October 14, 2021
The cool winds of Fall are sweeping across the cities, towns, villages and prairies of Illinois. The grain harvest is progressing although slowed by rain in certain areas. On the 20th, the Hunter’s Full Moon will be at its zenith. Deer will be running everywhere so be careful out there.
The Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC), founded by John Lott, reports that concealed carry permits are 10.5% over this time last year. Looking back to 2016, permits are up 48%. The wild card in all these statistics is the number of states that have adopted permit less carry or constitutional carry. Right now, we are at about 21.5 million concealed carry permits in the United States. I estimate that there are in the neighborhood of another 20 million in constitutional carry states.
For some reason, some people seem to be bewildered by why it is happening. You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure it out. Look at what is happening in southern Mexico. There are about 60,000 illegals making their way north to walk unopposed across our border. Somehow the Haitians got 2000 miles from Haiti to Mexico. Now they have 250 charter buses waiting to move them north. Think for a moment of what a large logistical operation this is. Think about the cost and coordination that this takes. Someone is paying for all of this, but who? Radical American billionaires, cartels, Red China or maybe Russia. The United States government who is supposed to protect all of us is laying down like a sleepy lap dog. All this is going to wind up on our door step. There is no one to protect us but ourselves. I’m surprised the number of concealed carry and constitutional carry people aren’t 60 or 70 million.
The National Rifle Association recently held their Annual Meeting in North Carolina. I am pleased to report that three of the most capable people I know are now in leadership. They are Charles Cotton, President; Willis Lee, First Vice President; and David Coy, Second Vice President. I have known these individuals for several years. David Coy has been a life member of the ISRA for a long time. They will do a great job. Hopefully, the NRA will get these lawsuits behind them in 2022. When they do, there will be some rebuilding to do.
There are those jumping up and down demanding everyone’s head, particularly Wayne Lapierre’s head. If Wayne LaPierre were to step down, who would replace him? I, like many of you, have sent untold dollars to the NRA over the years. I am not mad but I am disappointed. This is not the time to fight about this. We have to save the ship first; we have to deal with the New York lawsuit and then begin to rebuild the NRA. It is not going to be easy.
It’s crazy in Chicago and getting crazier. Kim Foxx, the notorious Cook County State’s Attorney, let five people go who were involved in a “rolling shootout” which left one person dead because they were mutual combatants. In another case, a father fired a shot in the air to ward off carjackers and he was cited for illegal use of a weapons, Cook County Justice at its finest.
I always thought that Santa Claus showed up on Christmas Eve in a sleigh, overloaded with gifts, pulled by eight reindeer, with Rudolph leading the way in bad weather. Imagine my surprise when I found out that Santa depended on container ships waiting to be unloaded at the Port of Los Angeles and truck drivers to deliver those goods to all parts of the country. Store shelves are becoming empty, businesses can’t hire employees because they get paid more on the government dole, fuel prices are going up, people that want to work but can’t because they refuse to be vaccinated because of unknown long-term effects and on and on it goes. What is the cause of all of this? Piles of mandates, laws, rules and regulations that get deeper and deeper by the minute as no-nothing bureaucrats flex their muscles. No matter how hard Santa and his team of dedicated elves work, they are being outdone by Scrooge Biden and his team of left-wing nut jobs. My Christmas wish is for a new President but I’m afraid he or she might be in one of those containers from China.
There is another problem when we open those shipping containers from Red China. We are sending money to the Red Chinese to use against us. We are funding the attempts to cause our own demise. I know if we stop buying from Red China it will make our billionaires, the leftists and most of the media unhappy. Too bad! I want a bright productive future for Americans. Every time we open those container doors, the future of this nation’s children grows a little dimmer.
I know the jobs report says we are at 4.8% unemployment. That is bogus. There are millions of people not counted in that figure; they are out of the job market because of the government. There are several things that the government dole doesn’t give that matters just as much or more than money. These are intangible things like pride, self-worth, satisfaction and mental stability, things that when put together with others who feel the same, make the United States a wonderful place to live. Conversely, without those things, the United States will continue to decline. It should be a National New Year’s Resolution to bring jobs back to our country.
Mark your calendar for the 2021 ISRA Annual Sighting-In Day which will be held on Saturday, October 23rd from 10:00 – 3:00 at our Range. Sight-in your shotgun, rifle, pistol, muzzleloader or bow. $10.00 per firearm, open to the public, free parking. No ammunition is available on premises.
Reminder: October 30 & 31, 2021, Defensive Training International (DTI) Defensive Handgun Course – John Farnam, Instructor, will be at our Range. To register for this 2-day course, please use this link to register.
