June 16, 2022
We have been waiting for a ruling from the Illinois Supreme Court on the People v Vivian Claudine Brown case. The Brown case dealt with whether or not the FOID was unconstitutional in the home. The White County Circuit Court has ruled the FOID card is unconstitutional in the home. Because this case dealt with a constitutional question, the case went directly to the Illinois Supreme Court, skipping appellate courts. Today, Thursday June 16, 2022, the Illinois Supreme Court issued its ruling. The Court once again side stepped the question of the constitutionality of the FOID in the home and dismissed the case on procedural grounds. This is the judicial version of ring-around-the-rosy. The vote was 4-3 NOT to hear the case on the merits. The Brown case is remanded back to the White County Circuit Court. In short, we are back to square one. In closing, I will say while the FOID card issue is most important, the ruling is also terribly unfair to Ms. Brown. We will continue to fight on.
The U.S. House of Representatives has proposed H.R. 7910, the so called Protecting Our Kids Act. The titles of bills coming out of Congress are usually the opposite of what the actual goal of the resolution is. This resolution is a monster attacking law-abiding gun owners. Now that the Senate has a proposed bill this should slow down or stop H.R. 7910.
The details of the Senate gun control resolution are not out. The devil is always in the details. Right now, everything is just generalities which is a refined way of describing hot air. The ideas of hardening schools and increased mental health funding are appealing to me, but I don’t trust the rest of it. I hate to be pessimistic but if funds for hardening schools and mental health are in the mix, the challenge will be to see that the funds aren’t hi-jacked.
The committee of 10 Republican and 10 Democrat Senators is interesting. Of the 10 Republicans, none are up for re-election in 2022. Of the 10 Democrat Senators, all are rabidly anti-gun except for Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia. Anti-gun Senator Chuck Schumer of New York is, of course, jumping up and down with glee.
The June 14 Primary Election results are in. Here are some of the highlights: The big news is that Mayra Flores, a Republican, has won a Special Election against Democrat Dan Sanchez in a blue Texas Congressional District. Flores will serve only until January. She will have to stand for election in the General Election in November. Still, this may be a bellwether for things to come.
Tom Rice of South Carolina was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach President Trump. Trump endorsed State Representative Tom Fry in the Primary Election. Fry trounced the incumbent Rice. Fry got 51% of the vote in a four-person race. Rice got slightly less than 25% of the vote.
In Nevada, Trump endorsed Adam Laxalt and garnered 56 % of the vote in a four-person race for U.S. Senator. While these results look promising, the General Elections are the main event. There is a long way to go until November.
Ohio made some great strides in gun rights recently. Ohio Senate Bill 215, which allows Constitutional Carry, has been signed by Governor DeWine. The new law allows Constitutional Carry for qualified adults 21 years or older. Ohio will still maintain its Concealed Carry licenses if people want them. They are a must for people who travel out of state. The Ohio Concealed Carry License can be used as a “stand in” for a NICS check in certain gun shops. I don’t quite know what that means. Open Carry is optional under Ohio law. The Buckeye Firearms Association recommends those exercising Constitutional Carry still get training.
Governor DeWine also signed House Bill 99 which allows teachers to be armed. There is a special 24-hour training class for teachers. The Buckeye Firearms Association developed a class for teachers several years ago. From those I have talked to, I understand that it is an excellent class. Hats off to the Buckeye Firearms Associates for their great work In Ohio.
Colt has received the Golden Bullseye Handgun of the Year Award for the redesigned Anaconda. The Anaconda comes in either a six or eight inch and utilizes an oversized Colt Python action. The redesigned Anaconda comes with adjustable sights and is also drilled and tapped for optical sights. The new Anaconda comes in .44 Magnum only. I have two of the older models of the Colt Anaconda and I have to say they are a pleasure to shoot. I have one in .44 Magnum and one in .45 Colt. They are both extremely accurate.
A new Quinnipiac Universal poll shows public support is at an all-time low for a so-called ban on “assault weapons”. This is the lowest level of support among registered voters for a nationwide ban on the sale of “assault weapons” since 2013. Maybe people are finally seeing that they must be able to defend themselves. The poll also shows 40% of voters think mental health issues are the real problem.
