October 22, 2026
Thursday Bulletin – October 22, 2026
Executive Director’s Message
From Richard Pearson
On October 15, 2026, a 16-year-old entered Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, by shooting through locked doors. Three children, ages 5, 8 and 11, and a 54-year-old teacher were killed. A 7-year-old child and another teacher were critically injured and taken to the hospital.
Police said the first emergency call came shortly before 1pm, reporting that someone with a long gun was firing at a vehicle outside the school. Further calls came from inside, and officers arrived within minutes. A community member, the father of two girls, both students at the school, followed the shooter into the building and shot him. Authorities later found the suspect dead inside. Investigators said they had not established whether he (the shooter) knew anyone at the school or had attended it.
Afterwards, students were taken by bus to a nearby church where families reunited. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek expressed heartbreak and thanked the person who intervened. The school district canceled classes, sports and extracurricular activities for Friday across its 32 schools as the community began to respond to the tragedy.
In my opinion, the man with a concealed carry permit who intervened and shot the assailant is a hero. This person did exactly what someone trained with a concealed carry permit would put into practice, if the need arose. You can’t depend on the police to be there on time to thwart a crime. If there were more properly trained people with concealed carry licenses, incidences like this, most likely, would be greatly reduced.
Concealed carry classes, qualification and renewals are offered through the ISRA. I encourage everyone to take advantage of these and get your concealed carry permit! If you have questions or would like to sign up for upcoming classes, call the ISRA office at (815) 635-3198 for more information.
In the1920s, the United States was becoming a hotbed of target shooting. Most target rifles were still of the rolling block or falling block design, but they were fading fast because of the desire for more modern bolt action rifles.
Since the late 1890s, inexpensive bolt actions were taking a greater and greater market share. Winchester models 1900, 1904 and 1906 were emphasized in the Winchester Junior Rifle Corps (W.J.R.C). Other companies were, however, making inexpensive bolt actions as well. Stevens, in particular, was big in the market. Winchester and Stevens were also making rifles for other companies, including mail-order houses, hardware store chains and large individual retailers.
In the 1920s, the top bolt action .22 target rifle was the Winchester Model 52, followed by the Springfield M1922 and the Savage model 19 NRA. The Model 52 originally cost $43.35, the Springfield M1922 cost $30.00 and the Savage Model 19 NRA cost $20.00. While that doesn’t sound like much today, you have to remember that you could by a meal at a restaurant for 10 cents. The Model 52 was out of most peoples’ price range. The Savage Model 19 NRA was designed in cooperation with the NRA. Not only was it less expensive, it was lighter too, making it appealing to smaller and young shooters.
Winchester still did not have, what I would term, a mid-market .22 target rifle. By that I mean a shooter who wants something better than a Model 1906 or, later, a Model 68, but can’t afford or handle the heavy Model 52.
In 1930, when the depression hit, any plans for such a rifle faded. Winchester dropped the W.J.R.C. and struggled to survive. By 1935, the depression eased just a bit and Winchester was looking for a mid-market .22 target rifle again. Winchester then introduced the Model 56 and, later, the Model 57. Neither of them gained much traction.
In March of 1934, Winchester announced the model 69 rifle. It was first developed as a “crossover “ rifle for both target shooting and hunting. The original Model 69s cocked on closing and had no trigger adjustments. Then, in 1937, Winchester introduced the model 69A. The bolt cocked on opening and the trigger was slightly adjustable. Soon, its popularity caused it to be fitted with a slightly heaver target barrel. I have a both a Model 69 and a 69A. My father had a Model 69A which he used for both hunting and target shooting. Unfortunately, I did not inherit my father’s Model 69A or his Model 97 shotgun. When WWII came along, he sold them both to help my mother and, a little while later, me. Nevertheless, I enjoy both of the rifles.
The Models 69 and 69A sold 355,000+ units, more than double the Model 52. The January, 1952, American Riflemen Magazine pictured a junior shooting team and the first shooter is clearly using a Model 69A. The last production year for the Model 69A was 1963. The Model 52 was produced up until 1980 when the Olin Corporation sold Winchester. There have been some reissue Model 52Bs manufactured, however, by Miroku in Japan for the FN/Herstal group.
Times have changed and now most high-quality target rifles are produced by foreign manufacturers like Walther, Anschutz, Feinwerkbau and others. The commitment Winchester made to the target shooting history of the United States must be remembered and must not go unrecognized. The W.R.J.C shooting program still goes on over a 100 years since it’s inception in the NRA Marksmanship program. Rifle marksmanship, promoted by Winchester, saved thousands of American soldiers lives in WW II, Korea and Vietnam.
Today, it is critically important that we keep .22 target shooting alive and well. Please join a shooting club if you can. If you can’t find one, the ISRA will help you get one set up. Call us today at (815) 635-3198!
Today, we live in a world dominated by 9mm self-defense guns. I am “old school” because I still like the .45ACP (.45 Automatic Colt Pistol). The United States Military had a good reason to adopt the .45ACP. In the Moro Wars in the Philippines, in the early 1900s, the troops were equipped with .38 Long Colt revolvers, which proved totally ineffective against the fanatical Moros. The Moros were Muslim fanatics bent on suicide by charging at opposing troops.