Tidbits:
October 14, 1066 – In the year 1066, William the Conqueror invaded England. Two weeks later on October 14, he fought Anglo-Saxon King Harold II for control of England. Harold II was killed by an arrow through the eye and William the Conqueror controlled England. On Christmas Day 1066, he was crowned King of England and became William I. So why is this important a thousand years later? Two things happened. First the Anglo-Saxon and Norman languages were combined and the result was English, the language we speak today with some tweaking. William I compiled what is known as the Doomsday Book which was a great census of all the land that people owned. From this census, William I laid and collected taxes on everyone’s property. I am sure the checks every property owner wrote to the County Collector is fresh in their mind. We can thank William I for that one.
October 16, 1991 – A truck driver drove his truck through the wall at Lucy’s Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas, killing 23 people and wounding 20 more. Texas did not have concealed carry at the time. Many had firearms with them but they had to be left outside in their vehicles. One of those people was Dr. Suzanna Gratia Hupp who watched helplessly as her mother and father died. An experienced gun owner, her gun was one of those locked in her car. She regretted leaving her gun in the car. Determined to change things, Dr. Hupp went on a crusade to get concealed carry in Texas. In 1995, Texas passed concealed carry thanks in large part to her efforts.
October 17, 1777 – The Battle of Saratoga – British General “Gentlemen Johnny Burgoyne” surrenders 5000 British troops to American General Horatio Gates. General Gates had surrounded Burgoyne and his troops with 20,000 citizen soldiers. Burgoyne left the United States vowing to never return, not that anyone wanted him back. The United States had had tough times but the victory at Saratoga greatly aided Benjamin Franklin, who was in France asking for the French to help us. France began providing aid to the U.S. which had its rewards four years later at Yorktown.
October 17, 1835 – The Republic of Texas approves a resolution to create the Texas Rangers. The Texas Rangers was a government creation but it was made up of civilians who supplied their own horses and arms. It is never a good idea to tangle with law enforcement but it was even a worse idea to tangle with the Texas Rangers. The Texas Rangers served as both military and law enforcement depending on the need. Their reputation spread far and wide. One story is about a town having a riot. The town elders called on the Texas Rangers. They sent one Texas Ranger armed with two pistols, a rifle and a shotgun.
He walked up to the rioters, leveled his shotgun and told them to disperse which they did. One of the town elders asked him why they only sent one Ranger. The Texas Ranger replied you were only having one riot.
October 18, 1867 – The United States takes control of the Territory of Alaska. Seward’s Folly as it was called, was the brainchild of Secretary of State William H. Seward. The cost was a whopping sum of two cents an acre. Alaska produces 50 percent of our sea food and 24 percent of our oil. The name Alaska come from the Aleut word alyeska meaning “Great Land”. It certainly is!
October 19, 1781 – General George Washington commanding an army of 14,000 American and French Troops, surrounded and defeated British General Cornwallis. They captured 7,087 British troops, 900 seamen, 144 cannons, 15 galleys, a frigate and 30 transport ships. They also smacked British arrogance in the face.
October 20, 1947 – Congress investigates communism in Hollywood. Hmmm, I wonder what we did with that file.
October 20, 1944 – General MacArthur returns to the Philippines keeping his promise to return. My father joined MacArthur’s command in Australia. He was in the third wave when they landed in the Philippines. A few days later he was wounded. My Father loved General MacArthur. If MacArthur announced he was going to invade hell, I’m sure my dad’s only question would have been “What time do we leave?”
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Upcoming Events: ISRA Calendar
For more information, visit www.isra.org
Saturday, October 16. 2021
Triple Threat Defense LLC: Defensive Tactics for Concealed Carry Level II
Sunday, October 17, 2021
Triple Threat Defense LLC: Tactical Carbine Level II
Marksmanship League
761st Gun Club Defensive Pistol
ISRA Hard Dogs Meeting
Tuesday, October 19, 2021
Tuesday Night Irregular Rifle League
Wednesday, October 20 & 27, 2021
Combat Paper & Steel League
Saturday, October 23, 2021
Handgun Drills
ISRA Annual Sighting-In Day
Sunday, October 24, 2021
ISRA Bullseye Match
Saturday, October 30, 2021
The Well Armed Woman
DTI Defensive Handgun Course
Sunday, October 31, 2021
DTI Defensive Handgun Course
Glock Fall League
Gun & Trade Shows
Springfield Gun & Knife Show – Springfield, IL
Illinois State Fairgrounds
Dates: October 16 & 17, 2021
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $6.00
McHenry County Gun Show – Woodstock, IL
McHenry County Fairgrounds
Date: October 17, 2021
Hours: Sunday: 8:00-1:00
Admission: $5.00
Belleville Gun & Knife Show – Belleville, IL
Belleville Fairgrounds
Dates: October 22 & 23, 2021
Hours: Friday: unavailable
Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Admission: $6.00
Peoria Gun & Knife Show – Peoria, IL
Exposition Gardens
Dates: October 30 & 31, 2021
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $6.00
Sauk Trail Gun Show – Princeton, IL
Bureau County Fairgrounds
Dates: October 30 & 31, 2021
Hours: Saturday: 8:00-4:00
Sunday: 8:00-3:00
Admission: $2.00