July 7, 2022
The NYSR&PA victory has already had some positive results. Several gun rights cases have been remanded to lower courts for review. Branchi et al v Frosh, Maryland, and Duncan v Bonito, the California “assault weapons” and magazine ban will be the first to go. I believe all the cases mentioned in last week’s Thursday Bulletin will be reviewed. Another California case not previously mentioned is the McDonagall v Ventura County. This case challenges the closing of gun shops during the California COVID-19 outbreak.
Firearm sales in June were the second highest ever. The call for gun bans undoubtedly spurred sales. Americans love their Second Amendment Rights and understand that the Biden Administration’s attack will leave them defenseless against criminals and the overreaching government.
Recently, a friend of mine, who lives in Florida, sent me a copy of the Fort Myers Florida Weekly. Six pages of the paper was dedicated to concealed carry. Florida now has about 2,400,000 concealed carry permits. Florida is also considering permit-less carry. One of the stories that struck me was a woman the reporter interviewed who is a relatively new permit holder. This woman said she never gave it much thought since she lived in what she thought was a safe neighborhood. Then in the wee hours of one morning, she heard a commotion a couple doors down and saw her neighbor chase two men out of his house at gun point. The neighbor had been aroused by another neighbor’s barking dog only to find two men breaking in his house. Like a lot of people, she discovered her safe neighborhood wasn’t safe. She realized it could have been her house they were breaking into, but luck saved her this time. This lady signed up for classes and became a Florida Concealed Carry Permit holder. She also has a new best friend living with her. Her new best friend is a German Shepard dog. Good choices all around. The reason I like this story is this is what I keep telling people: You have to be ready.
The shooting at the parade in Highland Park is by any measure, terrible. Nevertheless, there are some facts you need to hear. Highland Park has an old grandfathered-in assault weapons and magazine ban. Obviously, they didn’t work. The shooter was raised in Highland Park, Illinois, and knows what the laws are although he now lives in Lake Bluff, Illinois, not far away. His father still lives in Highland Park and ran for mayor in 2020.
That ban made it easier for him. In Illinois, a concealed carry permit holder cannot carry in places like permitted festivals and parades. I’m sure the shooter knew that also. In Illinois, we have a Red Flag law. It is reported that the FBI was watching this guy. He had made threats on social media and threatened to kill his family; knives and a sword were taken away from him. Yet, nothing was done. This is the perfect storm of naivety, stupidly, malfeasance or some combination of all three. This guy obviously has mental health problems and should have been flagged.
The question is what would I do? First, I would reinstate the death penalty. Second, I would reverse the “Let them go free“ policies and end early release programs immediately. Third, I would increase mental health funding to include adjudicating the worst cases and putting them in facilities with 24-hour care. Fourth, I would set up a system of monitoring social media for threats. We have some of that now. I know many will protest this idea but let’s face it, if you are a conservative, you are being monitored now. How else would they know to block you? Fifth, I would go back to enforcing the laws we have and stop giving gang bangers and career criminals a pass. Sixth, I would make the records of violent or mentally disturbed juveniles available to the NICS system and police departments for background checks. So, there is my six-point program.
Of course, Governor Pritzker, Senators Duckworth, Durbin, and every liberal politician above dog catcher is piling on the “assault weapons” bandwagon right now. The facts are that the Highland Park madman planned this for weeks if not months. The fact is there is nothing that is going to stop someone who is determined to make their footnote in history by committing mass murder except to have someone else at the site with a gun to stop them.
