Each year ISRA reaches out to other pro-firearms rights organizations, bringing them and thousands of our own members to the state capital to lobby their legislators. In addition to providing busses for transportation, lining up venues and guest speakers, we give instruction on the process of passing a bill, and how to influence their individual legislators towards their own position. In 2010, 2011 and again in 2012 the number of people turning out for IGOLD, Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day, was near 7000 people. These are folks that felt strongly enough to take the day off of work to travel to have their voice heard by their legislators.
In 2008, the ISRA, together with other state firearms associations, filed an amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) brief on the DC v Heller case that went before the Supreme Court. Oral arguments were heard on March 12, 2008.
On June 26, 2008, within the hour of the Supreme Court ruling in favor of Dick Heller in DC v Heller, the ISRA filed suit in federal court against Chicago’s handgun ban and heavy-handed registration requirements. The ISRA was joined in this suit by four ISRA members and the Second Amendment Foundation. Lead attorney in this case was Alan Gura, who was also the lead attorney in DC v Heller. The case was McDonald v Chicago.
On June 9, 2009, the petition was filed with the United States Supreme Court to hear the ISRA’s suit against Chicago’s handgun ban, McDonald V Chicago. The US Supreme Court has now heard the case, and on June 28, 2010 issued its landmark decision striking down Chicago’s 28 year old ban on handgun ownership and finally, incorporated the 2nd Amendment to the states ensuring an individual’s right to keep and bear arms throughout the country.
The ISRA has consistently lead the way in opposing the ISP’s, (Illinois State Police), stubbornness on FOID administration, with regards to illegal delays and denials, including their move to deny FOIDs for those under 10 years old. Today, the ISP is once again following the law and issuing FOID cards to applicants, regardless of age. When the Associated Press asked for FOID holders’ personal information, the ISRA sued the Illinois State Police and Lisa Madigan, Illinois’ Attorney General and won a temporary injunction against the release of that information while it’s lobbyists worked and got passed legislation that protected this information. The finality of the court case resulted in a permanent injunction against not only the FOID information, but the FTIP information as well, adding two barriers to the future release of this information. So the seriousness of this isn’t lost, in N.Y. state this information was not only released, but a newspaper printed it recently in an effort to stigmatize the gun owning community. Reports of burglaries are already coming in…
The ISRA has an Attorney’s Referral System in place to help assure that gun owners have sound legal representation from attorneys that know firearms laws and are up to date on the latest legislative and judicial decisions. This is now run under our sister organization the Illinois State Rifle Association’s Legal Assistance Committee, an IRS approved 501-c3 charitable organization. Donations to the ISRA – LAC are tax deductible. (Donations to the ISRA proper, a 501-c4 not-for-profit, are not).
The ISRA holds town meetings to help local gun owners meet and defeat the high handed tactics of local governments. We also send out email alerts, post on our Facebook page and tweet timely information crucial to staying in the fight for your rights. Unfortunately, snail mail is not as effective as it once was and as the war against your rights heats up, we need to be able to contact you on a moment’s notice when action is necessary. The Illinois Legislature need only give one hour notice before calling a bill… that’s not much of a window for counter arguments.
The ISRA maintains four lobbyists in Springfield to protect the rights of gun owners in Illinois. The 2017 legislative session is upon us now.