December 4, 2025

Thursday Bulletin – December 04, 2025 Executive Director's Message Richard Pearson Introducing - The “ISRA Paladin” Sustaining Membership     I am pleased to announce that the ISRA is introducing our new sustaining membership.  The membership is called the “ISRA Paladin.” When you become an ISRA Paladin, you join the front line in defending the Second Amendment in Illinois.  Your commitment helps power the ISRA’s training, education, and legal efforts that protect the rights of every law-abiding gun owner in our state. What is a PALADIN—and why should you become one? In the time of King Charlemagne, the Paladins were his most trusted and honorable knights—sworn to act with courage, defend the innocent, and protect what was just.  Their loyalty and leadership made them legends.  Today’s ISRA Paladins carry that same spirit.  They stand firm for freedom, safeguard the innocent, and defend our rights against those who would take them...

November 27, 2025

Thursday Bulletin – November 27, 2025 Executive Director's Message Richard Pearson Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! The first Thanksgiving on American soil was held in 1621.  The Wampanoag Native Americans taught the new settlers how to grow crops, making food more plentiful.  The celebration of the bountiful harvest was attended by approximately 50 Englishmen and 90 Native Americans.  It lasted three days.  The "Pilgrims" sat at tables and the Native Americans sat on the ground, just like they did at home.  Between feasts of venison, turkey, geese, ducks and other items, there were foot races and marksmanship contests.  Yes, marksmanship contests have been here from the beginning! By 1675, there were about 25,000 new immigrants here and things weren't going so well.  Thanksgiving celebrations were limited to local areas that experienced a good harvest. In 1777, General George Washington declared a day of thanksgiving after the American victory over the British in...

November 20, 2025

Thursday Bulletin – November 20, 2025 Executive Director's Message Richard Pearson   The American Paradigm Every country has their paradigm.  So many Americans can’t seem to tell the difference between right and wrong because their American objectivity has been so diluted by non-American alternatives disguised as an enlightened civilized society.  Many Americans no longer acknowledge the reasons why we’re all here, or at least the historical reasons we’re *supposed* to acknowledge why we’re here. For Americans who are confused, if you want to be a good person, follow the Ten Commandments - you don’t have to be religious, you can be an atheist; they’re all good ideas for a stable society.  If you want to be a good American, commit to our purpose of freedom - our breakaway from traditional European history. The American paradigm consists of, 1. making morality and ethics your top priority of every conscious decision you...