December 19, 2024
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays
from the ISRA family to you and yours!
Legislative Update
We are watching several bills that will probably come up in lame duck session. Tentative lame duck session will be between the 2nd and 8th of January at noon. The new legislature will be seated January 8th at noon. This is an unusually long time for a lame duck session. There is plenty of mischief that can be done. Aside from our bills, which are listed below, my guess is they are going to try and do as much damage to President-Elect Trump’s agenda as possible.
HB5888 – Lost and Stolen Firearms
HB5891 and SB3971 – Safe Storage of Firearms
SB2633 “Karina’s Law” – This is a push for gun confiscation by the police.
These bill numbers could change, so be careful about them.
Litigation Update
The ISRA lawsuit – Harrel v Raoul, has been combined with the National Shooting Sports Foundation – and is now known as Barnett v Raoul – and it’s currently before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. On December 5th, the Seventh Circuit ruled in favor of the State of Illinois and extended the stay that was issued by Federal District Court Judge Stephen McGlynn.
The stay will be in effect until the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals hears the case and makes a decision. This means the PICA is still fully in effect and we are at the mercy of the Seventh Circuit.
Presently, we have not received a briefing schedule. And while we hope to move this case along as quickly as possible, the reality is that it could be another year or so. But whatever the time frame – we will not stop working to advance our position, even if that means petitioning the Supreme Court of the United States.
Rest assured, the ISRA will not back down until our 2nd Amendment rights are restored in Illinois – no matter how much it costs or how much time it takes. We won’t back down.
Online Store Now Open!
We are pleased to announce that the ISRA online store is now open – just in time to find some great gifts for Christmas! If you go to the ISRA website, we have a variety of ISRA items that you can purchase. Show your colors proudly by purchasing your ISRA items today!
In addition to merchandise, the ISRA is also offering GIFT CERTIFICATES! You can purchase these to put toward a training class offered by the ISRA. Or, of course, you can give an ISRA Membership to the favorite people in your life! Recipients will get all kinds of good information, discounts on ISRA classes, opportunities to learn and challenge themselves, and both you and they will be helping to secure the Second Amendment, all at the same time! It is a great deal and a wonderful stocking stuffer! Call the ISRA office at 815-635-3198 or visit www.isra.org for more info.
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.
“12 Days Of Christmas” Raffle
There is still time to enter the “12 Days Of Christmas” Raffle! We will be giving away 12 custom engraved Red Rider BB guns. To be included in our “12 Days Of Christmas” raffle for one of these beautiful BB guns, you must call the ISRA office to buy your tickets.
Visit this link, 12 Days Of Christmas Raffle Page , to view the beautiful engraving on this wonderful, custom BB gun.
Please call the ISRA office @ 815-635-3198. Good luck!
Henry 1000 Man Shoot Rifle Raffle
The ISRA will be raffling off rifle #873 out of 1000 Henry Silver Boy rifles. The paperwork is provided to authenticate this rifle was used in the 1,000-man shoot, and comes with its original case. The winning ticket will be drawn March 31, 2025. This raffle will also go to fund youth shooting programs, so please join in for a chance to win this wonderful firearm!
Purchase Tickets for the Henry 1000 HERE
Reminder – Key Tag Donation
If you have not sent your donation in for the Key Tag mailing, please try to do so as soon as you can.
Education & Training @ ISRA Range, Bonfield, IL.
ISRA Academy is continuing to offer CCL renewals each month –
1/06/2025 (Monday) 9:00am – 12:00pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
1/30/2025 (Thursday) 1:00pm – 4:00pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
2/1/2025 (Saturday) 9:00am – 12:00pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
CCL Class –
1/18/2025 (Saturday) 8:30am – 5:00pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
1/19/2025 (Sunday) 8:30pm – 5:00pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
NRA Basic Pistol Instructor Couse –
1/11/2025 (Saturday) 8:30am – 6:00pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
1/12/2025 (Sunday) 8:30am – 6:00pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
Glock Armorer Course –
2/11/2025 (Tuesday) 8:00am – 5:00pm / Clubhouse – Register HERE
Glock Operator Course –
2/12/2025 (Wednesday) 8:00am – 5:00pm / Range 11 – Register HERE
2/13/2025 (Thursday) 8:00am – 5:00pm / Range 11 – Register HERE
Pistol Coaching Class / Level 1 –
3/22/2025 (Saturday) 8:30am – 4:30pm / Range 1 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
3/23/2025 (Sunday) 8:30am – 4:30pm / 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
*** 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.
GET IN THE FIGHT, STAY IN THE FIGHT, JOIN THE ISRA
To Join the ISRA, Go To: https://isra.org/join-us/
December 13, 1937 – The rape of Nanking, China, by the Japanese becomes public knowledge. The United States still sleeps, thinking that wars in Europe and Asia,and any other part of the world, are none of our business. But the world had changed and the rape of Nanking, then the capitol of China, serves as a wake-up call to many.
