May 19, 2022
The NRA Annual Meeting is fast approaching and the announcement of former President Donald Trump’s attendance is adding more controversy to the meeting. There are those who think some of the people former President Trump endorsed are not perfect enough for them. Before every election I give an admonition regarding candidates, and it is that time again. Here it is: There are no perfect candidates. Don’t bother to look for a perfect candidate. I advise if you want to go on such a quest, join Diogenes for the eternal search of truth or perhaps, the search for the Holy Grail; you will have more success.
There are those who are “True Believers” who, if their favorite candidate is not elected, want to take their ball and go home. If you do, the other guy wins. We all want candidates that are a 100% all in with us and what we believe. Remember, it is better to vote for an 80% candidate that can get elected than to vote for a 100% candidate that cannot get elected. Otherwise, the candidate that is 80% or 100% against us gets elected and we are going nowhere.
The race between Wayne LaPierre and LTC Allen West for the NRA Executive Vice President is heating up. Both sides have supporters and detractors. Whoever wins, we need to support.
The Governor has signed HB4383, the ghost gun bill. There are many questions about this bill. Rulemaking must take place before we find out how this monstrous bill is going to be enforced. As I have mentioned before, our attorneys are examining this bill for possible legal action.
The shooter at the TOPS Supermarket in Buffalo, New York, had been investigated a year ago for making violent threats. Apparently, he wanted to shoot up his school. The FBI investigated but did nothing. The offense was a crime but he was never charged. He was evaluated but the FBI decided he was not a threat. What he did was a crime, so charge him. I am sure you, like me, are tired of taking the rap for these nut cases that the authorities do nothing about. Instead, they want more gun laws.
I have to admit that I never thought I would be writing about baby formula in this column but here I am. My experience with babies in limited. I raised three kids but by the time we became a family they were potty trained. I have changed two diapers in my life and that is enough. What I do know is that babies need lots of care, protection, attention and they need to eat every three or four hours. They can’t wait to eat. The baby formula shortage is a prime example of why the government needs to be smaller and much less intrusive. The government is laden with bureaucrats that generally do nothing, but when they do something, it generally gums up the works. Bureaucrats are tougher to get rid of than bed bugs. Once hired, they are guaranteed a government job forever, maybe longer. As I always point out, the United States Marines is a government job. I would transfer the bureaucrats to Parris Island, South Carolina, the U. S. Marine Recruiting Depot. Heat gets rid of bed bugs so maybe a couple of tours in the Sahara Dessert will work the same for bureaucrats?
The layers and layers of bureaucracy that surrounds bureaucrats and political leaders are actually a type of fortification that protects them from their incompetent actions. “I can’t tell a lie, I didn’t do it,” seems to be the motto.
In February, the Abbott Nutrition Company was closed because of water on the floor which was a health code violation although no babies were reported ill. Abbott Nutrition made about 38% of the baby formula. They supplied the WIC program. The FDA should have made every effort to get the plant back on line but they did nothing. Instead, they blame moms for hoarding formula, distribution issues, and anything else they can come up with. They never mention diverting truckloads of formula to the southern border to feed babies of illegal aliens while American babies and their family’s struggle. Good old Fort Bureaucracy again. Bureaucrats don’t know anything outside their bureaucratic fiefdom.
Franklin Roosevelt knew that. In 1941, everyone knew war was coming. The United States needed all kinds of manufacturing infrastructure to be built, particularly aircraft factories. Whoever oversaw these plants was in for an important job that would promote their careers. Bureaucrats lined up wanting these jobs. One huge bomber factory was the prize of them all. They asked Roosevelt who was going to get the job. Roosevelt told them straight out it wasn’t any government bureaucrat because they didn’t know how to do anything. Instead, he turned to a political enemy, Henry Ford and his team. Henry Ford did not like Democrats. The mutual dislike between Ford and Roosevelt did not matter. The country mattered. Ford and his team took over and in six months, they built the largest manufacturing plant in the world at Willow Run, Michigan and they were hiring. In a few months, B-24 bombers were rolling off the line. By 1944, they were producing a B-24 heavy bomber every 63 minutes. If it was left to the bureaucrats, they would still be trying to decide the color of paint for the plant. Private industry built the largest manufacturing plant in 6 months and the FDA couldn’t clean up the water on the floor at an existing baby formula factory in 3 months to resume production.
Midwest Training Group (MTG) two-day Defensive Rifle Course has three openings available. If you are interested in going beyond the beginner level and can spend two challenging days, I suggest Midwest Training Group (MTG) two-day Defensive Rifle Course. This class also teaches transitioning from rifle to sidearm. It requires 600 rounds of rifle ammunition and 100 rounds of pistol ammunition. This class goes from close quarters to 100 yards. The class will be held on May 28 and 29 (Saturday and Sunday). You will need to contact Andy Kemp at 208.771.3413. I urge you to take advantage of this and enroll in the class.