The Miami Police Department plans to hold a gun buyback this Saturday calling it GUNS 4 UKRAINE. The Miami public information officer declined to give her entire name but said the guns would be sent to the Ukrainian military. Oh yeah, I can see that 1873 Colt Single Action Army being sent right over there along with that Parker Brothers Special Grade 28 gauge, which might be worth $100,000 or more, packed in the same box. By the way Miami PD, before you do that, you might want to check Florida statute 790.08 which prohibits doing that. While you are at it, you might want to check International Traffic in Arms Regulations which also prohibits such activities. Did your export license come though yet? I bet it’s on the way. The Miami PD will break state, federal and international law if they do this. Come to think of it, go ahead. I’m sure the anti-gun honchos at the Miami PD would enjoy 20 years in beautiful Fort Leavenworth.
Triple Threat Defense is offering a Level I Defensive Tactics for Concealed Carry at the ISRA Range in Bonfield this Saturday, June 18. This is a one-day class. The cost is $125 for ISRA members and $150 for non-members. This class is a prerequisite for the Level II class. You will need 300 rounds of ammunition. This is for those who already have an Illinois Concealed Carry License. The class size is small for more individualized attention. To register, call David Diller at 815-383-6558.
Tidbits:
June 16, 1858 – Abraham Lincoln spoke at the Republican Convention in Springfield, Illinois, in what became known as the “House Divided” speech. Lincoln used the biblical quote “A house divided against itself cannot stand”. The issue was slavery.
The Founding Fathers feared divisiveness and for good reason. The Founders were aware of the European wars in the 17th century. They did not like the idea of political parties. In 1824, Thomas Jefferson wrote that it was natural for men to be divided into two parties. As we are witnessing today, the United States is becoming more of a house divided. I worry about the future.
June 11, 1903 – The Illinois State Rifle Association is founded in Danville, Illinois.
June 16, 1903 – Ford Motor Company is incorporated. Henry Ford was a leader in innovation. Moving assembly lines and interchangeable parts were just the beginning. In the early 1900s, Henry Ford conceived of the idea of having a fully integrated automobile plant. Ford stared building the River Rouge Plant in Dearborn, Michigan. The idea was, and still is, that raw materials like iron ore, limestone, silica sand and other raw materials entered one end of the plant and completed automobiles came out the other end. I have visited the River Rouge Plant and it is amazing. If you ever get a chance to go, do it. The Henry Ford Museum is also great.
June 17, 1775 – The Battle of Bunker Hill really occurred on Breed’s Hill just below Bunker Hill. Nevertheless, it became known as the Battle of Bunker Hill. British General Thomas Gage landed troops on the Charlestown Peninsula near Boston. Colonial patriots under command of American General Prescott were in fortified positions just below Bunker Hill. One of those patriots seldom mentioned was Dr. Joseph Warren, a Boston doctor and leader in the Sons of Liberty. Dr Warren was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill, a great loss to the American cause. The British attacked the patriot positions three times. They were repelled the first two times. Finally, the patriots were running low on ammunition and had to retreat. The patriots suffered 370 casualties. The British had nearly 1000 casualties including 92 officers. British General Gage claimed victory, Lord North, an esteemed leader in the British Parliament had a more jaundiced view. Lord North said, “Any more such victories like this and we should be defeated.” In the end, Lord North was right.
June 17, 1884 – The Statue of Liberty is delivered to New York Harbor, a gift from the people France. The statue was in 350 pieces and came in 200 shipping crates.
