April 10, 2025
Litigation Update
ISRA and Plaintiffs File Motion to End Purgatory in “Assault” Weapons Case
On Friday the Illinois State Rifle Association along with numerous other plaintiffs in the Barnett v. Raoul consolidated cases filed a motion to set a briefing schedule in the ongoing fight against the unconstitutional ban on commonly owned firearms in Illinois.
Four months ago, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay of the injunction issued by Justice McGlyyn of the Southern District of Illinois against this unconstitutional law.
“The ban on commonly owned firearms in Illinois was implemented by Governor Pritzker over 2 years ago, and the federal courts have determined that it is an infringement on constitutional rights. The ISRA warned about this outcome during legislative debate on the ban. Now the 7th Circuit continues to deny rights to the citizens of Illinois by furthering delays and leaving this case in purgatory. This motion hopes to end further unnecessary delays, and finally set legal arguments, moving this case forward on the path towards a final decision which we believe will end up with the full restoration of Second Amendment rights in the State of Illinois.” – Said Richard Pearson, Executive Director of the Illinois State Rifle Association.
“It is often said that a right delayed is a right denied. In this sense, Governor Pritzker seems to enjoy denying the rights of those he disagrees with by continuing with a myriad of gun control schemes designed to delay and deny rights to Illinois citizens. The ISRA will continue to fight these schemes in the courts and in the legislature.”
On Monday, our request for a motion was granted with briefing dates. The State’s brief is due May 7, 2025. The ISRA’s brief is due June 6, 2025. Then the State gets the opportunity to reply to our brief by June 27, 2025. Don’t be surprised if the State asks for an extention. So we are moving along and we appreciate all of your help!!!
Donate to Legal Assistance HERE!
Legislative Update
Lock up Your Guns or Lose $1000…..
Senate Bill 8 requires all firearms in your home, vehicle, land, building or other structures to be locked up if you have reason to believe that someone under 18 (instead of 14) might have access to them. Previously, your could safely store firearms in areas inaccessible to those under 14, and there was no such requirement for vehicles, land, or buildings. This bill moves the age to 18 and requires locked storage for firearms at all times. A first time violation of this law is a minimum $1000 fine. This takes away your ability to have quick access to a firearm in case of break in or need for self defense.
The “Safe Storage Bill”, SB8, is on its third reading in the Senate. It will then go back to the House. Call your Senators to tell them NOT to pass SB8
You can follow along by clicking the ISRA Legislation Page.
A Win for Federal Licensees from the Department of Justice
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ended the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) draconian “Zero Tolerance Policy “ against Federal Firearm Licensees (FFL). The “Zero Tolerance Policy” was an attack on the firearms industry that was directed at FFLs for simple paperwork mistakes such spelling errors, misplaced commas, periods and even failing to recognize government-issued fake IDs. Under the Biden Administration, the number of FFL revocations went up over 500% and many more quit voluntarily rather than face the harassment from the ATF.
Lieutenant Colonel David Grossman at IGOLD, May 14, 2025
Lt. Col. Dave Grossman is an internationally recognized scholar, author, soldier, and speaker who is one of the world’s foremost experts in the field of human aggression and the roots of violence and violent crime.
A West Point psychology professor, Professor of Military Science, and an Army Ranger, Lt. Col. Dave Grossman is also the author or co-author of five non-fiction and four fiction books and has co-authored a New York Times best-selling book with Glenn Beck. His books sell world-wide, translated into numerous languages, and have been on required reading lists for the FBI academy, the US Marine Corps Commandant’s Required Reading List and other academies and colleges.
He has presented papers before the national conventions of the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and to over 100 different colleges and universities world wide, and has trained educators and law enforcement professionals, at the federal, state and regional level, in all 50 states and over a dozen foreign nations. Lt. Col. Grossman was also called to the White House to serve on President Trump’s Round Table on Violent Video Games, was an expert witness in numerous cases and has also testified before Congress on three occasions…and this is just a small portion of his impressive, extensive resume
Needless to say, Lt. Col. Grossman’s depth of knowledge is not only vast, but extremely relevant to the ongoing fight for our Second Amendment rights. His timely presentations are not to be missed! Make sure you save the date to hear him speak at this year’s IGOLD on May 14, 2025 – you’ll be glad you did!
Hopefully, everyone has received their IGOLD mailing. Due to a printing error, the zip code for Chatsworth, IL, was left off. Please add it…60921.
Buy 2025 IGOLD Raffle Tickets Online!
CLICK HERE
I want to thank all of those who are entering or donating to the 2025 IGOLD Raffle. Your contributions are critical to protecting the Second Amendment in Illinois. Those who have email will have their raffle tickets emailed to them. Since you are reading this online, I’m sure this includes you. Those who don’t have email will receive them by USPS snail mail. Emailing your tickets to you is faster, more efficient, and less expensive. Every penny we save is one more penny to help us in our epic fight to protect the Second Amendment. Be sure to watch your email.