Tidbits:
May 20, 1927 – Charles Lindbergh takes off for France. The next day he lands in France completing the first successful transatlantic flight.
May 21, 1932 – Amelia Earhart become the first women to fly across the Atlantic, landing in Ireland. Years later, she would disappear while flying over the South Pacific. Neither she nor her plane were ever found. One of the theories was she was shot down by the Japanese.
May 22, 1842 – The Great Migration starts to the Northwest. The starting point was Elm Grove, Missouri. Their goal was Oregon, then a disputed territory with the British. The introduction of United States settlers helped President Polk’s claim that the Oregon Territory belonged to the United States. The route became known as the Oregon Trail which was used until 1884 when the Union Pacific Railroad built a line paralleling the trail. Locomotives proved to be much faster than oxen.
May 24, 1883 – The Brooklyn Bridge is completed. The engineering marvel had been started in 1869. At the time, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world.
May 24, 1903 – The 1st Philippine Expeditionary Force leaves San Francisco for the Philippines. The Philippines became a United States territory as a result of the Spanish American war. They were given independence in 1946.
May 25, 1787 – The Great Experiment begins. The Constitutional Convention convenes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Before the end of the Revolutionary War, the states got together and drew up the Articles of Confederation. One way to describe the Articles of Confederation is that it was more like an alliance of countries than a country. It could not pay and collect taxes, provide military defense unless each individual state wanted to join in, and commerce was a mess. In short, the Articles of Confederation didn’t work.
In 1786, five states met in Annapolis, Maryland, and invited the rest of the states to a Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia the following year. The convention was held at the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. This is the same location where the Declaration of Independence was drawn up. The Constitution of the United States is the implementation of the principles in the Declaration of Independence. Most people view the two documents as being unrelated but they are absolutely related.
The Constitution was debated long and hard. Compromises were made all under the watchful eye of George Washington. There were fears that the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of government might overpower each other. Check and balances between the branches were of upmost concern. The deal was that nine of the thirteen states would have to ratify the new Constitution for it to become the law of the land. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution. The new Constitution of the United States became the law of the land on March 4, 1789.
Still, there were objections because there was no Bill of Rights in the Constitution. The delegates had all lived under the boot heel of King George. The purpose of the Constitution was to limit government and insure the freedom of the citizens. A Bill of Rights was drawn up and submitted for ratification. Originally, there were 12 Amendments in the Bill of Rights. The two that were not included dealt with prohibitions on citizens of one state suing another state and twelve was similar that dealt with citizens of Foreign States. The Bill of Rights was ratified by three quarters of the states on December 15, 1791.
The United States Constitution has functioned incredibly well for 231 years. Those who want to tamper with it want to force their political agenda on the rest of the citizens. We are going through one of those periods right now. Don’t let them do it.
Here is a bit of trivia that will wow your friends at the next get together. Henry Knox was the last Secretary of War under the Articles of Confederation and the first Secretary of War under the new Constitution. Pretty exciting huh?
Thanks for being a member!
Upcoming Events: ISRA Calendar
For more information, visit www.isra.org
Saturday & Sunday, May 21 & 22, 2022
ISRA Academy NRA Basic Rifle Class – Cancelled
Sunday, May 22, 2022
ISRA Bullseye Match & Combat Match
Tuesday, May 24 & 31, 2022
Tuesday Night Irregular Rifle League
Wednesday, May 25 & June 1, 2022
F-Class Rifle League
Bench Rest League
Paper & Steel League
Thursday, May 26 & June 2, 2022
ISRA Smallbore Prone/F-Class League
Saturday, May 28, 2022
Armed Women of America
Saturday & Sunday, May 28 & 29, 2022
MTG Defensive Rifle Course
Saturday, June 4, 2022
Range Work Day
ISRA Steel Challenge
Guardian Tactics Level 1 & 2
Sunday, June 5, 2022
Bonfield Muzzle Loaders
ISRA 3Gun
Gun & Trade Shows
Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show – Kankakee, IL
Kankakee County Fairgrounds
Dates: May 21 & 22, 2022
Hours: Saturday: 8:00-3:00
Sunday: 8:00-2:00
Admission: $6.00
McHenry County Gun Show – Woodstock, IL
McHenry County Fairgrounds
Date: May 22, 2022
Hours: Sunday: 7:30-1:00
Admission: $5.00
Crown Point Gun Show – Crown Point, IN
Lake County Fairgrounds
Dates: May 28 & 29, 2022
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $5.00
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