Midwest Training Group (MTG) which will be holding an Advanced Handgun Skills Course at our range in Bonfield, Illinois, on August 6th and 7th. Designed by Bob Houzenga and Andy Kemp as an addition to Massad Ayoob’s LFI curriculum and originally taught as LFI Advanced Handgun Skills, this two-day course is fast paced and demanding, focusing on high-speed drills designed to build the optimum blend of speed and accuracy. Ideal for the advanced shooter who wishes to hone and fine-tune his techniques. Novice shooters move up to the next skill level. Emphasis on individual diagnostics and the subtle nuances used by six-time National Champion, Bob Houzenga. From fast and furious, up-close shooting, to accuracy work at 25 yards, this program offers students of any skill level, an opportunity to take their skills to the next level. Recoil management for super-fast follow up shots, rapid first shots from the holster, swift engagement of multiple targets, strong and weak hand techniques, “catching the link”, and shooting “out of the notch” are just some of the topics covered. Many students find their speed doubles or triples with better accuracy. 1200 rounds required. Prior formal instruction is a pre-requisite. Contact Andy Kemp at 208-771-3413 or Andy1911@imaxmail.net or visit www.midwesttraininggroup.net
We are happy to announce that the Illinois State Rifle Association has now become an Official Partner with the United States Concealed Carry Association. In addition to SAVING LIVES, the USCCA’s primary focus is to provide every responsible American with additional education and training when it comes to proper firearm safety. As an added bonus to their membership, you will be added onto the self-defense liability insurance policy issued to the USCCA, God forbid you are ever involved in a justified self-defense incident. We have been working closely with Dominick Catinella. He is the Account Executive for Delta Defense, LLC which is the service provider to the USCCA. If you should have any questions about their membership program or to learn more about receiving a 15% membership discount for being an ISRA member, don’t hesitate to call him anytime. He can be reached at 773-627-4421. Be sure to check the ISRA.org website to obtain your FREE Concealed Carry Guide compliments of the USCCA. Click the link at the bottom of the page, enter your email, and a digital copy will be sent to you immediately. Lastly, look for Dominick’s ad in the upcoming edition of Illinois Shooter newspaper.
Tidbits:
July 7, 1976 – 119 women made history becoming the first females to join the Corps of Cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Sixty-two of those women later graduated in 1980, becoming second lieutenants in the Army.
July 8, 1776 – The bell hanging in what we now call Independence Hall was rung to summons citizens to hear the first reading of the Declaration of Independence. In 1777, the bell was removed and hidden for fear invading Red Coats would melt it down into cannon balls. The bell was rung for special occasions throughout the years. In 1839, it was referred to as the “Liberty Bell” in an abolitionist pamphlet. The name stuck.
July 9, 1947 – The first woman is appointed an official in the United States Army. Florence Blanchfield was appointed as a Lt. Colonel by General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Lt. Colonel Blanchfield had been in the Army since 1917. She was the Superintendent of Army nurses in WWII.
July 10, 1943 – The Invasion of Sicily begins. The American 7th Army commanded by General George Patton and the British 8th Army commanded by General Bernard Montgomery landed on the southern coast of Sicily. There was very little resistance from the Sicilians who were part of the Axis at the time. The reason for that is that New York monster Lucky Luciano helped with the Mafia in Sicily. The Sicilians helped out with maps, acted as interpreters and made sure our ships were loaded and unloaded. Luciano also made sure there were no longshoreman strikes during WWII. Somehow Luciano’s sentence was commuted on February 9, 1946. He was deported back to Italy.
July 11, 1914 – George Herman “Babe” Ruth starts his career in Major League Baseball as a pitcher with the Boston Red Sox. He pitched seven innings and led the Red Sox to a 4-3 win over the Cleveland Indians.
July 12, 1862 – The Congressional Medal of Honor is created.
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Upcoming Events: ISRA Calendar
For more information, visit www.isra.org
Saturday, July 9, 2022
ISRA Academy NRA Range Safety Officer Class
761st Gun Club Range Day
Sunday, July 10, 2022
Handgun Drills
Marksmanship League
CCL Training-Day 2
Monday, July 11 & 18, 2022
Military Bench Rest League
Tuesday, July 12 & 19, 2022
Tuesday Night Irregular Rifle League
Wednesday, July 13 & 20, 2022
F-Class Rifle League
Bench Rest League
Paper & Steel League
Thursday, July 14 & 21, 2022
ISRA Smallbore Prone/F-Class League
Saturday, July 16, 2022
Covert Carry Handgun Course
MTW Consulting LLC NRA 1st Step Pistol Seminar
Sunday, July 17, 2022
Springfield Armory Pistol Match
Saturday, July 23, 2022
ISRA Academy NRA Basic Pistol Class
Locked & Loaded
Sunday, July 24, 2022
ISRA Bullseye Match
Saturday, July 30, 2022
Armed Women of America
Sunday, July 31, 2022
Glock Summer League
Gun & Trade Shows
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