President Franklin Roosevelt had been fighting against isolationism in the United States. Still, it was a popular belief that the Pacific and Atlantic oceans would protect us. But the world had changed and Americans were not aware or did not want to be aware of outside threats.
At this time, in 1941, America was scrambling, trying to deal with the attack on Pearl Harbor. There was a huge problem. While we had a draft, over 2/3 of the draftees had never fired a rifle. The United States government called on the NRA to develop a curriculum for volunteer instructors to aid in training recruits and draftees before they entered military service.
I am sorry to say, we are once again in the same predicament. Not nearly enough of our young people are trained to use firearms. You need to act now to enroll your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and the kids in your neighborhood in some sort of firearms grading program. I fear a storm is coming. If and when that storm comes, we will all be better off if everyone is prepared. And, if nothing happens but you are still prepared, you have lost nothing and gained a skill.
December 14, 1799 – George Washington dies at the age of 67. George Washington had been healthy for the majority of his life. Unfortunately, he probably contracted the flu or pneumonia but, at the time, the main treatment for such ailments was “bleeding”. This practice only made him weaker. Had there been other more effective treatments at the time, Washington might have lived many more years.
December 15, 1791 – The Bill of Rights is ratified and becomes a permanent part of the United States Constitution. This is the day that the Second Amendment was memorialized within the Constitution of the United States. The Second Amendment is what makes the United States different from every other country…stronger, better and more prepared. There are those who want to tear the Second Amendment apart within state legislatures and Congress. These people are totally wrong and we must continue to fight them to protect our rights.
December 15, 1880 – Sioux holy man, Sitting Bull, is killed by Indian police at Standing Rock Reservation in South Dakota. In 1890, a spiritual revival movement among Native Americans, called the “Ghost Dance”, began to gain traction. Authorities, fearing a Native American uprising, decided to arrest Sitting Bull. They wrongly believed that Sitting Bull was behind the movement, but he was not.
They roused Sitting Bull from his bed at 6am, causing an immediate suspicious crowd of fellow Native Americans to gather. Someone fired a shot and hit one of the Indian police. The police then shot Sitting Bull, killing him instantly. Fighting ensued and 12 Native Americans were killed. Two weeks later, the U.S. Army attempted to suppress the Ghost Dance movement by massacring a band of Sioux Indians at Wounded Knee,
December 16, 1620 – The pilgrims land on Cape Cod. Despite no easily accessible landing sites within the Hudson River and with Winter fast approaching, the pilgrims decided to land immediately. Just to set the record straight, at that time they did not step out of their boat onto Plymouth Rock. That is a myth. Although there is a rock there today with “1620” carved on it, which I stood on, it is really just a tourist attraction.
December 16, 1773 – British Parliament has passed a bill called the Tea Act of 1773. The Tea Act actually reduced the taxes on tea and was designed to save the East India Company and destroy it’s competition. American colonists were not buying it, however. About 60 members of the Colonial Resistance, known as “The Sons of Liberty”, disguised themselves as Native Americans and boarded three East India tea ships to toss the cargo of tea overboard into the harbor. The cost of this act would be about $2 million in today’s money. This act became known as the “Boston Tea Party”.
December 16, 1944 – The Battle of the Bulge begins. Hitler made a desperate move to drive through the Ardens forest to eventually reach the port of Antwerp hoping to cut off Allied supplies on the Western Front. This would become the bloodiest battle of World War II. American troops had not been issued warm coats or Winter gear of any kind. They marched in worn-out boots, which they would wrap with newspaper and cloth they would scavenge from abandoned or bombed out houses along the way. Many American soldiers froze to death.
General George Patton pivoted and drove American forces north to the town of Bastone, which had been surrounded by German troops. They had traveled faster and farther then anyone in the American Army ever had.
Shortly after Christmas, the skies cleared, our troops were resupplied and the American Army began attacking the Germans. By January 25, 1945, the Battle of the Bulge was over and Germany was on it’s way to defeat.
