July 15, 2021
Sunday August 1, 2021, will be the beginning of squirrel season in Illinois. This will kick off the Fall hunting seasons. There are those who turn their nose up at eating squirrel but they have never had these little bushy-tails well prepared. They are delicious. Once when I was hunting with my wife’s uncle who was an avid squirrel hunter, I brought three bushy tails home. That night we were having friends over for dinner. I carefully prepared the squirrels, boned them, diced up the meat and put it on top of a pizza. While we were eating dinner, our friends commented on how good the pizza was. When I told them that I put squirrel meat on as a topping, they stopped eating the pizza. It’s the thought that counts. For those hunters who have not gotten their FOID card renewed, you need not worry about being stopped by the Conservation Police, it does not matter. Make sure you have your Illinois Hunting License because that does matter.
When squirrel season comes along, I always think of my friend Otis McDonald. I first met Otis McDonald in the cafeteria of the Stratton Building at the Capitol in Springfield. It was during one of our early Lobby Days. Otis was worried because the City of Chicago would not let him register his squirrel rifle. It was required by the city but they wouldn’t do it. If he got caught, it would cost him his Second Amendment rights. It was one of those little games anti-gunners play. Well, we all know how that turned out. When we passed concealed carry, the Chicago gun registration scheme went right down the toilet. Think about Otis McDonald and never let him slip from our memories. And just for fun, next time you see one of those little bushy tails bouncing through your yard or scurrying up a tree, remember how they helped defeat the mighty City of Chicago.
Crime marches on in Chicago with 40 people shot and 10 killed last weekend. One of those killed was Chicago rapper KTS Dre who was shot 64 times after being let out of jail. You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out there is something more here than a simple street shooting. KTS means Kill To Survive by the way – Chicago mentality at its finest.
The Chicago Tribune reports that the number of FOID card applications in so-called safe suburbs are on the rise. All but the naivest realize there is no such thing as a safe suburb, city, village or town. Patricia and Mark McCloskey are prime examples. Now, in some places, if you call 911, they ask you to leave your number and they will call you back. There is an old saying, “the police will arrive in time to chalk the line”. Nothing against the police, it’s just a fact. Defunding police departments, lack of support of police by elected officials, no bail laws and soft on crime judges all add to the storm. I am actually surprised that some sort of neighborhood militia hasn’t been formed in some places.
The anti-gun side always put some sort of negative spin on gun ownership. They point out that there have been accidental shootings of children from firearms that were carelessly left around some places. They never point out that these occur in homes that are occupied by people who are not eligible to own a gun.
The National Rifle and Pistol Championships have started. The ISRA has teams as well as individual competitors at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, where the NRA Smallbore Matches are being held. The ISRA has its first senior Smallbore Team in quite a while. I went to Camp Atterbury to see the new Smallbore range and the new pistol ranges. I must say, they are beautiful and they are covered. Are they perfect? No, but they are close. Shooting pistol off a nice concrete pad should help scores. Some of us that shot many years at Camp Perry are a bit nostalgic but things change. It is the way of the world and always has been.
On the legal front, ISRA cases are still waiting but that is not true nationality. In the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals (Richmond, Virginia), Judge Julius Richardson has ruled constitutional rights are vested at age 18. The case stems from 19-year-old Natalia Marshall’s attempt to purchase a handgun for self-defense. Marshall had been forced to get a protective order against her ex-boyfriend. She was denied the handgun, although she was otherwise qualified, because she was not 21. Illinois has a similar law. Moreover, in Illinois, those 18 to 20-year-old people cannot get the required FOID card on their own until they are 21. There are many people between 18 and 21 who can’t get a FOID card because their parents are deceased, ineligible, live out of state or simply won’t sign for the FOID card. The same is true of Illinois Concealed Carry Licenses. This is a clear denial of their constitutional rights. This case will go before the Supreme Court of the United States. There are other cases in other states that are in a similar vein. Don’t be surprised to see a case here in Illinois soon.
