October 13, 2023
For years, I’ve been warning everyone to be aware of where you can expect the next attack on you and your family to occur. A few days ago, such attacks occurred in Israel, and people found attackers at their front door, in their living rooms, and even in their bedrooms. While this seems to be very far away and is even in another country, it certainly can happen here.
You have to be ready. You have to get training. You have to get equipment, and you have to practice. And you have to practice repeatedly, every month. You have to set up scenarios in your home and practice the various ways that people can attack you in your home. You have to include your family in these practices. As an example, Israel’s National Security Minister has procured 10,000 AR-15-type rifles for civilian security teams. A police commander and spokesman, Eli Levi went even further and suggested that the Jewish citizens carry guns even in places of prayer and family entertainment. This statement was issued before the recent attacks on Israel. It is good to see somebody in the world realize that only the individual who is being attacked can stop the attack. This is something we should all remember.
*** Later today advocates for victims of domestic violence will be proposing further gun control to be considered during the veto session in Springfield. For the first time, under their proposal, anyone who is served with an emergency order of protection would have to surrender all of their firearms to law enforcement, changing current law. Obviously, we all stand against those who would commit domestic violence, and anyone who has been declared a clear and present danger should not have access to firearms. However, you must also stand against those who would use tragedies and abject government failure to try and further restrict constitutional rights. If this bill were to pass, Firearms owners would lose the right to due process and potentially have their firearms destroyed as a result of this proposed legislation. The ISRA will be there to fight against this attempt to diminish your rights.
No changes in our case in the Seventh Circuit. We are still waiting for a verdict. Our other cases are still moving forward.
The Illinois legislature Veto session schedule. Our state legislature returns for a veto session on October 24. That is in 12 days. Petition filing begins in 46 days. The March primary is in 159 days and the November general election is in 390 days. Tick tock.
Civilian Marksmanship Program acquires surplus firearms and ammunition. M1 Garands and M1911s are available now. This is great news for all our gun collectors out there. As of October 2023, they have approximately 5,000 M1 Garands from the government of Turkey, 10,000 surplus M1911s from the Army, and a significant quantity of surplus ammunition from the Army that will soon become available to CMP customers, consisting of .30 carbine, .22 pistol, M2 ball, and .22 Long Rifle. These models and rounds have been in short supply. Make a point to get them while you can!
The Illinois State Rifle Association is offering a special sale on Life and other upgraded memberships. Please check your mail and take advantage of this offer. Upgrades must be postmarked by Oct. 16. If you did not receive it in the mail, please call the office at (815) 635-3198. We can easily upgrade your membership on the phone.
When is the next solar eclipse? The fall season of 2023 will include another special sky event: a partial solar eclipse, known as an “annular solar eclipse” — which will be visible across North America and South America on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.
In this kind of eclipse, the moon passes in front of the sun but doesn’t exactly match up, leaving what looks like a ring of sun around the moon. The next total solar eclipse — will occur on April 8, 2024. The moon will block the entire sun for more than 4 minutes.
*** October 12, 1492 – Christopher Columbus discovers America
Columbus was not the first person to discover America. Vikings had discovered it. Island people from both the Atlantic and the Pacific had discovered it.
I always liked what Winston Churchill said about Christopher Columbus. He said that Christopher Columbus was the first communist. He didn’t know where he was going, and when he got there, he didn’t know where he was, and he did it all with other people’s money!
*** October 12, 2000 – USS Cole attacked by terrorists
A motorized rubber dinghy loaded with explosives, unnoticed and unchallenged approaches the ship, and then explodes in a massive blast that rips through the hull, blowing a 40-by-40-foot hole in the port side of the USS Cole, a U.S. Navy destroyer that was refueling at Aden, Yemen. Seventeen sailors were killed and 38 wounded in the attack, which was carried out by two suicide terrorists alleged to be members of Saudi exile Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda terrorist network.
*** October 13, 1775 – Continental Congress authorizes the first naval force
The Continental Congress authorized money for the purchase of 7 ships for the first United States Navy. They also authorized captains and lieutenants to man these ships. One of the lieutenants was John Paul Jones, who became a renowned American naval hero during the American Revolution. Their fleet consisted of the 24-gun frigates Alfred and Columbus, the 14-gun brigs Andrew Doria and Cabot, as well as three schooners, the Hornet, the Wasp, and the Fly. These became the first ships of the U.S. Navy’s fleet.
