Thursday Bulletin – April 16, 2026

Thursday Bulletin – April 16, 2026

Executive Director’s Message

Richard Pearson

IGOLD 2026 Recap & What’s Next

IGOLD 2026 is now in the history books and I want to thank all those who came to IGOLD.  I know for many it was difficult but, I assure you, it was not a wasted effort.

Now we are entering the most dangerous time of the Spring Legislative Session.  It is only 46 days until the end of this session, concluding precisely at midnight on May 31st.  In the past, there have been shenanigans with the midnight cut-off.  I remember many a time when the clock had been unplugged at three minutes until midnight.  The closer it gets to midnight the more dangerous it becomes for the citizens of our State.  Something you all know from past experience.

Unless something unexpected happens, I do not foresee specials sessions occurring this summer.  One of the main reasons for not having special sessions is the very important elections coming up in November.  Most everyone will be too busy electioneering.

This Fall and Winter, we will again face uncertain times in the Illinois General Assembly. There will be two Veto Sessions and a Lame Duck Session.  There will be legislators who are retiring, or were beaten in the General Election, voting on all the issues, not just those involving firearms.  I have often seen legislators cast a vote totally opposite of their previous votes.  Sometimes, it’s revenge and sometimes there might be a high-paying position waiting for them.  I do have to say, however, that there are many who stay true to their constituents.

We at the ISRA thank you for your continued support.  Whatever the situation bubbling in the political broth of Springfield, the ISRA lobbyists will be…

FIGHTING FOR YOU!

Please help us continue the fight…..  Join the ISRA and support 2A rights in Illinois – CLICK HERE.

Trump’s Pro-2A Budget for 2027

President Donald J. Trump, in his fiscal year 2027 budget proposal, looks to end numerous Biden-Era gun controls implemented by the ATF (the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives).

Affirming Trump’s pro-2A agenda, page 44 of the 2027 budget proposal, under the headline “Protects the Constitutional Rights of American Citizens (+$8 million),” lays out the following:

     “The Budget affirms the President’s commitment to definitively protect the Second Amendment and other constitutional rights of citizens. This includes investing $1.4 million for a new office within the Civil Rights Division solely dedicated to protecting Second Amendment rights from unlawful infringement on the right to bear arms and pursuing cases to definitively enshrine those rights in perpetuity, and $1.3 million to expand efforts to eliminate discriminatory Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs in public institutions. The Budget also allocates $4.8 million for the Office of the Pardon Attorney’s Firearm Rights Restoration Initiative, which provides a pathway for law-abiding citizens to regain their Second Amendment rights after fulfilling their obligations to the justice system. The Budget continues to support the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) efforts to reverse regulations imposed by prior administrations that have effectively criminalized law-abiding gun ownership. The previous administration used the ATF to attack gun-owning Americans and undermine the Second Amendment by: requiring near-universal background checks; subjecting otherwise lawful gun owners to up to 10 years in prison for failing to register pistol braces that make it possible for disabled veterans to use firearms; the imposition of excessive restrictions on homemade firearms; and the revocation of Federal Firearms Licenses. The Budget re-prioritizes resources toward illegal firearms traffickers fueling violent crime, such as MS-13 gang members.”

There is much to digest here but all points made go a long way toward leveling the playing field for law- abiding gun owners in the U.S.  This is a very good start!

To download a full copy of President Trump’s 2027 Budget Proposal from whitehouse.gov , CLICK HERE.

Legislative Update

The Illinois Legislature reconvened on 4-14-2026 after the holiday.

Here is a list of the bills that the ISRA is supporting.  Please CLICK HERE.

The ISRA maintains a list of the most important bills under consideration in the Illinois State Legislature; the most current list is always the ISRA Legislation Page.   Click ad follow along!

You can find the House calendar HERE and the Senate calendar HERE to view all the legislative session deadlines.

Thank you for standing with the ISRA and for defending the rights of law-abiding Illinois gun owners.

Not an ISRA member?  Join the ISRA and support 2A rights in Illinois – CLICK HERE.

Litigation Update

ISRA AS PLAINTIFF

•   Meyer v. Raoul (18-20 yr CCL cases) (S.D. Ill.) – Summary judgment filings are filed and awaiting a ruling.

