June 8, 2023
| Executive Director’s Message
Richard Pearson |
| One refreshing note in the world of Second Amendment Rights is that Chris Cox, former head of the NRA-ILA, will soon be back in the fight. It was announced last week that the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA), has contracted Capitol 6 Advisors which Mr. Cox launched in 2019. This means that firearm owners have regained 25 years of lobbying experience on Capitol Hill. It could not have come at a better time. Thanks to the SAF and CCRKBA.
The State of Illinois has filed its brief in the Harrel/Barnett et al v Raoul et al Lawsuits now before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. The State basically Claims what we expected them to claim, all of which is untrue. The State claims AR15s are not in common use when in fact, statistics show they are the most commonly used firearms with 24.5 million of them in use. They also claim these firearms are not suitable for hunting, self-defense or other lawful purposes. That is also untrue. They are the best firearm for self-defense. They are the best firearm for competitions. The last two coyotes I shot would disagree that they are not good for hunting. They won’t be able to testify, however. The State of course, wants everyone to believe they are commonly used in crimes when in fact they are only used in about 1.4% of crimes. In a few days, our pro-gun attorneys will file our briefs. The State will have a chance to reply, and then we will have oral arguments on June 29. I believe it will take a few weeks for the court to render a decision. In any case, we will be moving on to the Supreme Court of the United States. For those with AR15 braces, the ATF rule is in effect, but things are still confusing. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has issued a Preliminary Injunction against the Biden Administration’s arm brace rule. Judge Jane J. Boyle’s order covers members of the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) both old and new, apparently. The SAF membership has been exploding in the last few days. If you are joining the SAF, the website is staggering from the load. Be patient. The Illinois State Rifle Association is the home of good marksmanship in Illinois. If you are not a member, you should join today. Shooting sports is a sport that a normal person can enjoy their entire life. It is rewarding to see your own progress and the progress of those you help get started in shooting sports. The great thing is you can be a normal person and be good or even great at marksmanship if you want to be. It takes work and dedication, but you don’t have to be seven feet tall, weigh 500 pounds, or be able to run the 100-yard dash in 9 seconds. It is moderate exercise. It was Thomas Jefferson’s favorite sport. _______________________________________________________________ The summer shooting season is here, and leagues and matches are going full blast. Please take part in any such activities near you. At the ISRA Range, there are several classes you may be interested in taking. This weekend, June 10 there is an AR15 maintenance class. This is designed for new and experienced AR15 owners. Check the website Range Calendar for details at: https://isra.org/the-range/#range-calendar.
There are a couple of openings left. Call Shirley at 815-635-3198 to register. On Saturday and Sunday, June 10 and 11, Project Appleseed will hold their rifle class. Great for new shooters. See the Range Calendar for details at: https://isra.org/the-range/#range-calendar. On Sunday, June 11, the ISRA Marksman League will run from 8:30 am until 12 pm. This is a league for new pistol shooters. Great fun. Try to attend. On Monday, June 12 the first Vintage Military Rifle League will meet at 3 pm on Range 5. This is for those old military rifles that you might have like M1 Garands, 1903 Springfields, Mosin-Nagants, Mausers, and who knows what else is in your closet you haven’t shot for a while. This is all shot from the bench so old-timers, like me, can have fun also. In a couple of weeks, there will be the MTG Defensive Rifle class on Saturday and Sunday, June 24 and 25. This is a great class. Check the ISRA website for details and signup information at: https://isra.org/event/defensive-rifle-range-11-clubhouse-800-600/ The ISRA Bullseye League will shoot on Sunday, June 25 at 8 am. This is one of our oldest and finest leagues. Want to learn how to shoot a pistol well, just shoot Bullseye for a while. The first match of the Summer Glock League will kick off at 8am, on Sunday the 25th. Participants will be in the drawing for a free Glock. See you at the range! ________________________________________________________________ Tidbits I get frequent calls and comments about the Tidbits section of the Thursday Bulletin. I appreciate them all. Some