December 17, 1903 – Orville and Wilbur Wright achieve the first airplane flight. They took off and landed their airplane four times. The first time, the flight lasted 12 seconds and covered 120 feet. The longest flight was 852 feet and lasted 59 seconds.
December 21 – Winter begins. It is the shortest day of the year, but the longest night.
December 21, 1945 – General George S. Patton dies of a severe neck injury caused by a car accident. General Patton was one of my favorite Generals. He was able to quickly formulate complex and effective strategies. Besides, he carried a 357 Magnum on one hip and a Colt 45 on the other hip. What’s not to like?
December 23, 1783 – With a treaty signed, George Washington retires as commander and chief of the Continental Army. He was looking forward to going home to Mount Vernon and spending the remainder of his life with his wife, Martha.
George Washington closed his retirement speech with these words: “Having now finished the work assigned to me, I retire from the great theater of action, abiding in affection. Farewell to this body, whose orders I have so long acted. I here offer my commission and take leave of all the time of employment of public life.”
That was George Washington’s intention, but history had other plans for him. He helped to write the Constitution of the United States, the Bill of Rights and go on to serve as the first President of the United States. Despite making some mistakes throughout his military career and personal life, he was a great man who learned from those mistakes and never quit.
December 23, 1814 – The War of 1812 ends. James Madison was President during the War of 1812 and was the first President to ask Congress to declare war.
The War of 1812 happened for three reasons. First was the forced conscription of American seamen onto British ships. The second was the economic “volcano” of France which hurt American trade. And third, the assignment of Native Americans to make war on people along the frontier of the United States. The British simply disrespected the United States of America and Madison, who was only 5’4” and 100 pounds, was not having any of that.
The British had designs on making the United States part of the British Empire again. In 1814, Napoleon fell from power allowing the British to allocate more resources to fight the United States of America. They burned the White House and other government buildings as a show of contempt towards the upstart country but, despite the United States having a much smaller military, the U.S. won many of the battles against the British.
News of an eventual peace treaty traveled slowly, taking two months to reach many places. British forces in some areas were not informed of this treaty and, in one instance, they attacked New Orleans on January 8, 1815. There the British met General Andrew Jackson who, rousing his troops, decimated the superior forces of the opposition…a lesson not lost on the British or the rest of the European powers.
December 24, 1923 – President Calvin Coolidge lighted the first official White House Christmas tree.
December 25, 350 A.D. – Pope Julius I declares December 25 as the official day that Christ’s birth will be celebrated.
December 25, 1776 – George Washington crosses the Delaware River and attacks Hessian mercenaries at Trenton, NJ. While the victory was not militarily significant, it did raise the spirits of Americans, giving them added faith in the Continental Army.
December 25, 2024 – Merry Christmas everyone!!!
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.
Dec 21 – Dec22 Crown Point Gun Show, Lake County Fairgrounds, Crown Point, IN
Jan 4 – Jan 5, 2025 **CANCELLED** Decatur Gun & Knife Show, Decatur Conference Center & Hotel, Decatur, IL
Jan 12, 2025 Kane County Sportsman’s Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, IL
Jan 18 – Jan 19, 2025 Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show, Kankakee Co. Fairgrounds, Kankakee, IL.
Jan 25 – Jan 26, 2025 Sauk Trail Gun Show, Bureau County Fairgrounds, Princeton, IL.
Feb 1 – Feb 2, 2025 Bloomington Gun & Knife Show, Interstate Center, Bloomington, IL.
Feb 8 – Feb 9, 2025 Quad Cities Gun Show, QCCA Expo Center, Rock Island, IL.
Feb 9, 2025 Kane County Sportsman’s Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, IL.
Feb 15 – Feb 16, 2025 Central Illinois Gun Collectors New Berlin Gun Show, Sangamon County Fairgrounds, New Berlin, IL.
Mar 1 – Mar 2, 2025 Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show, Kankakee Co. Fairgrounds, Kankakee, IL.
Mar 7 – Mar 8, 2025 Plainfield Frontiersman Show, Sullivan American Legion, Sullivan, IL.
Mar 9, 2025 Kane County Sportsman’s Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, IL.
Mar 29 – Mar 30, 2025 Sauk Trail Gun Show, Bureau County Fairgrounds, Princeton, IL.
April 13, 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!
East Central Illinois – 3rd Thurs – Clifton Sportsman’s Club, 3106 US-45 #52, Clifton, IL; Doors open 6pm; Meeting 7pm – 8pm *****Meeting CANCELLED for December
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
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