Slide 1
Slide 1
Slide 1
Slide 1
Slide 1
Slide 1
Slide 1

ISRA Thursday Bulletin – June 2, 2022

Facebook Feeds

Facebook Pagelike Widget

ISRA Thursday Bulletin – June 2, 2022

June 2, 2022

The NRA did as well as they could at the Annual Meeting which was held in Houston this past weekend considering the circumstances.  The attendance was down but it was still over 64,000.  Normally, it is around 80,000.  There are lots of reasons it was down.  Traveling these days is a pain in the pocketbook as well as the posterior extremity.  The turmoil the NRA is going through undoubtedly played a part.  The media also dutifully did their part to attack the Second Amendment and the NRA.  All weekend, we were treated to pictures of hundreds of protesters although they really were there on Friday to protest President Trump.  The number of protesters went from about 500 on Friday to 50 or 60 on Saturday.  Some were undoubtedly bankrolled by anti-gun billionaires.

Wayne LaPierre was re-elected as Executive Vice President.  LaPierre garnered 82 % of the votes defeating LTC Allen West.  The path ahead for the NRA, the Second Amendment and gun owners is going to be a difficult one.  We need to take a lesson from LTC Allen West and that is to stay in the fight.  He lost but he isn’t quitting.  He immediately picked himself up, dusted off and is back in the fight.

Here are the hard facts that gun owners need to face.  Never has the Second Amendment faced such a serious attack.  Anti-gun billionaires are financing the attacks on the Second Amendment.  They want to turn it into a privilege not a right.  President Biden sounded the warning on his Texas visit by saying no right is absolute.  We are going to see well-funded attacks on the gun rights by the Moms Demand Action, Everytown, Giffords and the Brady Campaign, all supported by the media.

I urge every gun owner to join in the fight.  We only have a few months until the General Election.  Join every pro-gun organization.  If you read this and are not an ISRA member, please join today.  The time to do that is today, not tomorrow or next week.

Sometimes the solutions the anti-gun crowd comes up with are laughable.  The loony left proposes ideas that show how out of touch they are.  The problem is that there are those who will believe the pablum they are handing out.  My newest favorite bit of idiocy is a proposal by Chicago Alderman Michele Smith (D-43rd Ward).  Smith proposes that everyone carry a whistle and when faced with an armed robber, you blow the whistle and run toward the robber.  The idea is to scare the armed robbers away.  I have no doubt that such tactics will affect the crime rate.  Robberies will go down, but murders will go up.  You can’t make this stuff up.

Unserialized firearms or so called “ghost guns” are the latest whipping boy for the anti-gun left.  They are a big problem in one press release and a small part of the problem in the next interview.  Whatever the case, one would think that if someone got caught engaging in the manufacture and sale of “ghost guns” there would be a heavy price to pay.  It is not illegal to manufacture unserialized firearms for your own use.  The federal law states you cannot sell them, give them away, or inherit them if they do not have a serial number.

Devon Dow, 22 of Chicago, has been arrested for selling unserialized firearms.  He sold them to an undercover agent.  Dow sold a total of seven “ghost guns” that we know of.  The charges should include manufacturing without a license and being a dealer without a license.  Each count is worth five years in prison.  There would be 14 counts that would total 70 years if he got the maximum if I read the federal law correctly.  The claim is Dow was a hobbyist.  Dow hid his firearms in shoe boxes and laundry bins when he delivered the firearms.  Hobbyists also don’t take orders to make firearms and give out their phone number if they would like to order more, all things Dow was doing.  A hobbyist would be taking his homemade firearms to the range to shoot or display them.   If “ghost guns” are such a menace, why was Dow released into custody of his mother and sister?

I don’t care if someone wants to make their own firearms.  I do care that people like Dow put the real hobbyists in jeopardy.  The new Illinois law will do just that.  The anti-gunners will use Dow and people like him to attack law abiding gun owners.  When it comes to the trial, not much will happen to him.