June 18, 1812 – The War of 1812 begins. The British never really accepted the fact that they lost the Revolutionary War. They were constantly interfering with United States interests. Most of the time we hear about the impressment of American seaman. Impressment was essentially the kidnapping of American seamen and forcing them to work on British ships. Less known is that the British constantly incited Indians along the American frontier to prevent westward expansion. The Shawnee Indian Chief, Tecumseh, organized the Native American confederacy and was supported by the British. A group known as the “War Hawks” convinced Congress to declare war on Great Britain. The United States attacked Canada three times. Although unsuccessful, they managed to burn several government buildings in Canada. The Canadians were loyal subjects and wanted no part of being invaded by the United States, much to the surprise of American leaders. With the help of Tecumseh, the British captured Detroit. American troops drove the British into upper Canada and Tecumseh went with them.
Tecumseh was killed in October 1813 at the Battle of the Thames. In August of 1814, the British burned the White House, partially, in retaliation for burning government buildings in Canada and to humiliate the United States. While the British were in Washington, a severe thunderstorm and tornado struck the British troops devastating them and destroying most of their supplies. The storm lasted two hours and killed more British than American gun fire. The superstitious British troops feared they had angered God by attacking the Americans and wanted to get out as fast as possible. In September of 1814, American Naval forces defeated the invading British on Lake Champlain and forced the British to retreat to Canada. The British and the United States had had enough. Peace negotiations were going on in Belgium. The Treaty of Ghent was signed on December 24, 1814, ending the War of 1812.
No one on the North American Continent knew the war was over. The British were still smarting over the Louisiana Purchase and wanted to capture New Orleans, which they thought rightfully belonged to them. General Andrew Jackson put together American troops, expert riflemen from Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, pirates, slaves, Indians and whoever else he could find to resist the British attack. Andrew Jackson had 5700 in his ragtag army. British Government Pakenham had 8000 British regulars. At the end of the day, General Pakenham was dead. The British suffered 2,034 casualties and the Americans had 62. It was a humiliating loss for the British, something the British thought about when negotiating the northern borders of the United States. The Europeans had a new respect for the United States.
There was a lot more that came out of the War of 1812, like the respect for the United States Navy, the Star-Spangled Banner and more. The United States government could not pay it soldiers all that they were owed so they received their pay in the form of land, west of the Illinois River.
The American Victory at New Orleans swelled American pride and united the Country. The death of Tecumseh all but ended Indian raids and settlers began moving west.
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Upcoming Events: ISRA Calendar
For more information, visit www.isra.org
Saturday, June 18, 2022
ISRA Academy NRA Basic Shotgun Course – Canceled
Defensive Tactics for Concealed Carry-Level 1
Sunday, June 19, 2022
Springfield Armory Pistol Match
Monday, June 20 & 27, 2022
Military Bench Rest League
Tuesday, June 21 & 28, 2022
Tuesday Night Irregular Rifle League
Wednesday, June 22 & 29, 2022
F-Class Rifle League
Bench Rest League
Paper & Steel League
Thursday, June 23 – Sunday, June 26, 2022
Massad Ayoob MAG-40 Class
Thursday, June 23 & 30, 2022
ISRA Smallbore Prone/F-Class League
Sunday, June 26, 2022
ISRA Bullseye Match
Glock Summer League
Saturday, July 2, 2022
Range Work Day
ISRA Steel Challenge
Sunday, July 3, 2022
Bonfield Muzzle Loaders
ISRA 3Gun
Independence Day 800
Gun & Trade Shows
Pecatonica Gun Show – Pecatonica, IL
Pecatonica Guns, Hunting & Shooting Expo
Winnebago County Fairgrounds
Dates: June 17-19, 2022
Hours: Friday: 4:00-9:00
Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $10.00 ($8.00 weekday)
Belleville Gun & Knife Show – Belleville, IL
Belleville Fairgrounds
Dates: June 25 & 26, 2022
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $6.00
Crown Point Gun Show – Crown Point, IN
Lake County Fairgrounds
Dates: July 2 & 3, 2022
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $5.00
Belleville Knife Expo – Belleville, IL
Belle-Clair Fairgrounds & Expo Center
Dates: July 8 & 9, 2022
Hours: Friday: 1:00-7:00
Saturday: 9:00-4:00
Admission: $4.00
Bloomington Gun & Knife Show – Bloomington, IL
Interstate Center
Dates: July 23 & 24, 2022
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-3:00
Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $6.00