I hope to see you on Wednesday May 14th at the Bank of Springfield Convention Center
Doors open at 10:30 am. I am really excited to hear Col. Grossman speak. Thank you, again, for supporting the ISRA!
Coming April 12, 2025 – ISRA Pistol 201
Introducing ISRA Pistol 201 Course coming April 12, 2025
This course will cover pistol parts and operation, different handgun ammunition, gun safety, pistol shooting fundamentals, and pistol shooting activities.
To sign up today, CLICK HERE.
Free Digital Addition of “Midwest Outdoors Magazine” for ISRA Members
Beginning in May, for all current members who receive our email, a digital copy of “Midwest Outdoors Magazine” will be available to you for FREE! You will receive an email from them at the beginning of each month with a link to the online magazine. If you were to purchase this, it would be $9.95 per year, but this is just another of the benefits of being an ISRA member. You can always opt out if you care to do so.
“Buy Back” Programs Put Guns Back On The Streets?
The crusading, antigun priest, Father Pfleger of St. Sabina’s Church on the south side of Chicago, has always thought he was above the law, and certainly above lowly ones like you and me. He has been running gun “buy back” programs which pay illegal gun owners to turn in their illegally acquired and often used-in-a-crime guns with no questions asked, no paper work, no nothing. On top of it, they get gift cards or some such bribe. What a great way to get rid of the evidence. Of course, the high and mighty ones turn a blind eye to this illegal activity. If you or I did something like this, not only would they throw the book at us, they would drop the entire library on our head. So these guns are off the street right? Wrong. Recently, a teenager was picked up with one of the guns that was turned in at the much touted “ buy back”. Well, my my, my.
Register NOW for ISRA Academy CCL Renewals
Do not miss out on the ISRA Academy featuring CCL renewals each month. Upcoming dates are:
4/27/2025 (Sunday) 9:00pm – 12:00pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
5/11/2025 (Sunday) 1:00pm – 4:00pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
5/25/2025 (Sunday) 9:00pm – 12:00pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
New IGOLD Merchandise in the ISRA Online Store
Come visit the ISRA Online Store to view our new line of IGOLD merchandise. We have new items added every week and, if you have something particular you would like to see available, let us know! We would love to hear your ideas and appreciate your input! Email them to us at: member@isra.org
Visit the ISRA Online Store HERE
Education & Training @ ISRA Range, Bonfield, IL.
ISRA Range Tour
4/26/2025 (Saturday) 10:00am – 11:30am & 1:00pm – 2:30pm / All Ranges & Clubhouse –
No registration required.
CCL Renewal & Qualification
4/27/2025 (Sunday) 9:00pm – 12:00pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
5/11/2025 (Sunday) 1:00pm – 4:00pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
5/25/2025 (Sunday) 9:00pm – 12:00pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
ISRA Pistol 201 Course
4/12/2025 (Saturday) 8:00am – 5:00pm / Range 8 – Register HERE
7/23/2025 (Saturday) 8:00am – 5:00pm / Range 8 – Register HERE
NRA Basic Shotgun Course
4/5/2025 (Saturday) 8:30am – 6:00pm / Range 6 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
NRA Range Safety Officer Class
5/3/2025 (Saturday) 8:30am – 6:00pm / Range 1 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
Pistol Optics Principles with Brian Hill of “The Complete Combatant” –
4/12/2025 (Saturday) 9:00am – 6:00pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
4/13/2025 (Sunday) 9:00am – 6:00pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
Pistol Optics Principles with Brian Hill of “The Complete Combatant” –
4/12/2025 (Saturday) 9:00am – 6:00pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
4/13/2025 (Sunday) 9:00am – 6:00pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
*** Please contact academy@isra.org for any training or class questions and check the ISRA Range Calendar HERE for links to dates, times, descriptions of ISRA activities and events.
Important Announcement – IGOLD
The 2025 IGOLD date has been moved to May 14, 2025. This is due to a change in the legislative calendar. I am looking forward to seeing you there.
GET IN THE FIGHT, STAY IN THE FIGHT, JOIN THE ISRA
To Join the ISRA, Go To: https://isra.org/join-us/
April 10, 1849 – Walter Hunt, a mechanic and inventor from New York, creates the safety pin. Hunt sold the invention for $400. Others companies made and sold Hunt’s safety pins and babies everywhere rejoiced. Walter Hunt went on to invent a repeating rifle, a flax spinner, a fountain pen, an ice plow, and one of the world’s first sewing machines.
April 10, 1942 – The “Bataan Death March” begins. The “march” included 75,000 American and Filipino troops. The prisoners were reported to have marched 85 miles in six days with only one meal of rice during the entire journey. By the end of the march, Japanese guards had killed hundreds of Americans and Filipinos.