Illinois Congressmen Adam Kinzinger (R-16 Illinois) has announced he is open to a ban on AR-15s and other semiautomatic firearms.  He made the announcement during an interview with CNN.  Kinzinger threw President Trump under the bus and is not popular in his Congressional District.  I have the misfortune of being one of his constituents.  He is not running for Congress again.  I’m sure he will turn up somewhere else.  I was so looking forward to voting against him.

Beretta has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of RUAG Ammotec, the leading manufacturer of small arms ammunition in Europe.  The brands they produce include RWS, Norma, Rottweil and Geco.  With the addition of RUAG Ammotec, Beretta will have 16 different companies in 12 countries with 50 subsidiaries around the world.  Beretta Holding Companies own Beretta USA, Benelli, Franchi, SAKO, Stoeger, Tikka, Uberti and Burris Optics.  With purchase comes contracts to supply ammunition to the Swiss Army and German Armed Forces.  Beretta is known for upgrading companies it acquires.  If all goes well, the deal should be completed by December 2022.

The 12-month drawing #2 winning ticket number is: B-003.

The 12-month drawing #3 winning ticket number is: C-093.

From June 23 through June 26, Massad Ayoob will be having his MAG-40 Class at the ISRA Range in Bonfield, IL.  This is an intense, four-day, 40-hour immersion course in the “rules of engagement” for armed law-abiding private citizens.  The course emphasizes legal issues, tactical issues, and aftermath management. Topics will include interacting with suspects, witnesses, responding police officers, threat recognition and mind-set, and the management of the social and psychological aftermath of having to use lethal force in defense of self or others.  Also covered is preparing beforehand for legal repercussions and minimizing your exposure to them. Situations in the home, at the place of business, or “on the street” will all be covered.  Range work will include instruction in the use of the defensive handgun under extreme stress. Drawing from concealment, two-handed stances, shooting from cover, one-handed stances with either hand, speed reloading, and more are taught with an overall emphasis on fast, accurate shot placement. The course will culminate with a written examination covering the classroom topics and a police-style handgun qualification course.  500 rounds.  No prerequisite required.  $1000  Contact Andy Kemp at 208-771-3413 or andy1911@imaxmail.net  or visit www.MidwestTrainingGroup.net

Tidbits:

June 2, 1774 – The British Parliament completes the Coercive Acts with the Quartering Act.  This act required colonists to provide barracks for British Regulars at no charge.  This included hotels and public houses.  Many times, the colonists were forced to feed the troops and even polish their boots.  This really galled the colonists and pushed them ever closer to Revolution.  We are all familiar with the First and Second Amendments.  The Third Amendment protects Americans from being required to quarter troops.

June 2, 1916 – President Woodrow Wilson signs the National Defense Act which expanded the size of the National Guard and raised standards to be the same as the United States Army.  Pay for duty was taken over by the federal government.  Training requirements were doubled.  The Act also established the Reserve Officers Training Corps for high school and college students.

June 2, 1935 – Babe Ruth retires.  In 1927, he hit 60 home runs in a 154-game season.  Roger Maris hit 61 home runs but in a 162-game season.  It wasn’t until 1974 that Hank Arron hit 61 home runs in 154 games.  Ruth’s slugging percentage of .690 still stands as the record.  Babe Ruth died in 1948 of throat cancer.

June 4 – 6, 1942 – The Battle of Midway takes place.  The United States fleet destroyed four Japanese aircraft carriers, 292 aircraft and 2500 Japanese sailors.  The loss to ships, aircraft and experienced personnel was so devastating that the Japanese were never able to recover.  They spent the rest of WWII on defense.

June 4, 1876 – The Transcontinental Express leaves New York City bound for San Francisco.  It would arrive in San Francisco 83 hours later.  What took six months a few years earlier was accomplished in under four days.  The nation was astonished. The cost of a first-class fare was $80 and third-class was $40.  Thomas Jefferson never saw a steam locomotive but in 1802, he predicted the power of steam would change transportation forever.  He had the idea of steam pulling carriages.  Like all the founding fathers, he could see the future.

