July 27, 2023
| Executive Director’s Message
Richard Pearson The dog days of summer are certainly here with a vengeance. We will get through it, as we always do. That also means the National Rifle and Pistol Matches are underway. Last week the ISRA Women’s Pistol Team did very well at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. From Camp Perry, Ohio At Camp Perry, Ohio the Civilian Marksmanship Program National Matches are underway. So far only the Presidents 100 and the National Trophy Individual matches have been shot. There are about 500 competitors this year. In the President’s 100, ISRA Members took eight places in the top 100. Excellent, when you consider they are shooting against military shooters as well as other civilian shooters. The National Trophy Individual match saw Illinois shooters do well. There will be more scores next week. The ISRA is the home of marksmanship in Illinois. The Grand American National Trapshooting Championship will get underway next week. *** In Brazil, firearms are tightly controlled. Restrictions were eased under the administration of Jair Bolsonaro. More people bought firearms and ammunition, and guess what? The murder rate went down. Now a new administration has taken over, and Brazil is once more being more and more restrictive. The restrictions only apply to law abiding citizens, of course. Newly elected President Luiz Inácio da Silva thinks only the police and military should have firearms. That of course, is the tried-and-true recipe for dictatorship. If you have noticed, our own left-wing politicians think the same way. They love the idea of freedom for me but not for thee. The idea of course, is to keep the jack-booted heel of the government on the necks ofcitizens who dare to disagree. Left wing antigun New York Senator Chuck Schumer is leading the charge to convince One great example of what to really do is going to happen in Detroit, Michigan on July 29 and 30. NRA instructor Rick Ector is putting together classes for two days, with the cooperation of several ranges and dozens of volunteer NRA instructors. The classes are free for women. Several organizations are contributing ammunition for the event. Mr. Ector hopes to train 1500 women, nearly all of which will have never fired a gun before. For more information go to: LegallyarmedinDetroit.com Indiana permitless carry passed last July. Despite the dire predictions of the loonies, the only noticeable change was that the murder rate went down in South Bend. Indiana’s second most dangerous city. On August 21, 2023, the Tennessee legislature will hold a special session because of the school shooting in Nashville earlier this year. The anti-gunners are pouring it on, but at this point it looks like the Tennessee legislators are holding firm on protecting the Second Amendment. What the anti-gunners want would have not stopped anything, but then that isn’t the point, is it! We are still waiting on the decision on the Harrel et al v Raoul et al case before the Seventh Circuit. A lot is being worked on but not much is moving. I will let you know as soon as I know. The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) intervened in the VanDerStok v Garland case in the Fifth Circuit in Texas. This case deals with the ATF’s regulative authority over non-firearm parts like pistol braces, etc. The SAF won a stay on the enforcement of the ATF rules on SAF members. The ATF asked for the stay to be removed, but the Fifth Circuit would not budge. They handed down a ruling Monday that denies the ATF request. *** On a sad note, longtime volunteer Larry Stonecipher has passed away after fighting health issues for several years. Larry could always be counted on, and always did his best. Aside from doing gun shows and special events, Larry was in charge of the Northwest Town Hall meetings. Larry was a U.S. Navy veteran. We will all miss him. ***** Our 120th Anniversary Coin is available for $25 while they last. Buy our commemorative, collector’s coin and be entered in the raffle. Your contribution helps fund the many activities of the ISRA. Call the office at (815) 635-3198, or email: member@isra.org to place your order today! ***** |
| Tidbits
July 27, 1953 An armistice is reached ending hostilities in the Korean War. Remember, an armistice just stops fighting, it does not settle anything. The North and South Korean problem could boil over at any time. July 28, 1945 A B-25 Mitchell Bomber crashes into the Empire State Building. The pilot was supposed to land at LaGuardia but was re-routed to Newark because of a dense fog that covered the city. The pilots were ordered to watch for the Empire State Building. They saw the Chrysler Building and swerved, but when they did, they hit the Empire State Building. Both pilots were killed, and a passenger they were carrying. It was Saturday morning, so there were few people working in the building. Still, 11 people were killed and others were injured. One of the plane’s engines cut the elevator cable, and the woman riding on the elevator fell over 40 stories when the automatic elevator brakes kicked in, saving her life. The building did not sustain any structural damage, but it still cost $1,000,000 to repair. The question is, why were they flying so low? I don’t know. July 28, 1942 Joseph Stalin issues Order No. 227, outlawing cowardice. The order read “Panic makers and cowards will be liquidated on the spot. No one must step backwards without specific orders…..”. The bravery of the Russian people was never in question. They did a great job stopping the Germans. July 28, 1921 Adolph Hitler becomes leader of the Nazi Party. We all kind of assume the motto “In God we trust” has always just been around on our money. Not true. President Dwight Eisenhower signed the bill memorializing the motto on this day in 1953. Austria-Hungry declares war on Serbia. Treaties were triggered that quickly dragged most of Europe into World War I. Before the war’s end, 20 million people would die, and the political landscape of Europe was changed forever. An Armistice was reached on November 11, 1918, but it did not end the war. It only set the stage for WWII. August 2, 1990 Iraq invades tiny Kuwait in an attempt to control 20% of the world’s oil. ***** At the Range MAG 40 class coming up October 5, 6, 7 and 8. Massad Ayoob will be back teaching. A must-have class! for every person concerned about self-defense; concealed carry license holders; and concealed carry instructors. Please click here for details on how to sign up. Don’t wait to sign up – it’ll fill up fast!
ISRA Smallbore & F-Class Rifle League – Range 6 – 2:00-Dusk – July 27Women’s Team Pistol Practice – Range 1 – 4:00-7:00 – Resumes Aug. 2AWA Monthly Meeting – Clubhouse-9:00-10:00; Range 10-10:00-12:00 – July 29Defensive Rifle II Course – Range 11 – 9:30-6:00 – July 29Private Event – Clubhouse – 10:00-4:00 – July 29Glock Summer League – Range 11 – 8:30-12:00 – July 30Vintage Military Rifle League – Range 5 – 3:00-5:00 – July 31Tuesday Night Irregular Rifles – Range 3 & Pavilion – 11:30-Dusk – August 1F-Class Rifle League – Range 3 – 8:00-5:00 – August 2Benchrest League – Range 4 – 8:00-Dusk – August 2Women’s Team Pistol Practice – Range 1 – 4:00-7:00 – August 2Paper Steel League – Range 11 – 5:00-Dusk – August 2The 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
Upcoming 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. August 4 – 5 Prairie State Longrifle Show, Days Inn, Princeton August 12 – 13 Bloomington Gun & Knife Show, Interstate Center, Bloomington August 26 – 27 Belleville Gun & Knife Show, Belle-Clair Fairgrounds, Belleville September 16-17 Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show, Kankakee County Fairgrounds 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 Sportsmen’s Club House, Chillicothe September 30 – October 1 Central Illinois Gun Collectors Association 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 November 12 Kane County Sportsman’s Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles November 19 McHenry County Gun Show, McHenry County Fairgrounds, Woodstock |