•   Miller v. Smith (foster care/home day care firearm prohibitions) (C.D. Ill.) – Summary Judgment Motions pending in District Court after Seventh Circuit remand.

•   Harrel v. Raoul (AWB/LCM case) (7th Cir.) – Awaiting ruling from Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

ISRA SUPPORTING

•   Schoenthal v. Raoul (public transportation CCL case) (7th Cir.) – Our Petition for Writ of Certiorari was denied by the Supreme Court. Judgment will shortly be entered for the State.

•   Atkinson v. Bondi (federal felon restoration) (N.D.Ill.) – Currently pending in Seventh Circuit, while awaiting implementation of DOJ restoration program which may resolve issue. Opening Brief due May 1, 2026.

•   Kuhlman v. Hines (“clear and present danger” civil rights violation) (C.D. Ill.) – Summary Judgment Motion pending in District Court.

•   Anderson v. Raoul – Suppressor challenge from Southern District of Illinois. District Court ruled for State, holding suppressors are not “arms” that receive Second Amendment protection. Case is pending at Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

•   L.P.D. v. E.K. – Litigation regarding Firearm Protective Order brought against minor (under 10-years-old) child, while simultaneously taking FOID and firearm of parent who was not accused of any wrongdoing. Matter currently pending in circuit court.

To follow the cases the ISRA is tracking, visit the ISRA Litigation page – CLICK HERE.

NRA Board Of Directors Results

The NRA election results are in and, for the first time that I know of, there are three board members from Illinois.  They are Richard Fairburn of Canton, Todd Vandermyde of Yorkville and Lynn Gipson of Athens.  All very able people.  I have looked over the entire list of electees and several of those are ISRA members. I look forward to progress within the NRA.

“Money can only buy happiness if you spend it on freedom.  Join the ISRA today.”  ~ Richard Pearson

FINAL DAYS!!!  IGOLD Expert Grade M1 Garand Raffle

Drawing on April 24, 2026

9 Additional prizes include Glock 43 MOS (3), Glock 42 MOS (1), pistol cases (3), and rifle cases (2)!

Ticket prices:

3 Tickets – $30

7 Tickets – $50

15 Tickets – $100

40 Tickets – $250          85 Tickets – $500

For more Information, CLICK HERE.

The Illinois State Rifle Association is a 501(c)4 non-profit organization, donations to Illinois State Rifle Association are not tax-deductible. Prize must be claimed within 90 days of drawing.

For other questions on this raffle, contact:

ISRA – PO Box 637 – Chatsworth, IL 60921

(815) 635-3198 or E-Mail: member@isra.org

“I am frequently asked if the ISRA sells our membership list.  The answer is absolutely not.”  ~ Richard Pearson

Education & Training @ ISRA Range, Bonfield, IL.

NOTICE: Kevin Kanaski – Mag 20 Class Coming up in May!

(See the ISRA  Academy Section above for more info)

*Every Thursday (unless otherwise noted)  ISRA Precision Air Pistol Training – Range 12 & Clubhouse – 5:30pm – 7:00pm

April 25 (Saturday)  CCL Renewal – Range 11 & Clubhouse – 1:00pm – 4:30pm

April 26 (Sunday)  Fortress Defense Consultants – Emergency Treatment of Gunshot Wounds  – Range 9  – 9:00am – 5:00pm

May 2 (Saturday)  Range Work Day – 8:00am – 4:00pm

May 2 & 3 (Saturday & Sunday) Kevin Kanaski – MAG20 – Range 8 & Clubhouse – 9:00am – 5:30

June 12 – 14 (Friday, Saturday & Sunday) David Maglio – MAG30 – Range 11 – 8:00am – 6:00

August 20 – 23 (Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun) Massad Ayoob – MAG40 – World Shooting & Recreational Complex – 8:30am – 7:00

August 26 – 30 (Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun) Massad Ayoob – MAG80 – ISRA Range, Bonfield (more info TBA)

*** Please contact academy@isra.org for any training or class questions and check the ISRA Range for links to dates, times, descriptions of ISRA activities and events.

ISRA Members: To view the

Illinois Shooter – Winter 2026, click HERE.

