January 23, 2025
My Two Cents & The 47th President
As the 47th President of the United States was inaugurated, I was thinking of how many presidents I remember. Born during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration, I remember Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, James (Jimmy) E. Carter, Ronald W. Reagan, George H. W. Bush, William (Bill) J. B. Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack H. Obama, Donald J. Trump – 45, Joseph (Joe) R. Biden, and now Donald J. Trump – 47. That is a total of 16 Presidents since I have been alive and there have only been 47 of them. I have been around to see, in one way or another, slightly over a third of the Presidents of the United States in office.
When I was a kid, I was lucky because my dad was both a radio and a TV enthusiast. I remember building radios as a kid, listening to short wave and helping my dad talk on ham radio. I remember we had one of the very first wide screen 19 inch Motorola TVs – a big deal at the time.
I may have mentioned before that I was laid-up as a kid with a nasty affliction known as Perthes disease. Perthes is a condition that interrupts the blood supply to the femur and ball joint, causing the bone to die. It takes several years to get over this condition. During this time, aside from target shooting, I became a television addict because it was hard to walk. I was interested in politics and would watch the evening news, Presidential addresses and National Conventions from beginning to end.
There have been some stupid moves made by Presidents over the years. Many times, this was because ideologues were compelling the President to govern in certain directions. We have just witnessed such a Presidency with Joe Biden.
I am looking forward to Donald Trump, our new 47th President, to put the general interest of the American people first. While I believe he is going to make every effort to do so, he is going to be facing a resistance movement driven by those same forces that influenced the Biden Administration. We cannot let that happen. Our new President will need every bit of support that we can give him. This fight is not over but, rather, just beginning.
Legislative Update
The Illinois General Assembly will go back in session on January 28. It will meet three days a week and adjourn for a week on February 6.
On the ISRA website, we have a legislation page on which we track bills in the state legislature. We have updated that page to make it more concise and we have prioritized the bills as to the ones which are most likely to move. We are still tracking all bills, of course, but by the end of the session, we may follow 100 or 200 bills. This should make it easier for all of our members to keep up with the legislative activity in Springfield.
To view the ISRA Legislation Page, click HERE.
Litigation Update
ISRA AS PLAINTIFF
Meyer v. Raoul (18-20 yr CCL cases) (S.D. Ill.) – No change.
Miller v. Smith (foster care/home day care firearm prohibitions) (C.D. Ill.) – No change.
ISRA SUPPORTING
Schoenthal v. Raoul (public transportation CCL case) (N.D. Ill.) – No change.
Harrel v. Raoul (AWB/LCM case) (7th Cir.) – No change.
Atkinson v. Garland (federal felon restoration) (N.D.Ill.) – No change.
People v. Brown (in-home FOID card requirement for firearm possession) (White County) – No change.
Brunke v. Kelly (N.D. Ill.) – No change.
Reece v. Raoul (PICA “injunction week” AW purchase) (Ill. 3rd Dist. App. Ct.) – Appellate Briefing continued following summary judgment for State in Will County Circuit Court. Awaiting argument date in Appellate Court, probably in March or April.
The Hearing Protection Act – HR 404
Congressman Ben Cline (R-Virginia) recently introduced H.R. 404, the Hearing Protection Act, which would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to remove suppressors from the definition of firearms and from regulation under the 1934 National Firearms Act (NFA).
Suppressors are used to dampen the noise of a firearm when fired. While they do not completely eliminate the sound of the gunshots, they help in reducing the sound enough to aid in hearing safety. Although they are legal to own in many states, an extensive background check conducted by the ATF is needed, along with registering the device with the ATF. Additionally, one must pay $200 for a tax stamp.
We encourage all our members to back this legislation as the ISRA, and other gun-rights groups, continue to fight for the rights of all law-abiding gun owners.
Upcoming Municipal Elections
Tuesday, April 1 will be the municipal elections in Illinois. These elections are extremely important because this is from where the next round of State Representatives and State Senators will emerge. It is very important that you review all candidates in these elections and vote for those who are pro-gun.
NOTICE to all ISRA Members
PLEASE CHECK YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARDS!
We have had tremendous problems with the mail in recent months, not being delivered. There are those that we have mailed Membership Renewal notices and they never received them. If your membership has expired or is close to expiring, please go online to our website, www.isra.org , or call the ISRA offices at 815-635-3198 to renew. Thank you!
UPDATE – Use Caution When Purchasing Ammo or Gear Online!
Recently, cyber-criminals have targeted the firearms industry with a new wave of legitimate-looking website clones of established, highly-regarded brand names such as Remington, Federal Premium Ammunition, Hornady, Sierra Bullets and others. We have also been informed that there are fake hunting gear sites imitating companies such as First Lite, Kuiu, and Sitka, and offering gear at unbelievable discounts via online ads. It is best to always be leery of things that look “too good to be true”. Please, remember to be extra careful and research the sites you visit to make sure they are official before interacting with them.
The official URL of Remington is www.remington.com , Federal is www.federalpremium.com , Hornady is www.hornady.com and Sierra Bullets is www.sierrabullets.com .
The above listed URLs are the only legitimate URLs for these companies. Please be vigilant when shopping online!
Read the article on these online scams HERE in NRA Shooting Illustrated online by Guy J. Sagi, January 2, 2025.
Register NOW for Glock Armorer & Glock Operator Courses
On February 11, the Glock Armorer Course will be offered at the ISRA Range Clubhouse from 8am to 5pm. The Glock Operator Course will be held on February 12 & 13 at ISRA Range #11 from 8am to 5pm. If you are interested, you need to register NOW. For more information, call the ISRA office at 815-635-3198 or check the Education & Training section below for registration links..
