable of holding more than 10 rounds – including magazines, stripper clips, drums, etc. Since none of these devices possess serial numbers, owners of these devices would essentially register them under the “honor system.” Of course, we all know how well criminals stick to the honor system. 

The two bills containing these provisions, HB0815 and HB1263, were both assigned to the Senate Public Health Committee for review. This committee is notoriously anti-gun and is stacked 6 to 4 with antigun Democrats under Cullerton’s thumb. On Wednesday night, the two bills came up for hearing before the Senate Public Health Committee. During debate of these two bills, we heard straight from the horses’ mouths what the intents and purposes of these bills were. Sitting there listening to the sponsors and their supporters was a very maddening experience. 

Committee testimony given by the anti-gunners confirmed that the gun control movement holds firearm owners in deep contempt. During testimony, the gun controllers claimed that the range restriction bill would actually preserve 2nd Amendment rights while providing public safety. The gun controllers acknowledged that most semiautomatic firearms would be banned, but that people who wished to shoot semiautomatics should be reassured because they would be able to go to an approved range and legally rent semiautomatics to shoot. In other words, you should not be upset about surrendering your $5,000 target rifle because you can still go down to an approved range and get a junker out of the rental case to plink with. This was one of the most condescending lines of testimony I have ever heard levied against the right to keep and bear arms – and the anti-gunners uttered it with completely straight faces. The gun controllers really need to keep in mind that the 2nd Amendment says "keep and bear arms,” not "rent arms.” 

Of course, nowhere in any of the testimony given by the bills’ supporters was there any mention of how these restrictions and bans would affect criminals. In fact, the bill proponents became extremely defensive when pro-gun witnesses mentioned anything about violent gun-toting criminals. It was clear that the proponents’ focus was solely on lawfully held firearms. In not so many words, the supporters of these bills claimed that they were good “first steps” to achieving a “civil society.” In the twisted world-view of the anti-gunners, law-abiding citizens are standing in the way of a civil society, not criminals. 

As most of you may know, the two bills passed out of the Public Health Committee by 6-4 and 6-3 votes. The next step would be a vote on the floor. Late Thursday, the newspapers were reporting that the sponsors are delaying a vote on the bills because they do not have enough support for passage. Please, don’t be fooled by such claims. These bills are alive and well and can be called up for a vote at any time. 

In writing this note, I thought I’d give you a taste of what the ISRA lobbyists experience every day in Springfield. We could not continue to do what we do without knowing that you, the law-abiding citizen, has our back. Your support is crucial to our success – we do all we do for you. So, with that in mind, there are a few things I’d like you to do: 

1. Remember that these anti-gun bills are eligible for a full vote of the Senate at any time up through next Wednesday. Do not be lulled to sleep by media claims that the bills are dead.

2. Keep an eye on your email for any alerts the ISRA issues regarding these bills or any other anti-gun activity. 

3. Please consider giving the ISRA a generous monetary donation so we may continue the fight for your rights. 

Thanks for your time, 

Richard A. Pearson, Executive Director Illinois State Rifle Association

Posted Fri Jan 4 09:15:28 CST 2013