If you would like to donate to us, please click HERE.

Thank you for your support!

GET IN THE FIGHT, STAY IN THE FIGHT, JOIN THE ISRA

To Join the ISRA, click HERE.

The Illinois State Rifle Association

is the home of marksmanship in Illinois

Tidbits

April 16, 1970 – The Apollo 13 command module—carrying James A. Lovell, Jr., Fred W. Haise, Jr., and John L. Swigert, Jr.—entered Earth’s atmosphere and splashed down, ending one of the most tense chapters in space history; four days earlier an oxygen tank had exploded, threatening the lives of the three astronauts.

April 18, 1775 – Paul Revere, a renowned silversmith, is better remembered as a folk hero of the American Revolution who this night in 1775 made a dramatic ride on horseback to warn Boston-area residents of an imminent attack by British troops.

The poem “Paul Revere’s Ride”, written by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1860, commemorated the event and etched the memorable line “the midnight ride of Paul Revere” forever into the hearts and minds of American school children across the country.  It was first published in the January 1861 issue of The Atlantic Monthly.

April 18, 1942 – Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle leads 16 B25 bombers on the famous Tokyo Raid.  While the bombers did little damage physically, the Japanese government suffered a great loss and prestige.  The Raiders were described in the book 30 Seconds Over Tokyo, written by Ted Lawson.  Lieutenant Colonel Doolittle received the Medal of Honor for leading the raid.

April 19, 1775 – The American Revolution begins.  Launched this day in 1775 with the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the American Revolution was an effort by the 13 British colonies in North America (with help from France, Spain, and the Netherlands) to win their independence.

April 21, 732 BC – The City of Rome was founded by twin brothers, Romulus and Remus, according to legend.  Romulus killed his twin brother and eventually had the City of Rome named after him.  After all, his brother, Remus, had little to say about it at that point.

April 21, 1789 – John Adams was sworn in as the first Vice President of the United States nine days before George Washington’s presidential inauguration.

April 22, 1864 – The U.S. Congress passed the Coinage Act of 1864, which led to “In God We Trust” being printed on U.S. Coins.  The phrase was eventually added to all of the country’s currency.

Gun Shows

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 18 – April 19, 2026   Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club Gun & Knife Show, Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club House, Chillicothe, IL.

April 18, 2026   National Civil War, Military, and Collector Arms Show, DuPage County Fairgrounds, Wheaton, IL.

April 19, 2026   Kane County Sportsman’s Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St Charles, IL.

May 16 – May 17, 2026   Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show, Kankakee County Fairgrounds, Kankakee, IL.

June 19 – June 21, 2026   Pecatonica Gun Show, Winnebago County Fairgrounds, Pecatonica, IL.

Sept. 19 – Sept. 20, 2026   Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club Gun & Knife Show, Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club House, Chillicothe, IL.

Sept. 19, 2026   National Civil War, Military, and Collector Arms Show, DuPage County Fairgrounds, Wheaton, IL.

Dec. 6 – Dec. 7, 2026   Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club Gun & Knife Show, Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club House, Chillicothe, IL.

ISRA Town Hall Monthly Meetings

Come and meet fellow activists and learn the latest on protecting our Second Amendment Rights!

Livingston County – 4th Tuesday of the month – South Post Guns, 104 Livingston Rd., Streator, IL; Social half-hour from 6:00pm – 6:30pm; Meeting at 6:30pm.

Madison County – 1st Wednesday of the month – Piasa Armory, 625 Lewis and Clark Blvd., East Alton, IL; Doors open at 6:15pm; Meeting starts at 6:30pm

Northwest Suburban – 3rd Tuesday of the month – Golden Corral, 1591 S Randall Rd., Algonquin, IL; Doors open 6pm; Meeting 7pm – 8pm

South Suburban/Cook County – 2nd Thursday of the month – New Location: Papa Joe’s Italian Restaurant, 14459 LaGrange Rd, Orland Park, IL; Doors open 6:00pm; Meeting 7pm – 8pm

Will County – 3rd Wednesday of the month – Silver Dollar Restaurant, 422 E. Mississippi Ave., Elwood, IL; Doors open 6pm; Meeting 7pm – 8pm