What is now known as the United States Navy was formally established with the creation of the federal Department of the Navy, in April 1798.
*** October 14, 1947- Captain Chuck Yaeger breaks the sound barrier
In his X-1 rocket plane the “Glamorous Glennis” (named after his wife), he made aviation history. U.S. Air Force Captain Chuck Yaeger had a long history of flying. During WWII, he flew 64 missions over Europe and shot down 13 German planes, before being shot down over France. But he managed to escape capture with the assistance of the French Underground.
His plane, the Glamorous Glennis, was placed in the bomb bay of a B-29, lifted to an altitude of 25,000 feet and then released through the B-29’s bomb bay rocketing to 40,000 feet and exceeding 662 miles per hour, for the record-breaking flight. The X-1 rocket plane was designed and modeled after a .50-caliber machine gun bullet, with wings.
*** October 14, 1912 – Theodore Roosevelt shot in Milwaukee
Deranged saloonkeeper John Schrank shoots Theodore Roosevelt at close range in front of the Gilpatrick Hotel. The .32-caliber bullet was aimed directly at Roosevelt’s heart, piercing a bundle of paper manuscripts in the breast pocket of Roosevelt’s heavy coat—a manuscript containing his evening’s speech. With the bullet still in his chest, Roosevelt spoke for an hour and a half and then was rushed to the hospital, where he was patched up.
*** October 16 – 1991 – Twenty-three diners were massacred at a Texas restaurant
George Jo Hennard drove his pickup truck through a window in Luby’s Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas, and opened fire on a noon crowd of over 100 people. He killed 23 and wounded 20 more, so this caused the Texas legislature to allow residents to carry guns and obtain concealed carry permits. This also expanded the number of states that would grant concealed carry permits.
Hennard then turned the gun on himself and died by suicide. The incident was one of the deadliest shootings in U.S. history at that time, it set precedents for permitting concealed carry throughout the nation.
*** October 17, 1777 – America wins more than a battle at the Battle of Saratoga
British General John Burgoyne surrendered his 5,000 British and Hessian troops to American General Horatio Gates in Saratoga New York. This was the first large-scale surrender of British forces in the Revolutionary War and led to the eventual American victory in the Revolutionary War.
Burgoyne noted on his long march to Saratoga, that the timbers and ridges were filled with colonial militia. He also noted that his world as he knew it had changed dramatically.
Click here to view the entire calendar. All classes and events are open to the public & all range members, unless otherwise noted.
IT’S NOT TOO LATE – SIGN UP NOW!
ISRA Black Powder State Championship
October 15 at 7am – 3pm
Black Powder rifles with iron open sights; flintlock-rifles or smooth bore & Black Powder Revolvers. Open to the public. Registration at 7:30am. Adults: $20, Juniors under age18 – $15.
Walk-ins welcome: $25, Juniors $20.
EACH REGISTERED SHOOTER WILL BE ENTERED INTO OUR RAFFLE for either a .50-cal. HAWKEN PERCUSSION RIFLE or a .44 Cal. 1850 COLT ARMY REVOLVER!
For more info:
Thomas Fahrenbach: tef1@att.net, or Tom Spurlock: tom.spurlock@outlook.com
Please call the office at (815) 635-3198 to sign up.
Enter for Your Chance to Win in the Hawken Rifle 200th Anniversary
2023 – 2024 RAFFLE
*** 1st PRIZE: 6-PIECE KIT ***
Traditional Hawken 50 cal. Percussion Target Rifle
Black Powder Box – Black Powder Horn – Hunting Knife
Patch Knife – Possibles Bag
*** 2nd PRIZE: 1858 Remington 44 cal. Pistol ***
CALL THE OFFICE TO PURCHASE THESE TICKETS
at 815-635-3198. We will send your tickets to you.
OR BUY YOUR TICKETS AT THE RANGE
during the Black Powder NMLRA Championship event
held this coming Sunday, October 15 (7 a.m. to 3 p.m.).
The drawing will be held October 20, 2024.
WINNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED AND DO NOT NEED TO BE PRESENT.
All state and federal regulations regarding firearm transfers will be observed.
Membership dues, donations and purchases paid to the ISRA are not tax deductible.
