June 4, 2026

Thursday Bulletin – June 4, 2026 Executive Director's Message Richard Pearson   Legislative Update   Freedom Held the Line: How ISRA Delivered Major Victories for Illinois Gun Owners in 2026  By Illinois Review As the Illinois General Assembly adjourned its 2026 Spring Session, gun owners across the state had reason to celebrate. Despite repeated efforts by anti-gun lawmakers to advance some of the most restrictive firearm proposals in recent memory, the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) once again proved why it remains the state's leading defender of Second Amendment rights. For months, ISRA's legislative team was on the front lines in Springfield, tracking more than 350 firearm-related bills, providing expert testimony, educating lawmakers, and mobilizing grassroots supporters. In a state where Democrats hold overwhelming super-majorities, stopping bad legislation is often the greatest victory of all. This year, those victories were significant. Among the biggest defeats for anti-gun activists was the...

May 28, 2026

Thursday Bulletin – May 21, 2026 Executive Director's Message Richard Pearson Celebrating Our Country's 250th Anniversary Memorial Day has become the gateway to summer, although, this year, summer is as far away as it gets because of the early date. This year is going to be a really special year with the 250th anniversary of the United States looming large over the country.  I have been looking forward to this celebration since 1976.  How fortunate I am to witness both the 200th and the 250th anniversaries. I have fond memories of the 200th anniversary.  One of those is seeing the Freedom Train in Peoria, Illinois. The train was pulled by the 2102 from the Western Maryland Railroad, a big 4-8-4 steam locomotive.  There were two locomotives; one for the area East of the Mississippi and one for West of the Mississippi.  This year, there isn't a Freedom Train, but there...

May 21, 2026

Thursday Bulletin – May 21, 2026 Executive Director's Message Richard Pearson The Left Never Stops Trying To Abolish The Second Amendment Here we go into the last few days of the Illinois General Assembly Spring Session.  These are perilous times for all citizens and law-abiding gun owners, in particular. As expected, the left-wingers are pushing HB4471, the Convertible Pistol Bill; AKA "The Glock Ban Bill". What this bill does is punish companies who use a cruciform trigger bar that criminals have found a way to illegally convert to fully automatic. This bill also makes it illegal to manufacture what is called a convertible pistol.  It also makes it illegal for an FFL to sell a convertible pistol.  This, of course, also punishes law abiding gun owners by not allowing them to sell to another individual in Illinois.  The only exception to this is for FFLs to sell or facilitate the...