say it is a waste of time to talk about history. I disagree. History is one of the most priceless things we have, and yet, it can be shared by all. History can also be swept under the rug, hijacked, twisted, or revised to fit political agendas. History is like the rudder of a ship. It may be behind us, but it determines the course of the ship. Without it we are like a ship without a rudder and can be blown off course easily. Which is what some people want to happen. June 8, 1966 The National Football League and the American Football League decided to merge. June 8, 1949 George Orwell’s book “1984” is published. In the book, the leader known as “Big Brother,” becomes the symbol of controlling, intrusive government. George, how right you were. Do you suppose the FBI, CIA, NSA, and a couple of government outfits we probably don’t know, would mind spying on each other instead of the citizens of the United States? If they are looking for someone to spy on, how about China, North Korea, Iran, and Russia that might be interesting. Or, how about developing human intelligence in those places, and stopping depending on electronic surveillance? Hitler and his generals developed the plan for what became known as the “Battle of the Bulge”, in complete radio silence. That is why it was a surprise to us. You don’t suppose China and the other usual suspects would be so old-fashioned as to write plans out by hand, do you? What beats High Tech? Low Tech. June 10, 1940 Norway surrendered to Germany. The Norwegians were tough. They developed the best resistance movement in WWII. Many Norwegians escaped to Great Britain and prepared to fight back. The story of one of those people is in the book “Two eggs on by Plate” by Olaf Reed Olsen. Olsen became a spy and returned to Norway to fight the Nazis. The title comes from how the spies knew they were to go on a mission. Eggs were hard to get, and everyone had to eat powdered eggs. When you reported to the mess hall, if you had two fresh eggs on your plate, you knew you were going that night. Sort of your last treat because you might never come back. I read the book in High School and have never forgotten it. The book is fascinating because of the courage and patriotism it reveals about Olsen and his fellow Norwegians. Vidkun Quisling was tried as a traitor and executed by firing squad after the war. His last name, “Quisling” has become a word synonymous with the word traitor throughout the world. I think we have Quislings among us right now, don’t you think? June 11, 1776 Congress appoints the Committee of Five to write the Declaration of Independence. The five were Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. June 11, 1979 John Wayne dies of cancer. June 14, 1777 Congress adopts the “Stars and Stripes“ as the official flag of the United States. Legend has it that George Washington instructed Betsy Ross on the design of the new flag using 13 stars and 13 stripes. The 13 stripes were from the “Grand Union” flag. Washington’s personal flag was a field of blue with stars on it. Maybe the idea of Washington advising Betsy Ross isn’t so far-fetched after all. In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson decreed June 14 as flag day. Be sure to fly the flag that day. The present version of our flag was designed by 17-year-old Robert Heft of Ohio as part of a history project, in 1958. Young Robert thought Hawaii would become a state soon, so he designed it with 50 stars. Robert sewed the proposed flag on his mother’s sewing machine. His history teacher sent the flag to their congressman. The flag design was adopted. Robert’s history grade was raised from a “B” to an “A”. Perhaps the most successful history project ever! Thank you for being a member! |
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Donate: https://isra.org/support-us/ Visit www.isra.org Upcoming Meetings: https://isra.org/isra-activities-and-events/ Upcoming Range Events: https://isra.org/the-range/#range-calendar MCHENRY COUNTY GUN SHOW Mc Henry Fairgrounds 11900 Country Club Rd. – Woodstock, IL 60098 7:30 am to 1:00 pm (Dealer in 6:00 am) GENERAL ADMISSION – $5.00 SEPT. 17th, 2023 OCT. 22nd, 2023 NOV. 19th, 2023 DEC. 17th, 2023 TABLES $35 per table. All tables 8ft. Dealers call and send checks to: D& Guns, P.O. Box 1651, McHenry, IL 6005I Don Cichoski — (815) 385-1982 GUN LAWS AND SAFETY RULES ARE STRICTLY ENFORCED Firearms transfer records available. FOID card is required for ILLINOIS residents to buy guns or ammunition. Kane County Sportsman’s Show Fall 2023 October 8 November 12 December 10 Spring 2024 January 14 February 1 March 10 April 14 May 19 TABLE RATES Seasonal=$35/Table Regular=$40/Table Tables for all 8 shows must be paid by October 8th 8 Shows = Full Season = $280 Constellation, P.O. Box 26, Kingston, IL. 60145 Mick Stout= 815-217-2266 |