That’ll Leave a Mark – Uptick In Heavy Equipment Assaults
Using trucks or heavy machinery to attack people seems to be popular these days. The latest case is from Garland, Maine. There, an individual stole a heavy end-loader out of a gravel pit and used it to try and attack a house. Fortunately, there were several vehicles in the driveway of the house. So, as the man with the end loader was busy destroying the vehicles, the occupants of the home were able to fire at the end-loader, wounding the perpetrator.
Cars and truck are bad enough when they are used to attack someone, but heavy equipment is even worse. The end-loader probably weighed 15 to 30 tons and would certainly be considered a deadly weapon.
The perpetrator was taken to the hospital, treated and, as soon as he was released, deputies were there waiting for him. You never know when or where an attack will come but you should always be ready.
Henry 1000 Man Shoot Rifle Raffle
Help us fund our youth shooting programs by purchasing tickets for our Henry 1000-Man Shoot Silver Boy rifles! ISRA will be raffling off rifle #873 out of 1000, which comes in its original case, on March 31, 2025. Don’t miss this opportunity to not only win a beautiful and rare firearm but also to support and encourage our young marksmen!
If you prefer to call the office and purchase tickets, you may do so between 8am and 4pm, Monday through Friday. You can also mail a check to the ISRA at P.O.Box 637, Chatsworth, IL. 60921. Be sure to include a note stating it is for the Henry Rifle Raffle.
Ticket prices are 1 for $25, 5 for $100 and 15 for $250.
Purchase Tickets for the Henry 1000 HERE
The New ISRA Online Store
The ISRA Store is constantly being updated. We have new merchandise every week. If you have something particular you would like to see available, let us know – we would love to hear your ideas and appreciate your input! Email them to us at: member@isra.org
Visit the ISRA Online Store HERE
Education & Training @ ISRA Range, Bonfield, IL.
ISRA Academy is continuing to offer CCL renewals each month –
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
2/20/2025 (Thursday) 1:00pm – 4:00pm / Range 11 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
Basic CCL Qualification –
1/26/2025 (Sunday) 8:00am – 5:00pm / Range 9 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
2/23/2025 (Sunday) 8:00pm – 5:00pm / Range 9 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
3/30/2025 (Sunday) 1:00pm – 5:00pm / Range 9 – Register HERE
NRA Basic Rifle Instructor Class & BIT –
2/15/2025 (Saturday) 8:30am – 5:00pm / Range 1 & Clubhouse – Register HERE
2/16/2025 (Sunday) 8:30am – 5:00pm / Range 1 & 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.
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.
GET IN THE FIGHT, STAY IN THE FIGHT, JOIN THE ISRA
To Join the ISRA, Go To: https://isra.org/join-us/
January 23, 1855 – John Moses Browning was born in Ogden, Utah. He became known as the father of modern firearms. He designed firearms for Winchester, Colt, Remington and Savage. John Browning’s first patent was for a single shot Winchester model 1885. Winchester then asked Browning to design a lever-action shotgun but, from what he learned during his experiences designing the lever-action, he decided that a pump-action would work much better. He designed his first pump-action shotgun in 1888.
In 1889, Browning thought that harnessing the gas produced by gunpowder when a cartridge was fired would be a great way to quickly reload a firearm. In 1892, he received a patent for a crudely made, semi-automatic firearm, but Browning continued to work on it and soon designed both fully and semi-automatic firearms. These were then widely used by sportsmen and the military alike.
When the government was looking for a new handgun, Browning designed what would become known as the Colt M1911 .45 automatic pistol. This hard-hitting and reliable pistol remained in service for 72 years as the primary sidearm of the United States Military. Millions of these fine pistols were produced and are still very popular today.
January 24, 1935 – The Gottfried Kruger Brewing Company, in partnership with American Can Company, produced the first canned beer. The first run was 2000 cans which contained Kruger’s Cream Ale. A survey showed 91% of the drinkers approved of canned beer. Almost immediately, 38 other brewing companies adopted Kruger’s idea.
Today, canned beer sales account for 60% overall and amount to about $45 billion a year in profits.
January 25, 1924 – The Winter Olympic Games were started at Chamonix in the French Alps. The Summer Games were resurrected in 1896.
The five Olympic rings that symbolize the Olympics represent the Americas, Asia, Africa, Europe and Oceana. The colors of the Olympic rings represent those found in the flags of countries in each of those geographic areas.
January 27, 1888 – The National Geographic Society was incorporated in Washington D.C. Its stated purpose was to increase the diffusion of geographic knowledge.
In 1899, the circulation of National Geographic Magazine was only about 1000. A new editor, Gilbert H. Grosvenor, took charge. Instead of a collection of technical articles, he included articles of general interest and photographs. The circulation went from 1000 to over 2 million.
January 28, 1986 – The space shuttle Challenger exploded after lift-off. I was watching television when it happened. It was one of those days we will not forget.
It was determined that an “O-ring” had failed during the unusually cold temperatures in Florida that week. Part of the problem was that NASA had been put under pressure by the press to launch the rocket.
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.
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 Prairieland 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 5 – April 6, 2025 Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club Gun & Knife Show, Chillicothe, IL.
April 13, 2025 Kane County Sportsman’s Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, IL.
May 17 – May 18, 2025 Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show, Kankakee Co. Fairgrounds, Kankakee, IL.
June 6 – June 8, 2025 Pecatonica Gun Show, Winnebago County Fairgrounds, Pecatonica, 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, 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