August 28, 2025
Thursday Bulletin – August 28, 2025
Concealed Carry is Effective, Despite What The ATF Says
Last Thursday, the ATF posted a tweet saying that people carrying concealed firearms, on their person or in their belongings, put everyone at risk. Hogwash! I am guessing that there are upwards of 30 million people legally carrying firearms, especially when you consider that 29 states allow “constitutional carry”. Crime is going down and one primary reason is that criminals now know that their intended victims are capable to effectively fight back. You notice I said effectively, none of the “run, hide, fight” malarkey. What are you supposed to do, give a heavily armed criminal a sound thrashing with your iPad? Remember, the ATF, FBI and the police are not there when you come face to face with a predator. It’s you and them. The “system “ will never protect you. The only thing the system will protect is itself. The system will throw you under the bus every time.
Wouldn’t you know it? Thirty-seven hours after the ATFs original post, they corrected it. It doesn’t matter. We now know what the ATF’s view on concealed carry is…..
Please check the ISRA Calendar on the website HERE for available classes.
Signs of Fall Approaching
One of the sure signs of Fall is seeing swarms of starlings late in the day. The technical term for these swarms is murmurations. Last week, I started seeing starlings by the hundreds fill up wires and trees in the afternoons. Just before sunset, they gather by the thousands and take flight all at once. When they do they form into synchronized, graceful, fluid patterns. They are quite intriguing to watch. The exact reason starlings do this is known only to them, but the “experts” think it is a way to confuse predators.
The trees are also starting to vary in color. They are still different shades of green, but each day brings a little more variation. I have already noticed a few sumac leaves turning red. I have to say, I have enjoyed the recent cool mornings. Anyway, Fall is less than a month away.
For me, the official start of hunting season is September 1st, the opening day of dove season. Doves are, in my opinion, one of the most difficult targets. I have hunted with a few people over the years and have expended more than a couple of boxes of shells, and haven’t gotten anything. Of course, those experiences make great stories. I have long suspected that doves also gather and exchange stories about incredibly poor hunters. There would be a lot of hilarity there.
Litigation Update
All of our litigation is proceeding. We are preparing for our oral arguments in the Harrel et al v Rauol et al on September 22, 2025. I want to thank all of those who are supporting our efforts.
Schoenthal v Raoul – The case has been argued and we are awaiting a decision from the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Support ISRA Legal efforts by donating HERE.
Not an ISRA member? Join the ISRA and support 2A rights in Illinois – CLICK HERE.
Support ISRA Legal efforts by donating HERE.
Not an ISRA member? Join the ISRA and support 2A rights in Illinois – CLICK HERE.
Legislative Update
The Illinois Legislature is not in session at this time.
You can follow along by clicking the ISRA Legislation Page.
M1 Garand Rifle Raffle
We are also pleased to announce our M1 Garand Expert Rifle Raffle with WWII U.S. Army M1923 M1 Garand rifle cartridge belt. Tickets are $20 per chance, 3 for $50, 8 for $100, etc. The winning ticket will be drawn on November 11, 2025.
One need not be present to win and winner will be notified. Dues & donations to the ISRA are NOT tax deductible. Winner of firearm must comply with all federal, state, and local laws. You have 90 days from the drawing to claim firearm. Good luck to all!
To Enter online, CLICK HERE , or call the ISRA office for more details at 815-635-3198.
“Guns N Grub” Event At The ISRA Range – Volunteers Needed!
Come join us for a one-of-a-kind event at the ISRA Range in Bonfield, IL. on September 13, starting at 9am! Firearm training, great food, and a vibrant shopping experience combine to create an unforgettable day filled with excitement, learning, and cameraderie.
To learn more about the Guns N Grub event and to register, go HERE.
We also need volunteers to help during the day from 7am to 5:30pm. Coffee, donuts and lunch are provided. If you would like to to volunteer to help out during this terrific event or If you have any questions, please call the ISRA office at 815-635-3198 or email us at: member@isra.org
Sighting-In-Day Raffle
Once again, we are pleased to announce our “Sighting-In-Day” raffle for a Savage Axis II 350 Legend w/scope and other great prizes. Tickets are only $10 a piece and entering is easy – enter online, by phone or by mail! Entries by mail must be postmarked by October 13, 2025. The drawing is at 1pm on October 21, 2025.