ISRA Academy: NRA Refuses to Be a Victim
December 2 from 8 am – 12 pm
Instructs participants on how to protect themselves from becoming victims of crime and includes topics of home security, workplace security, and personal safety. Open to the public. Limit 20 students. No walk-ins are allowed. Cost: $25 (ISRA members); $50 (nonmembers). Instructor: Mandi Ehler. Contact: ISRA Office at 815.635.3198 or Email: member@isra.org.
October 21 – Annual Sighting-In Day – Range 2, 3, 5, 6 – 10 am-3 pm
Although designed for deer and other big game hunters, anyone can bring their rifles, handguns, shotguns, bows, or black powder firearms. Don’t forget to check your ammo supplies and the condition of your arrows and bolts, if you are an archery hunter.
Open to the public ~ Don’t be caught short ~ Be prepared
We have several rifle, shotgun, and pistol ranges available, and also our archery range. No ammunition is available for purchase on our premises. Light gunsmithing services are available, recommended you bring 25 rounds of ammo per firearm. Firearms must be unloaded and enclosed in a case.
You don’t need to be a member to come, but if you would like to have a tour of the range and maybe join, you are welcome to sign up while you’re there. Cost $10 per firearm or bow, including targets.
Our Range is located near Kankakee, IL (1589 N. 7000 West Rd., Bonfield, IL). For details of what you should bring, and more information, including directions to the Range, visit isra.org or call the ISRA office at 815-635-3198. Contact: member@isra.org for more info. So come on out!!!
10–12 – No classes or events
10–13 – MTW Consulting LLC Basic Pistol Training – Range 1 & Clubhouse – 9:00-4:00
10–14 – Project Appleseed – Range 11 – 8:00-5:00
10–14 – MTW Consulting LLC Basic Pistol Training – Range 8 – 9:00-4:00
10–14 – Range 1 & Clubhouse closed at 4 pm in preparation for Black Powder Championship
10–15 – ISRA Black Powder State Championship – Range 1 & Clubhouse – 7:30-3:00
10–15 – Project Appleseed – Range 11 = 8:00-5:00
10–15 – Kankakee GOP Range Day – Range 6, 8, Pavilion – 10:00-4:00
10–16 – No classes or events
10–17 – Tuesday Night Irregular Rifles – Range 3 & Pavilion – 11:30-Dusk
10–18 – Paper Steel League – Range 11 – 5:00-Dusk
The ISRA Range offers great classes and leagues,
for shooting enthusiasts!
Interested in joining a league?
Just show up 15 – 30 minutes early.
Range memberships are available.
A day at the ISRA Range is always a great day!
Thank you for being a member!
If you are not an ISRA member, join today!
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
While the gun show information shown in this email is believed to be accurate – sometimes changes occur. This list is provided for informational purposes only.
October 22 McHenry County Gun Show, McHenry County Fairgrounds, Woodstock
October 28 – 29 Sauk Trail Gun Show, Bureau County Fairgrounds, Princeton
November 4 – 5 Decatur Gun & Knife Show, Decatur Conference Center, Decatur
November 4 – 5 ECA Hunting & Trade Shows, Belle-Clair Fairgrounds, Belleville
November 4 – 5 Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show, Kankakee County Fairgrounds, Kankakee
November 12 Kane County Sportsman’s Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles
November 19 McHenry County Gun Show, McHenry County Fairgrounds, Woodstock
November 25 – 26 Central IL Gun Collectors Association, Sangamon Co. Fairgrounds, New Berlin
November 25 – 26 Sauk Trail Gun Show, Bureau County Fairgrounds, Princeton
November 26 Lake County Gun & Sportsman Show, Antioch VFW, Antioch
December 2 – 3 Will County Gun Show, Will County Fairgrounds, Peotone
December 2 – 3 Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club Gun & Knife Show, Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club
December 9 – 10 Bloomington Gun & Knife Show, Interstate Center, Bloomington
December 9 – 10 Peoria Gun & Knife Show, Exposition Gardens, Peoria
December 10 Kane County Sportsman’s Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles
December 16 – 17 Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show, Kankakee County Fairgrounds
December 16 – 17 ECA Hunting & Trade Shows, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield
December 17 McHenry County Gun Show, McHenry County Fairgrounds, Woodstock