October 10, 2024
LITIGATION UPDATES
On October 8, 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States heard the VanDerStok v Garland lawsuit. The lawsuit challenges the ATF’s “Final Rule” which redefines the definition of a firearm and regulates non-firearm objects. The “Final Rule” also establishes a practical ban on the manufacture of firearms by individuals. The ATF really over-stepped it’s authority on this one. The ATF, like a lot of the government bureaucracies, think they are the law or, at least, above the law. Hopefully, the Supreme Court will limit the ATF’s authority and let them know only Congress can pass such limits!
This is a Texas case that is supported by the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF). The SAF is a great organization. If you are not a member or donor you should be! Go to SAF.org
Also…..
The Supreme Court of the United States has granted a writ of certiorari in the Smith & Wesson Brands v Estados Unidos Mexicanos lawsuit. In short, that means the Supreme Court will hear the case.
Mexico is suing Smith & Wesson over crime in Mexico, blaming Smith & Wesson. Interstate Arms is also in the lawsuit with Smith & Wesson. Originally Barrett, Beretta, Century Arms, Colt, Glock and Ruger were in the suit but they were removed. If Mexico wins it won’t matter because it will be a full assault on all American gun makers.
The real causes are drugs, drug cartels and corruption, but that is apparently irrelevant. This is an attempt to break the United States firearm industry and I suspect the international gun control movement has a lot to do with it. There might also be some local players helping, like George Soros, Michael Bloomberg and others, but I don’t know that for sure.
I have no idea when oral arguments will take place. Usually the Supreme Court issues verdicts in June.
BEWARE! Illinois Concealed Carry License Scams
Once again, I am getting reports of people who lost their Illinois Concealed Carry License ( ICCL) because their instructor was not qualified, because they were not teaching the entire 16 hours, or because they were not teaching the curriculum. If you were a student in one of these classes, you will lose your ICCL. You will also lose the money you spent for the class. The chances of you recovering the money is pretty close to zero unless you take the in instructor to Small Claims Court.
You will have to retake the class right away. The reason for this is that if you resubmit your paper work within 60 days, you will not have to pay the State of Illinois another $150. I would have it done in 30.
If you are in a class that is being let out early, ask for your money back and leave!
While I am on the topic of ICCLs, I want to remind everyone you cannot get any credit for taking a class online. I see offers on social media, and even a few by email, saying you can get your ICCL online. Nothing they offer qualifies in Illinois. You are wasting your money. There are also companies trying to sell you a Concealed Carry holder badge. Do not do that either! Concealed carry badges are not legal in Illinois!
If you want to do yourself some good, take an advanced marksmanship class taught by a good, established instructor. The ISRA Academy is a good place to start. ISRA Academy instructors are the best. We also review our guest instructors. If they are not top-notch, they are not teaching at our facility, period.
Election 2024
The 2024 General Election is looming large. In my opinion, the fate of the United States is teetering in the balance. Here is some information you need.
Early voting is a big deal these days and can often influence the outcome of the election. I urge you to vote early or by mail. If you want to vote by mail, you should make your request now by contacting your County Clerk or local election authority. The last day for your request is Thursday, October 31st. Do it now!!
The first day of early voting was Thursday, September 26.
The last day to register by mail was Tuesday, October 8.
The last day to register online is Sunday, October 20.
The last day to vote early is Monday, November 4.
Of course, we have the Presidential Election. The down ballot candidates (below the President) are really important also.
In Illinois, all 17 congressman seats are up for election. In the Illinois General Assembly, all 118 State Representatives seats are up for election. In the Illinois Senate, 20 seats are up for election. Every two years approximately one third of seats are up for election. There are two Illinois Supreme Court seats up for election. You can see how important it is to vote in this election.
If you would like to donate to us, please visit: https://isra.org/support-us/.
Thank you for your support!
Education & Training
We have CCL Renewal classes at the ISRA Range on 11/13 1-4pm. Also, CCL Classes 4 nights from 5p-9p in total 16 hours. 2 day CCL Class on 11/16-11/17 8:30am-5pm.
ISRA Academy will travel! Mandi is happy to schedule classes for groups or individuals at their local range or facility. Travel classes include: CCL renewal, CCL, NRA Basic Pistol, NRA Basic Rifle, NRA Range Safety Officer, and Stop the Bleed; additional classes continue to be added so please contact academy@isra.org for any training or class questions.