Ammo Quest: Reports have been coming in around the state concerning ammo availability and pricing at local stores. One of our members picked up several boxes of brass cased CCI 9mm for $16.99. The limit was six boxes. This was from one of the “farm stores” around the state. For 45 ACP it was $24.99. Much better than I was able to find online although online prices did creep lower at 37 cents a round for steel case 9MM ammo. Rifle ammunition like .223 steel case remained at 47 cents a round online. I did not find any in local stores but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t out there somewhere. Brass .223 is still at 62 cents a round and 5.56mm at 90 cents a round. I did get Remington’s latest video report and they are at full production. We will have to see how that translates to availability and pricing at the local level.
As of 7/14/2021:
Active CCL-419,617
Active FOID-2,421,780
Tidbits:
July 15, 1903 – The newly formed Ford Motor Company takes its first order from Chicago dentist Ernst Pfennig. The first cars were designated as the Model A. The cars had two cylinders and eight horse power. The car could achieve 30 miles an hour. In 1908, the Model T Ford was introduced. Production of the Model T ended in 1927 when Ford reintroduced the Model A. Although the new Model A was vastly improved, it never achieved the numbers of the Model T because of the Great Depression.
July 16, 1945 – The first atomic bomb is tested at Alamogordo, New Mexico. This was a product of the Manhattan project. The original budget for the Manhattan Project was $6000. In the end, the project cost 2 billion dollars.
July 16, 1779 – Brigadier General Anthony Wayne attacks Stoney Point 12 miles north of West Point.
Stoney Point was thought to be impenetrable and threatened West Point, New York. General Wayne attacked with 1200 light infantry using only bayonets. The American troops killed or captured 566 British troops. He then destroyed the fortress. He earned the nickname “Mad Anthony Wayne” for achieving the impossible. The nickname stuck to him the rest of his life. Actor John Wayne changed his professional name to John Wayne because he admired General Wayne.
July 19, 1814 – Samuel Colt is born.
July 20 1969 – Astronaut Neil Armstrong walks on the moon. I was watching.
July 20 1944 – The assassination plot against Adolf Hitler fails.
July 21, 1865 – Wild Bill Hickok shoots Dave Tutt in Springfield, Missouri. Hickok and Tutt were allegedly fighting over a woman and decided to settle it with a duel. Wild Bill Hickok fired a shot hitting Tutt in the chest killing him. Wild Bill was from Troy Grove, Illinois.
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Upcoming Events: ISRA Calendar
For more information, visit www.isra.org
Saturday, July 17, 2021
NRA Basic Pistol Class
Sunday, July 18, 2021
Springfield Match 2021
3 Hour Illinois CCW Recertification
Monday, July 19 & 26, 2021
ISRA Military Benchrest Rifle League
ISRA Scout Rifle League
Tuesday, July 20 & 27, 2021
Tuesday Night Irregular Rifle League
Wednesday, July 21 & 28, 2021
ISRA Benchrest League
F-Class Rifle League
Combat Paper & Steel League
Thursday, July 22 & 29, 2021
ISRA Smallbore Prone/F-Class League
Sunday, July 25, 2021
ISRA Bullseye Match
Handgun Drills
Glock Summer League
Skill Builder
Friday, July 30 & August 1, 2021
Triple Threat Defense LLC: Tactical Carbine Level I
Saturday, July 31, 2021
The Well Armed Woman
Gun & Trade Shows
Pecatonica Guns, Hunting & Shooting Expo – Pecatonica, IL
Winnebago County Fairgrounds
Dates: July 16, 17, & 18, 2021
Hours: Friday: 4:00-9:00
Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $10.00
Bloomington Gun & Knife Show – Bloomington, IL
Interstate Center
Dates: July 24 & 25, 2021
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $6.00
Boot City Gun Show – Terre Haute, IN
Boot City Opry
Dates: August 13 & 14, 2021
Hours: Friday: 12:00-7:00
Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Admission: $5.00
Crown Point Gun Show – Crown Point, IN
Lake County Fairgrounds
Dates: August 21 & 22, 2021
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $5.00
Belleville Gun & Knife Show – Belleville, IL
Belleville Fairgrounds
Dates: August 28 & 29, 2021
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $6.00