June 5, 2004 – Ronald Reagan dies.  He was from North Central Illinois and attended Eureka College.  He was a natural born leader and star athlete.  An excellent swimmer, he supported himself working as a lifeguard.  He was credited with saving 77 lives.  During WWII, he could not enlist in the Army because he had very poor eyesight.  He made lots of training films for the various branches of the Service.

June 6, 1833 – Andrew Jackson becomes the first President to ride a train.  He was aboard a Baltimore & Ohio train.  Railroad carriages were originally pulled by horses.  One of the first steam locomotives, the Tom Thumb, raced against the horses and lost.  Everyone noticed the horses may have won but they were tired.  The locomotive was ready to go.  By the time of the Civil War, the United States had 30,000 mile of railroad tracks.

June 7. 1949 – George Orwell’s novel “1984” is published.  The novel’s all-seeing leader, Big Brother, has become the slang term for intrusive government.  Orwell was ahead of his time.  He died in 1950 of tuberculosis.

Thanks for being a member!

Upcoming Events: ISRA Calendar

For more information, visit www.isra.org

Saturday, June 4, 2022

Range Work Day

ISRA Steel Challenge

Guardian Tactics Level 1 & 2

Sunday, June 5, 2022

Bonfield Muzzle Loaders

ISRA 3Gun

Tuesday, June 7 & 14, 2022

Tuesday Night Irregular Rifle League

Wednesday, June 8 & 15, 2022

F-Class Rifle League

Bench Rest League

Paper & Steel League

Thursday, June 9 & 16, 2022

ISRA Smallbore Prone/F-Class League

Saturday, June 11, 2022

Armed Women of America

The Great 2022 Shoot-Out

Sunday, June 12, 2022

Rifle/Pistol Training

Marksmanship League

Joe Brown Highpower League/Robert Bishop Match

Monday, June 13 & 20, 2022

Military Bench Rest League

Saturday, June 18, 2022

ISRA Academy NRA Basic Shotgun Course

Defensive Tactics for Concealed Carry-Level 1

Sunday, June 19, 2022

Springfield Armory Pistol Match

Thursday, June 23 – Sunday, June 26, 2022

Massad Ayoob MAG-40 Class

Gun & Trade Shows

Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club Gun & Knife Show – Chillicothe, IL

Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club

Dates: June 11 & 12, 2022

Hours: Saturday: 8:30-5:00

            Sunday: 8:30-3:00

Admission: $3.00

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

“Ninety-eight percent of the people in this country are decent, hardworking, honest Americans. It’s the other lousy two percent that get all the publicity. But then, we elected them.”

Lily Tomlin

“The people who work against your gun rights are basically saying to you, “The right of the criminal to rip you off, rape and kill you shall not be infringed.” And they wonder why we’re a bit testy”

Editor of KABA LIBERTY ADVOCATE, Friday, July 30, 2001

“I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand.”

SUSAN B. ANTHONY

“You may find me one day dead in a ditch somewhere. But by God, you’ll find me in a pile of brass.”

Tpr. M. Padgett

“Using inner city kids as your proof that guns and kids don’t mix, is like using an alcoholic to prove all people will abuse alcohol.”

Lori Broadhead

“How dare politicians continue to pass insane laws forcing good, law-abiding people to be defenseless and helpless.”

Ted Nugent

The said Constitution [shall] never be construed to authorize Congress to infringe or to prevent the people of the United States from keeping their own arms.”

Samuel Adams, Massachusetts' U.S. Constitution Ratification Convention, 1788

“One of the greatest delusions in the world is the hope that the evils in this world are to be cured by legislation.”

Thomas B. Reed (1886)

“No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.”

Thomas Jefferson, Proposed Virginia Constitution (1776)

“Foolish liberals who are trying to read the Second Amendment out of the Constitution are courting disaster by encouraging others to use the same means to eliminate portions of the constitution THEY don’t like.”

Alan Dershowitz

“Every 13 seconds in America someone uses a gun to stop a crime.”

Sen. Larry Craig

“The AK-47 is not a device of aggression … I devised this machine-gun for the security of my country,”

Mikhail Kalashnikov, April 1997