In my first year of teaching, I taught with one of those soldiers who had survived the death march. Aside from the physical scars incurred during this horrendous event, he had a stutter that remained with him for the rest of his life.
April 11, 1898 – President William McKinley asks Congress for a Declaration of War against Spain. The Spanish military, known for their cruelty, immediately established concentration camps in Cuba where over 100,000 Cuban civilians died.
April 12, 1861 – Confederate batteries open fire on Fort Sumter, South Carolina, in Charleston Harbor. In the next 24 hours, 50 Confederate guns and mortars launch more than 4000 rounds against Fort Sumter. Two days later, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation to recruit 75,000 volunteers to quell the revolt. The Civil War was on.
April 12, 1954 – Bill Haley and the Comets record the song “Rock Around The Clock”. The next year, the song was played in the movie “Blackboard Jungle”. It became an overnight sensation and rock ‘n’ roll was here to stay.
April 12, 1990 – The Soviet government officially accepts blame for the Katyn Massacre in which 5000 Polish military officers were murdered and buried in a mass grave. The massacre occurred in 1940 and gutted the leadership of the country of Poland.
April 14, 1865 – Assassin and actor, John Wilkes Booth, shoots President Abraham Lincoln in the head during a performance of “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theater. Booth succeeded in escaping despite suffering a broken leg after jumping from Lincoln’s private theater box onto the stage. President Abraham Lincoln died at 7:22am the next morning.
April 14, 1910 – President William Howard Taft became the first president to throw out a ceremonial first pitch at a major league baseball game.
April 15, 1881 – Bat Masterson, the famed western lawman, fought his last gun fight. Masterson, who lived in both Clay and Iroquois counties in Illinois for some time during his youth, eventually left home with his brothers, intent on becoming a buffalo hunters. He was also an army scout in the Indian Wars. Eventually, in 1881, Masterson arrived in Dodge City, Kansas, where he was met by A.J. Peacock and Al Updegraff, who had dealings with Bat’s brother, Jim. Bat called the two men out and a gun fight ensued. Updegraff took a bullet in his right lung and a bystander was also injured, but both recovered. Masterson was fined $8 for the incident.
Bat Masterson spent the next 40 years working as a sheriff and operating saloons in the West. He eventually became a newspaper man in New York City.
While the gun show information shown in this email is believed to be accurate, sometimes changes occur. This is provided for informational purposes only.
If your club or organization is holding a gun show, event or class, let us know the details, and we’d be happy to post it in our Weekly Range Schedule.
April 13, 2025 Kane County Sportsman’s Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, IL.
May 17 – May 18, 2025 Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show, Kankakee Co. Fairgrounds, Kankakee, IL.
June 6 – June 8, 2025 Pecatonica Gun Show, Winnebago County Fairgrounds, Pecatonica, IL.
Sept 27 – Sept 28, 2025 Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club Gun & Knife Show, Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club House, Chillicothe, IL.
Oct 12, 2025 Kane County Sportsman’s Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, IL.
Oct 25 – Oct 26, 2025 Sauk Trail Gun Show, Bureau County Fairgrounds, Princeton, IL.
Nov 1, 2025 Bloomington Gun & Knife Show, Interstate Center, Bloomington, IL.
Nov 9, 2025 Kane County Sportsman’s Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, IL.
Nov 29 – Nov 30, 2025 Sauk Trail Gun Show, Bureau County Fairgrounds, Princeton, IL.
Dec 6 – Dec 7, 2025 Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club Gun & Knife Show, Chillicothe Sprotsmen’s Club House, Chillicothe, IL.
Dec 14, 2025 Kane County Sportsman’s Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, IL.
ISRA Grassroots Monthly Meetings
Come and meet fellow activists and learn the latest on protecting our Second Amendment Rights!
Northwest Suburban – 3rd Tues – Golden Corral, 1591 S. Randall Rd., Algonquin, IL; Doors open 6pm; Meeting 7pm – 8pm
South Suburban/Cook County – 2nd Thurs – Kenootz Pizza, 4659 147th St., Midlothian, IL; Doors open 6:30pm; Meeting 7pm – 8pm
Will County – 3rd Wed – Silver Dollar Restaurant, 422 E. Mississippi Ave., Elwood, IL; Doors open 6pm; Meeting 7pm – 8pm
Livingston County – 4th Saturday of the month – South Post Guns, 104 Livingston Rd., Streator, IL; Social Hour 4:30pm – 5:30pm; Meeting 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Stand Strong &
Thank you for being a member!
If you are not an ISRA member, join today
Donate: https://isra.org/support-us/
Upcoming Meetings: https://isra.org/isra-activities-and-events/
Upcoming Range Events: https://isra.org/the-range/#range-calendar