January 18, 2024
Anti-Gun Illinois Democrats Are Going After the Driver’s Licenses of FOID Card Holders. On January 10, 2024, State Senator Julie Morrison, the Democrat Majority Caucus Whip introduced legislation in the Senate – Senate Bill 2720 – that proposes when a FOID card is revoked – and the FOID card holder does not comply with Section 9.5 of the FOID Act by surrendering their FOID card to authorities, they may NOT BE ISSUED a driver’s license; RENEW a driver’s license; RETAIN a driver’s license; or be ISSUED a permit to drive under the Illinois Vehicle Code. AND – the Illinois State Police shall notify the Secretary of State of those that fail to adhere to Section 9.5.
State Senator Morrison believes it’s this simple: Just COMPLY with Section 9.5 and turn in your revoked FOID card, then there are no issues. It’s not that easy. SB 2720 eliminates due process that can unfairly target FOID Card holders.
For example, under the Red Flag Law, there can be an ex parte complaint against you. Ex parte means someone can file a complaint against you, go before a Judge without you present or even knowing that there is a complaint against you, and you can lose your FOID Card and your driver’s license without a hearing for 2 weeks, even then it may not be settled.
There are other consequences:
SB 2720 targets FOID Card holders, but does nothing to improve internal Illinois State Police processes where it can take up to several months to get a FOID Card .
The ISP is overwhelmed, so ensuring that their database is updated in a timely manner is a challenge and that can have serious consequences for FOID Card holders under this legislation.
Here’s an important question: Do we trust the Illinois State Police to update the database in a timely manner?
FOID Card legislation that targets driver’s licenses can have a major impact on community safety. For example, if an ISP database is not updated in a timely manner, and a Police Officer’s FOID Card is accidentally revoked, they can’t drive a police vehicle, patrol a local community or carry a gun.
A person under this bill can be falsely accused and lose their FOID CARD and their right to drive without a single hearing.
What if a person complied with Section 9.5 but the Illinois State Police database is not updated? Or, what if there has been a mistake and you must appeal to have your FOID card reinstated after revocation? That could take months or even years. There is no recourse in the bill as it is presently written. What happens is this: Your driver’s license is revoked. How are these people going to get to work and how are they going to support their families? Of course, the anti-gun crowd doesn’t care!
The Timing of This is NOT Accidental. Governor Pritzker is NOW looking for NEW ways to TARGET and HARASS gun owners in Illinois after he was left embarrassed when over 2 million FOID Card holders rebelled against his gun ban registry on January 1st.
Rest assured, the ISRA will continue to fight for our right to keep and bear arms. Until those rights are restored in Illinois, we will continue our fight and oppose legislation like Senate Bill 2720, and so many others.
If you are NOT a member of the ISRA, now is the time to join. We need the support of every firearm owner in Illinois. Click here to join.
If you are currently a member, you are supporting these efforts, and we thank you.
The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) has accepted the Protect Illinois Community Act (PICA) rules, and they are in place. However, a formal objection has been filed and has to be heard within 90 days. What does this mean? Probably not much.
Recently the ISRA started consistently producing YouTube videos to help keep Illinois gun owners informed on what is going on in Illinois. The last three videos have had over 200,000 views, and we are up to just under 5,000 subscribers. If you haven’t subscribed to the Illinois State Rifle Association YouTube Channel, please do so. We are trying to reach 10,000 subscribers as soon as possible and want the channel to continue to grow. Here is the link for our newest YouTube Video as well as our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@IllinoisStateRifleAssociation
Please subscribe to our social media and YouTube content to stay up to date on the latest developments. Just click the links below.
https://www.facebook.com/ILStateRifle
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https://www.youtube.com/@IllinoisStateRifleAssociation
Gun Violence Archive Data Shows More Guns, Less Crime. The Gun Violence Archive (GVA) website data shows 2023 produced fewer homicides (18,906) than in 2022 (20,396) and fewer suicides last year (24,090) than the year before (27,038). This indicates expansion of permitless carry laws, allowing more people to carry firearms for personal protection, did NOT result in more bloodshed as anti-gunners predicted. The data also proves anti-gunners have been wrong about licensed concealed carry and constitutional carry.
Illinois Gun Owners Lobby Day (IGOLD) will be on Thursday, April 18th this year. If your gun club, gun shop, hunting group and/or organization is thinking about bringing a bus to IGOLD with your members, NOW is the time to plan it.
If you are bringing a bus, please let us know by April 1st. The bus parking and shuttle bus will have to be paid for in advance.
Please notify the ISRA Office and speak with Shirley at 815.635.3198 Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4pm. You can also email Shirely at shirley@isra.org. If you email Shirley, please put BUS NOTIFICATION in the subject line. We will update you on IGOLD as we get closer to the date.