GET IN THE FIGHT, STAY IN THE FIGHT, JOIN THE ISRA
To Join the ISRA, Go To: https://isra.org/join-us/
Hawken 200th Anniversary Raffle
In celebration of Hawken Rifle’s 200th anniversary, we are holding a unique one-of-a-kind raffle. First prize is a 50 cal. Hawken Percussion Target Rifle, plus complete 6-piece kit. 2nd prize is an 1858 Remington 44 cal. Pistol, 3rd prize is a Lyman 54 cal. Pistol. Winning ticket drawn on October 20, 2024. <View the raffle flier>, and <download the raffle ticket order form here.>
October 10, 1850 – The United States Navel Academy opens in Annapolis, Maryland. It started with fifty midshipmen and seven professors. The four year curriculum included mathematics, navigation, gunnery, steam, chemistry, English, natural history and French. The school term was four years, which included nine months of classroom and aboard-ship training each summer. That is the same basic layout of the curriculum the U.S. Naval Academy continues to use today.
October 12, 1492 – Columbus reaches the New World. His first step was upon a Caribbean island, but he believed that he had reached the Far East. Scholars of the day knew the world was round, but underestimated the circumference of the Earth. They thought if you sailed West through the Atlantic Ocean, you would, sooner or later, reach the Far East and their ultimate goal, Cathay, or what we call today, China.
For a long time, many people thought Christopher Columbus was the first person to reach the New World. Since then, we have learned that this is not true. The Vikings were here and established a village. The Polynesians were here, people from Asia walked across the land bridge from Asia through China and there is also some evidence that people sailed West from South Africa, landing in South America.
October 13, 1775 – The Continental Congress authorizes the construction and administration of the first American Naval Force, the precursor of the United States Navy. Happy birthday U.S. Navy.
The Continental Congress authorized four captains, five lieutenants, five second lieutenants and three third lieutenants. One of those lieutenants was John Paul Jones.
October 14, 1947 – Chuck Yeager breaks the sound barrier. Yeager was a combat fighter pilot in World War II. He flew sixty-four missions and shot down thirteen German planes. He had the status of “ace in a day” when he shot down five German aircraft in one day. He was shot down, unfortunately, but escaped with the help of the French Underground.
Many thought the sound barrier could not be broken, but Chuck Yeager was not one of them! Bell aircraft designed the X-1 with the sole purpose of breaking the sound barrier. The X-1 was designed in the shape of a fifty caliber machine gun bullet with wings. It was a rocket plane, designed to be dropped by a B-29 bomber. It worked! The name on the rocket-plane was “Glamorous Glennis” after Yeager’s wife.
Chuck Yeager retired from the United States Air Force with the rank of Brigadier General in 1975. He passed away December 7, 2020, at the age of 97. He was a solid supporter of the Second Amendment.
October 15, 1991 – Clarence Thomas is confirmed to the Supreme Court of the United States.
October 16, 1859 – John Brown, an abolitionist, lead the raid against the federal armory at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. Brown had a long history of anti-slavery violence. He and his sons murdered five pro-slavery settlers in Kansas in the 1850s.
Brown and his followers successfully over-ran the federal armory, hoping to encourage more to join their anti-slavery campaign. They were met by a company of United States Marines led by Colonel Robert E. Lee and Lt. J. E. B. Stuart who defeated Brown and his followers. Brown was eventually hanged on December 2, 1859.
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.
Oct 13 Kane County Gun Show – Kane County Fairgrounds
Oct 26 – 27 Sauk Trail Gun Show, Bureau Co. Fairgrounds, Princeton
Oct 26 – 27 Will County Gun Show, Will Co. Fairgrounds, Peotone
Nov 1 – 2 Mt. Vernon Knife Show, Rolland Lewis Comm. Bldg,, Mount Vernon
Nov 2 – 3 Bloomington Gun & Knife Show, Interstate Center, Bloomington
Nov 9 Youth Wing-shooting/Pheasant Hunt, Iroquois Co. State Wildlife Area, Beaverville. Call to register: 815-933-1383 or click here for more information .
Nov 9 – 10 Quad Cities Gun Show, QCCA Expo Center, Rock Island
Nov 10 Kane County Gun Show – Kane County Fairgrounds
Nov 16 – 17 Crown Point Gun Show, Lake Co. Fairgrounds, Crown Point, IN
Nov 23 – 24 Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show, Kankakee Co. Fairgrounds
Nov 30 – Dec 1 Central Illinois Gun Collectors Gun Show, Sangamon Co. Fairgrounds, New Berlin, Sat 9am – 3pm; Sun 9 am – 2pm, Admission $5 adults
Nov 30 – Dec 1 Sauk Trail Gun Show, Bureau Co Fairgrounds, Princeton
Dec 7 – Dec 8 Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club Gun & Knife Show, Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club House, Chillicothe
Dec 8 Kane County Gun Show – Kane County Fairgrounds
Dec 14 – Dec15 Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show, Kankakee Co. Fairgrounds
Dec 14 – Dec15 Peoria Gun & Knife Show – Exposition Gardens, Peoria
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
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