One need not be present to win and winner will be notified. Dues & donations to the ISRA are NOT tax deductible. Winner of firearm must comply with all federal, state, and local laws. You have 90 days from the drawing to claim firearm. Good luck to all!
To enter online, CLICK HERE.
“I am frequently asked if the ISRA sells our membership list. The answer is absolutely not.” ~ Richard Pearson
ISRA’s “250th Anniversary of the Revolutionary War”
Muzzleloader Raffle
We are pleased to offer a Pennsylvania Rifle for the 250th Anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War!
The Pennsylvania Rifle, and the people who carried them, played a pivotal role in the Revolutionary War. Their marksmanship was exemplary. Many of the sharpshooters in the Revolutionary War were from Pennsylvania and used Pennsylvania rifles. The most famous of these is Patrick Murphy, who shot and killed British General Patrick Ferguson in the Battle of Kings Mountain. Murphy made the shot, at a range of 300 yards, using his Pennsylvania Flint Lock Rifle.
One need not be present to win and winner will be notified. Dues & donations to the ISRA are NOT tax deductible. Winner of firearm must comply with all federal, state, and local laws. You have 90 days from the drawing to claim firearm. Good luck to all!
In commemoration of this 250th Anniversary, we’re pleased to offer 5 prizes that include:
1st Prize: Traditions Pennsylvania Carbine Rifle – .50 Cal Percussion & Midway Deluxe Padded 54″ Gun Case
2nd Prize: ISRA Custom Engraved BUCK Hunting Knife
3rd Prize: ISRA Custom Engraved BUCK Hunting Knife
4th Prize: ISRA Black Powder Hat
5th Prize: ISRA Black Powder Hat
To enter online, CLICK HERE.
Upcoming 2025 ISRA State Championships
September 6th & 7th (Saturday & Sunday) – Illinois State F Class Championship
For more info, CLICK HERE
September 20th (Saturday) – Illinois State Short Course Championship
For more info, CLICK HERE
October 11th (Saturday) – Illinois State Black Powder State Championship
For more info, CLICK HERE
Register NOW for ISRA Academy CCL Renewals
Do not miss out on the ISRA Academy featuring CCL renewals each month. Be sure to pre-register by checking the ISRA Range Calendar for times/dates and clicking on the event of your choice for more info.
Click here for ISRA Range or call the ISRA Offices for more info at 815-635-3198.
Education & Training @ ISRA Range, Bonfield, IL.
August 29-31 (Friday-Sunday) Rangemaster 3-Day Firearms Instructor Development & Certification Course
August 30 (Saturday) Armed Women of America – Range 11 & Clubhouse 9:00am-12pm
September 6-7 (Saturday & Sunday) Intro to International Rifle Shooting – Range 12 7am-6pm
September 6 (Saturday) Range Work Day – 8:00am-4pm
September 7 (Sunday) Titan Pistol Mini Workshop – Range 9 8:30am-1pm
September 20-21(Saturday & Sunday) Intermediate Rifle – Range 5 & Clubhouse 9am-3pm
September 21 (Sunday) CCL Renewal & Qualification – Range 11 & Clubhouse 1pm-4pm
September 21(Sunday) Handgun Drills – Range 10 & Clubhouse 9am-3pm
September 27 (Saturday) Defensive Rifle 1 – Range 9 8:30am-4pm
September 27 (Saturday) Armed Women of America – Range 11 & Clubhouse 9:00am-12pm
September 28 (Sunday) Intro to LPVO and Intermediate Distance – Range 15 10am-3pm
October 4 (Saturday) Range Work Day – 8:00am-4pm
October 2-5 (Thursday-Sunday) Massad Ayoob’s MAG-40 Course – There are a few spaces left. Sign up as soon as you can!
October 19 (Sunday) CCL Renewal & Qualification – Range 9 1pm-5pm
*** 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.
World Shooting and Recreational Complex (WSRC) Events
The ISRA office is located at: 1 Main Event Lane, Unit 502-503, Sparta, IL 62286
Women Only Classes at WSRC
October 10 (Friday) “Refuse To Be A Victim” – 5pm – 9pm
October 11 (Saturday) NRA Basic Pistol – 8:30am – 5pm
October 12 (Sunday) NRA Basic Rifle – 8:30am – 5pm
ISRA Members: View the Spring 2025 Shooter HERE
If you would like to donate to us, please visit: https://isra.org/support-us/
Thank you for your support!
