December 9, 2021
Sunday morning, I was sitting in my mother-in-law’s kitchen gazing out the patio doors at the huge hard maple tree that dominates her back yard. There were only two leaves still hanging on the tree. A few minutes later a cold December rain began pattering against the doors and windows and the last two leaves that were on the maple tree floated to their final resting place on the ground. Mother Nature had officially informed me that Fall was over and winter was on its way.
I am pleased to inform everyone that the Illinois State Rifle Association has leased a space on Commercial Row at the World Shooting Complex in Sparta, Illinois. We will be in units 502-503 in Building Five on the west end of Commercial Row. All the paperwork is not completed yet but we have the commitment from the IDNR. We will keep you updated.
The Illinois State Police (ISP) has announced further progress in reducing the FOID card backlog. According to the ISP, they are currently processing FOID card renewal applications in 38 calendar days. The FOID card renewal backlog was 138,722 in November of 2020, 28,648 in September of 2021 and is currently at 7,800.
I am sure these numbers include those FOID card applications that are without problems. I imagine those that have missing or incorrect information will take a little longer and have to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. On an encouraging note, ISP Director, Brendan F. Kelly, stated “The Illinois State Police Firearms Services Bureau is committed to a firearms background check system focused on safety, not bureaucracy. We want to make it easy on the good guys and hard on the bad guys. We continue to improve our work flow and these updated numbers show we are definitely headed in the right direction.”
A couple of weeks ago, I was in my favorite shoe and boot repair shop and another customer was having a discussion about why people need high-capacity magazines. I did not chime in because the other customer was doing a fine job. For those who are unaware, or worse, don’t want to be aware, few attacks involve just one person these days. In fact, 5% percent involve five or more people. Moreover, they have no qualms about killing you or anyone else. In Oceanside, California, this week, there was a home invasion at 1am that involved six assailants. At least one was armed with a firearm but when you are outnumbered six to one, it doesn’t make much difference. Remember, the leading cause of murder is still hands, fists and feet, not firearms. Fortunately, the homeowner had his firearm ready. One assailant was Dead Right There (DRT), another was wounded laying in the yard and the other four were eventually rounded up. If the homeowner had not been ready with a high-capacity magazine, this story, most likely, would have had a different outcome. Multiple attackers have become the way of the world. In your practice session, you need to consider practicing engaging multiple targets.
Congratulations to Cam Edwards on receiving the Ray Carter Blogger of the Year Award from the Second Amendment Foundation. Cam took over the bearingarms.com online newsletter in 2019 after leaving NRA News in 2019 where he worked for 15 years. Well done Cam.
From time to time I get calls from varmint hunters regarding night vision and thermal imaging scopes. I will tell you up front I am no expert on these things but I do keep an eye out for items that might be of interest. Burris Optics has come out with a new “Click On” thermal imaging scope. Night vision and thermal imaging scopes have required a dedicated rifle for the most part unless the hunter was willing to change scopes on his rifle which would require re-zeroing the rifles each time. The Burris “Click On” mounts on your regular rifle scope and can be added or taken off without the need to re-zero or buy a different rifle. For those varmint hunters who are interested in thermal imaging, this might be a solution for you.
Tidbits:
December 10, 1922- The Canton, Ohio Bulldogs win the first NFL Championship defeating the Toledo Maroons 19-0.
December 10, 1915 – Ford builds its 1 millionth car. Ford was so busy they didn’t notice they had built their 1 millionth car. In 1924, Ford built their 10 millionth car; in 1927, their 15 millionth car; and in 1930, their 20 millionth car. Ford did remember to count this car. The 20 millionth car took a long road trip and then was placed in the Ford Museum where it resides today.
December 11, 1941 – Germany declares war on the United States to support their ally Japan. Germany’s Foreign Minister, Von Ribbentrop, thought it was a bad idea. Hitler did it anyway. He should have listened to his Foreign Minister.
December 12, 1901 – Guglielmo Marconi transmits the first message across the Atlantic. The message was the letter “s” in Morse Code.
December 13, 1937 – The Rape of Nanking begins. Nanking was the Capitol of China at the time. One of my professors at Eastern Illinois University, Dr. Ying Ching Cheng, was a student in Nanking at the time. He and about 300 volunteers loaded the Chinese National Library on barges to prevent the Japanese from destroying all books, manuscripts and other national treasures. He then joined the Nationalist Army fighting the Japanese. While in the South Pacific, my father’s artillery unit had a Chinese cook. One day, the news came that the Chinese and Japanese had been in a great battle. Everyone thought the news was bad. 100,000 Chinese had been killed and 10,000 Japanese had been killed. Everyone but the Chinese cook that is. His comment was “Good, pretty soon no more Japanese.” Words of wisdom.
December 13, 1799 – George Washington dies. The First President was ill with a throat infection. The treatment for most everything in those days was bleeding. Doctors at the time thought illnesses were caused by too much blood. I have no idea where they came up with that but that is the way it was. It is more likely doctors bled the First President to death other than him dying of infection.
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Upcoming Events: ISRA Calendar
For more information, visit www.isra.org
Saturday, December 11, 2021
The Well Armed Woman
Tuesday, December 14 & 21, 2021
Tuesday Night Air Rifle League
Saturday, December 18, 2021
Air Pistol League
Tuesday, December 28, 2021
Concealed Carry Class
Thursday, December 30, 2021
Concealed Carry Class
Gun & Trade Shows
New Berlin Gun Show – New Berlin, IL
Sangamon County Fairgrounds
Dates: December 11 & 12, 2021
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-4:00
Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $5.00
Kane County Sportsman’s Show – St Charles, IL
Kane County Fairgrounds
Date: December 12, 2021
Hours: Sunday: 7:30-1:30
Admission: $7.00
Crown Point Gun Show – Crown Point, IN
Lake County Fairgrounds
Dates: December 18 & 19, 2021
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $5.00
Kankakee Gun and Sportsman’s Show – Kankakee, IL
Kankakee County Fairgrounds
Dates: December 18 & 19, 2021
Hours: Saturday: 8:00-3:00
Sunday: 8:00-2:00
Admission: $6.00
McHenry County Gun Show – Woodstock, IL
McHenry County Fairgrounds
Date: December 19, 2021
Hours: Sunday: 8:00-1:00
Admission: $5.00