August 31, 2023
Tonight, Thursday August 31, 2023, will be both a Supermoon and a Blue Moon. This won’t happen again until 2037, so don’t miss it. One in 33 moons are Blue Moons, and one in four moons are Supermoons. This coming Supermoon will be about 30% brighter than normal. The reason is that it is going to be only 221,942 miles from earth due to its elliptical orbit. A Blue Moon isn’t named for its color, but it’s rarity. The term “Blue Moon” was popularized in 1980 on a TV show “Star Date”. Volcanic eruptions that propel ash and smoke in the air, make the moon appear blue. I would look at the August blue moon about 8:30pm.
Hunting season will begin in earnest on September 1st. The first goose season runs from September 1 to September 15. Dove season also begins on September 1st.
For the duck hunters, the waterfowl reports numbers are down this year by about 2,340,000. All species declined except green-winged teal, northern pintail, and canvas backs. Predation in the nesting areas is a leading cause of the drop.
In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson is going to file suit against Kia and Hyundai because their vehicles are too easy to steal. The mayor likes to forget about the criminals who are the actual cause of the crimes, and the idea of personal responsibility. It is always easier to blame an object than a person. Then of course we add in Cook County prosecutor Kim Fox, who likes to let people off the hook, and we have a class A mess on our hands.
It is an equal opportunity city as far as robberies go. Last Monday, a Chicago TV News crew was covering a couple of robberies, when they themselves got robbed. This is not news. They were the second TV news crew to be robbed in a month. Aside from the now three robberies, there was a carjacking in the same area, a couple of hours earlier. I’m not a detective, but I am beginning to detect a pattern here. Other areas of the city are experiencing the same thing. In Humboldt Park, robberies are up 107 percent this year, and 322 percent over the same period, last year. Since criminals aren’t prosecuted in Chicago to any degree that matters, who could be surprised?
In 2021, there were 406,829 high-priority emergency calls in Chicago, that went unanswered. The numbers aren’t in for 2022, but I wouldn’t be too hopeful for any improvement. If you haven’t got a FOID Card, get one, then get an Illinois Concealed Carry License (ICCL). You are pretty much on your own, baby!
In Maine, New York, two armed and masked men broke into a home with intent to rob the home and the homeowner. The homeowner armed himself and an exchange of gunfire wounded one of the men in the leg. The two fled and were later arrested at a local hospital. The homeowner was unharmed.
This is another case in which a lawfully armed citizen faced multiple attackers. In the 2021 National Firearms Survey which included 54,244 people, it was found that 31.1 percent had defended themselves with firearms. Just as interesting, is that 51.2 percent had faced multiple attackers, with some facing five or more attackers. Handguns were used to stop the attacks 66 percent of the time, and shotguns were used 21 percent of the time. The problem we have in Illinois is that semi-automatic shotguns are now limited to five rounds. Semi-automatic shotguns are one of the best ways to defend yourself and your home. Semi-automatics are far easier for women to shoot, particularly 20-gauge shotguns. Now the state of Illinois has given criminals another advantage over law-abiding citizens. Particularly now that multiple attackers are becoming more common.
Now is the time to get more training.
I get calls every day regarding the ISRA lawsuit which is now in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Nothing yet. The courts set their own timeline. We will keep you informed.
The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) filed a lawsuit challenging the “Final Rule” from the ATF on their redefinition of frames and receivers. The lawsuit claims the ATF usurped the authority of Congress. The SAF expects to prevail on most sections of this lawsuit.
Thank you to all those who entered the 120th anniversary raffle. The winners are posted on the ISRA website under “News”. (Only the winning ticket numbers are posted. We do not post names.)
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 – you should have the offer by next week. If you don’t receive it, please call the office and we can upgrade your membership on the phone. Call 815.635.3198.
August 31,1888
Jack the Ripper’s first victim, Mary Ann Nichols is found with her throat cut. In all, Jack the Ripper claimed five known victims. All were prostitutes from the slums in London’s East End. No one was ever caught. These were the days before forensic evidence. The last murder occurred in 1892.
August 31, 1897
Thomas Edison invents the Kinetoscope now known as the movie camera. Edison built his own movie studio which rotated to take advantage of the best angles of the sun while making movies. When we think of Thomas Edison, we think of the light bulb, the phonograph, municipal lightning systems and the telephone answering machine. Edison held 1093 patents. One of those we often forget about is the alkaline battery.
September 1, 1864
Atlanta falls to the Union. Troops under command of General William T. Sherman captured the most important rail, communications center, and supply depot in the south. From Atlanta, Sherman would launch his famous march to the sea which split the south.
September 1, 1939
Hitler invades Poland and WWII begins. On September 3rd, France and Great Britain would declare war on Germany. Hither was surprised. He expected the British and French appeasement would continue. When informed the British and French had declared war on Germany, he exclaimed “Now what”?
September 3, 1777
The Stars and Stripes is raised for the first time, at the battle of Brandywine Creek.
September 3 1783
The Treaty of Paris is signed formally ending the American Revolution. Hostilities continued along the United Colonies’ frontiers. Benjamin Franklin demands that Canada become part of the United States, but that didn’t work out. Too bad.
September 4, 1918
The American Expeditionary Force lands at Archangel, Russia to support the White Russian forces against the Bolsheviks. The idea didn’t work out and they withdrew in 1920. There were 5000 United States troops in the AEF. Approximately 400 U.S. Troops lost their lives.
This was the first taste of arctic warfare for the United States. The American troops were equipped with Browning BARs, 1911 pistols, Thompson submachine guns, and water-cooled Browning machine guns. The water-cooled machine guns did not work out very well because the water quickly froze, rendering them useless. Some troops carried the 1903 Springfield rifles, but most of them were equipped with Mosin-Nagant rifles like the Russians carried, because of the availability of ammunition. Remington made the Mosin-Nagant rifles. I have a friend that had a Remington made Mosin-Nagant new in the box and unfired. They were beautiful rifles.
September 5, 1877
Chief Crazy Horse is killed at Fort Robinson, Nebraska while struggling with guards who were trying to put him in a cell.
September 6, 1901
President William McKinley is shot while shaking hands at the Pan-American Exhibition in Buffalo, New York. The shooter was an anarchist. McKinley died on September 14 of gangrene, from an undetected wound. McKinley was the last Civil War Veteran elected president. Theodore Roosevelt, who had been tucked away in the Vice Presidency to keep him out of the way, was suddenly thrust into the most powerful office in the land.
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September 16 – 17 Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show, Kankakee County Fairgrounds, Kankakee
September 17 McHenry County Gun Show, McHenry County Fairgrounds, Woodstock
September 23 National Civil War and Collector Arms Show, DuPage County Fairgrounds, Wheaton
September 23 Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club Gun & Knife Show, Chillicothe
Sept. 30 – Oct. 1 Central Illinois Gun Collectors Assoc. Sangamon County Fairgrounds, New Berlin
October 8 Kane County Sportsman’s Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles
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 House, Chillicothe