The seemingly endless delays in approving Concealed Carry Licenses keep happening despite efforts to get the Illinois State Police to follow the lawful time frame to approve or deny these applications.

The bills are pouring out of the General Assembly.  Presently, we are tracking 175 bills and resolutions.  We will see a lot of movement on bills this week; however, we have learned the Illinois House has cancelled session for next week.  The Illinois Senate will be in.  One of the latest is SB2300.  SB2300 (Ann Gillespie (D-27 Arlington Heights) would put a 10% tax on so-called “assault weapons“ and “high capacity magazines”. This follows the pattern of ‘if you can’t ban them, tax them’ agenda.  Remember, the power to tax is the power to destroy.

The Illinois State Police has reported the number of Illinois Concealed Carry Licenses has surpassed 378,000.  The original goal was to reach 300,000 and we have well exceeded that number.  It is possible we will reach 400,000 ICCLS in 2021.

The State of Illinois has submitted their reply to the court in the ISRA FOID card case.  All the preliminary work is done and now we have to wait for a court date.  In the past, it has taken anywhere from one month to six months for that to happen.  As I have mentioned before, watching paint dry is quite exciting compared to waiting for courts and court cases to move.  When something happens it will be posted in the Thursday Bulletin.

Due to inclement weather, the ISRA office is closing for the remainder of the day.

We are entering the legislative season which is the most dangerous time for citizens.  Most firearm owners pay attention to federal and state legislation.  The primary job of the ISRA is to handle legislation in the Illinois State Legislature.  That does not mean we ignore federal and local legislation.  Local legislation at the county, city, village or other forms of local government can be just as dangerous.  Zoning boards are a particular headache.  The fact is, I look at all forms and levels of government with a jaundiced eye.  Every level of government has huge power when compared to the individual citizen. Most of the time, people who serve on local government boards are good people but every once in a while, somebody gets elected who believes they are God’s gift to us all.  These people become tyrants.  Someone once said “There is no tyrant like a small tyrant.”  They knew what they were talking about.

The Ranges are closed this afternoon due to the extreme weather.