January 20, 1887 – The United States establishes a naval base at Pearl Harbor, giving the United States a presence in the Pacific.
January 20, 1981 – Iran Hostage Crisis ends. 52 American hostages are released by Iran after 444 days in captivity.
January 21, 1950 – Former State Department official Alger Hiss is convicted of perjury. Whitaker Chambers, a former editor at Time Magazine, charged that Hiss was an admitted spy in the 1930s and 40s. Chambers testified against Hiss, producing documents known as the “Pumpkin Papers” which he said Hiss had given to him. The term “Pumpkin Papers” came from the fact that Chambers had hidden them in his pumpkin patch in case his home was ever searched.
January 22, 1970 – The Boeing 747 goes into service for the first time.
January 23, 1855 – John Moses Browning is born In Ogden, Utah. Browning would make models of every firearm invented out of wood, including every moving part. He would then burn the models before making them out of steel. He designed his first firearm at age 13. The last firearm he designed was the 37 mm Auto Loading Cannon for the U.S. Military. The Auto Loading Cannon was used on both aircraft and PT boats during WWII.
Browning was credited with 128 patents that covered 80 distinct firearms for companies such as Winchester, Remington, Colt, Fabrique Nationale, Savage and General Motors. His first patent at age 24 in 1879, would become the Winchester model 1885 single-shot rifle.
John Browning also designed several types of ammunition popular today. They include .25 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol), .32 ACP, .38 ACP, .380 ACP, .45 ACP, .50 BMG (Browning Machine Gun), and the 9 mm Browning Long. There have been no significant changes to firearms designs since Browning died in 1926.
January 24, 1935 – Canned beer goes on sale for the first time.
January 24, 1972 – The last Japanese soldier from World War II is found on Guam.
Click here to view the entire calendar. All classes and events are open to the public & all range members, unless otherwise noted. here
We are glad to announce that we will have an M1 Maintenance Class scheduled for Saturday, March 23, 2024, from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm at the ISRA Range in Bonfield, IL.
We have a highly qualified instructor, Larry Collinson, who has been with Springfield Armory for a long time. Mr. Collinson is an expert on the M1 Rifle. You will learn to take apart, clean, reassemble, and maintain your M1 Garand Rifle during this class. The class size is limited to 32 people. The cost is $65 (ISRA member) and $110 (non-member). Lunch will be provided. If you have special dietary needs, you will need to provide your own lunch. There will be no walk-ins allowed.
To register, contact the Office at 815.635.3198 and talk to Mel or Shirley. You can also e-mail them at mel.hitchens.isra@gmail.com or shirley@isra.org.
1-20 – Armed Women of America – Clubhouse-9:00-10:00, Range-11 10:00-12:00
1-21 – Private Event – Range 11 & Clubhouse – 8:00-4:00
1-23 – Air Gun League & Practice – Range 12 (Indoor Range) – 5:00-8:00
1-24 – F-Class Indoor League – Clubhouse/Range 12 – 10:00-2:00
1-24 – Air Rifle League & Practice – Range 12; Clubhouse – 11:00-3:00
The ISRA Range is located at 1589 N 7000w Rd, Bonfield, IL 60913.
The ISRA Range offers great classes and leagues
for shooting enthusiasts!
Interested in joining a league?
Just show up 15 – 30 minutes early.
Range memberships are available.
A day at the ISRA Range is always a great day!
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
While the gun show information shown in this email is believed to be correct – sometimes changes occur. This is provided for informational purposes only.
Jan 20 – 21 Dubuque Gun & Knife Show, Grand River Conference Ctr., Dubuque, IA
Jan 20 – 21 Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show, Kankakee Co. Fairgrounds, Kankakee
Jan 27 – 28 Sauk Trail Gun Show, Bureau County Fairgrounds, Princeton
Feb 3 – 4 Bloomington Gun & Knife Show, Interstate Center, Bloomington
Feb 10 – 11 The Quad Cities Gun Show, QCCA Expo Center, Rock Island
Feb 11 Kane County Sportsman’s Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles
Feb 17 – 18 Central Illinois Gun Collectors, Sangamon Co Fairgrounds, New Berlin, www.cigca.net
Feb 24 – 25 Decatur Gun & Knife Show, Decatur Conference Center, Decatur
Mar 2 – 3 Belleville Gun & Knife Show, Belle-Clair Fairgrounds, Belleville
Mar 2 – 3 Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show, Kankakee Co. Fairgrounds, Kankakee
Mar 10 Kane County Sportsman’s Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles
Mar 16 – 17 Peoria Gun & Knife Show, Exposition Gardens, Peoria