GET IN THE FIGHT, STAY IN THE FIGHT, JOIN THE ISRA
To Join the ISRA, Go To: https://isra.org/join-us/
The Illinois State Rifle Association
is the home of marksmanship in Illinois
Tidbits
August 28, 1968 – Riots break out in Chicago during the Democrat National Convention. Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley deployed 12,000 police officers and another 15,000 State and Federal officers to contain the protesters. The protest was against the Vietnam War, but other issues were also on the protesters’ minds. I lived in Orland Park, Illinois, at the time and I can tell you that it was quite exciting.
August 28, 1941 – More than 23,000 Hungarian Jews are sent to Ukraine where they are killed. By the end of World War II, over 600,000 Jews that had been sent to Ukraine had been killed.
August 30, 1967 – Thurgood Marshall is confirmed as Supreme Court Justice. He was the first African-American to be confirmed to the Supreme Court of the United States. He retired after 24 years because of health reasons. In 1930, Marshall tried to gain admittance to the Maryland School of Law, but was turned away because of their segregation policies. So Marshall instead attended the Howard School of Law and later successfully sued the Maryland School of Law for all of their unfair admissions policies. Try that one on for size Maryland.
August 31, 1798 – America’s first bank robbery takes place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The amount stolen was a magnificent sum of $162,821. Everything would have worked out pretty well except for the robber trying to deposit the money back in the very bank he had just robbed. This proves, once again, that criminals aren’t as smart as they think they are.
September 1, 1939 – Adolf Hitler invades Poland. Hitler used the new Nazi form of warfare known as “blitzkrieg”, or “lightning war”, against the Polish Army. World War II had begun.
September 2, 1945 – Japan officially surrenders to the Allies, bringing an end to World War II. The instrument of surrender was signed aboard the battleship USS Missouri. To impress the Japanese, General Douglas MacArthur brought more than 250 Allied warships to Tokyo Harbor and , additionally, had more than 4000 airplanes fly over the proceedings. Approximately 60 million people lost their lives in World War II.
September 3, 1777 – The “Stars and Stripes” is flown in battle for the first time. It was the Battle of Cooch’s Bridge in Delaware.
Other Events & 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.
Sept 20, 2025 National Civil War, Military, and Collector Arms Show, DuPage County Fairgrounds, Wheaton, IL.
Sept 27 – Sept 28, 2025 Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club Gun & Knife Show, Chillicothe Sprotsmen’s Club House, Chillicothe, IL.
Sept 27 – Sept 28, 2025 Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show, Kankakee County Fairgrounds, Kankakee, IL.
Oct 4 – 5, 2025 Central Illinois Gun Collectors Association – New Berlin Gun Show, Sangamon County Fairgrounds, New Berlin, IL.
Oct 12, 2025 Kane County Sportsman’s Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, IL.
Oct 25 – Oct 26, 2025 Belleville Gun & Knife Show, Belle-Clair Fairgrounds, Belleville, IL.
Oct 25 – Oct 26, 2025 Sauk Trail Gun Show, Bureau County Fairgrounds, Princeton, IL.
Nov 1 – Nov 2, 2025 Bloomington Gun & Knife Show, Interstate Center, Bloomington, IL.
Nov 9, 2025 Kane County Sportsman’s Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, IL.
Nov 22 – Nov 23, 2025 Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show, Kankakee County Fairgrounds, Kankakee, IL.
Nov 29 – Nov 30, 2025 Central Illinois Gun Collectors Association – New Berlin Gun Show, Sangamon County Fairgrounds, New Berlin, 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.
Sept 13 – Sept 14, 2025 Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show, Kankakee County Fairgrounds, Kankakee, IL.
Dec 14, 2025 Kane County Sportsman’s Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, IL.
Feb 14 – Feb 15, 2026 Central Illinois Gun Collectors Association – New Berlin Gun Show, Sangamon County Fairgrounds, New Berlin, 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, 601 S. Randall Rd., Elgin, 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/
Visit: www.isra.org
Upcoming Meetings: https://isra.org/isra-activities-and-events/
Upcoming Range Events: https://isra.org/the-range/#range-calendar
Stand by for the ISRA Range Post on
Tuesday!
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