In the early 1900s, many of the world’s militaries were adopting the 9mm, in some form, at that time. The 9mm Parabellum would win out. The militaries that adopted the 9mm pistol looked at them as a secondary weapon or just a symbol of authority. The Americans knew the pistol was a front-line weapon that had to stop the enemy instantly. To do that, all that power had to be delivered into the enemy, no over-penetration. In tight situations, a 1903 Springfield, M1 rifle, M1 carbine or M16 could not be maneuvered in time to save the soldier’s life. The .45ACP was just better.
In the Army tests beginning in 1907, the United States Army considered both the 9mm and the .45ACP. The tests were done in the Chicago Stockyards. Sides of beef were hung and fired into by both the 9mm and the .45ACP. The test was to see which round moved the side of beef further. No ballistic gelatin, no engineers sitting in front of a computer, just real meat used. The .45 won, hands down. It was big and all its energy was delivered into the beef. In 1911, the United States Army adopted the John M. Browning designed Colt Automatic Pistol. It would stay the U.S. Military choice for 74 years.
Of course, the argument today is the 9mm can deliver the same power as the old .45ACP. Maybe so, but it still isn’t as big and one has to consider the same new developments in the .45ACP. Many boutique ammo companies, like Double Tap and Corbon, pushed the envelope developing bigger .45 loads such as the .45 230 grain SMC (Short Magnum Cartridge) round that generates nearly 800 FPs (foot pounds of energy). The .45 SMC is just a higher pressure .45 ACP. Of course, you have to have a top-of-the-line pistol with a heavy recoil spring to handle all of that. I’m not sure you need all of that unless you are in bear country. There are all kinds of loads out there that deliver 500 Fps (foot pounds of energy), which is more than adequate. Of course, you can’t get as many rounds into a .45 1911. Nope, but if you only get one hit, it needs to be a good one. I have a moniker I made up just to tease the 9mm aficionados, “.45 hollow points for those who care enough to send the very best”. Still, there is a point I’m making.
The .45 caliber 1911 soon gained a reputation as a man-stopper. Take, for instance, the example of Morris Cohen. He was a charlatan, card shark and a con man but, other than that, a pretty good guy. He was known for carrying two .45 caliber 1911s. Not only was he not afraid to use them, he was very GOOD at using them and soon earned the nickname “Two Gun Cohen”. He was a Canadian and, in 1922, he began to work with Dr. Sun Yat-sen who would found the Chinese Republic. Sun Yat-sen had lots of enemies and Two Gun Cohen soon became his body guard. In one instance, he was riding in a railway car sitting across from Sun Yat-sen when he suddenly drew one of his .45s and shot directly over Sun’s head through a window. He was immediately mobbed with threats to kill him on the spot. When the train stopped and backed up, Cohen was vindicated. There, beside the track, laid an assassin with a hole in his forehead.
Another incident alluding to Cohen’s growing reputation involved a mob of about 4000 Chinese that had broken though a barrier to attack Sun Yat-sen. Nothing could stop them. Then Two Gun stepped in front of the Doctor, pulled out both .45s and aimed them at the oncoming hoard. The Chinese had never seen a man with two drawn guns. They panicked and turned back.
In WW I and WW II, the 1911 pistol’s dependable reputation continued to grow. In the South Pacific, suicidal Japanese suffered heavy losses – not by bayonets, but the 1911 .45 caliber pistol. One of my favorite stories comes from a friend’s father who was a medic in Italy in WW II. Germans were not supposed to kill the unarmed medics. That was a good rule on paper, but didn’t work on the battlefield. The Germans were always killing medics. One day my friend’s father got his hands of the.45 and tucked in his medical kit. It was against regulations. He was working on a GI in a shell hole one day when a German soldier came over the rim, smiled and started to raise his rifle to shoot the medic. The medic grabbed his .45 and put several rounds into the German. He said he saw the German’s surprised expression when he saw he .45.
The 1911 .45 even shot down a Japanese fighter plane on one occasion. An American fighter pilot was wounded and played dead so the Japanese wouldn’t shoot at his crippled plane again. A Japanese pilot came up beside the American and opened his canopy to admire his work. The American pilot drew his trusty .45 and shot the Japanese pilot though the head. The American pilot escaped.
In Vietnam, the “tunnel rats” – those men who crawled into hiding tunnels to confront the Vietnamese soldiers – were also good examples of the pistol’s effectiveness, as they mostly carried only the 1911 .45. Many units today still carry the 1911 pistol in .45 ACP.
My ultimate point is… if you don’t own a 1911 .45 pistol, you should. They are a part of our American heritage, after all. You wouldn’t want your friends and relatives to find out you didn’t own one, would you???
On October 3rd, 1526, Maestro Bartolomeo Beretta delivered 185 harquebus barrels to the Venetian Republic arsenal and Beretta Firearms has been going strong every since. Beretta supplied arms and armor all over the world. King Henry VIII loved to hunt wild boar with Beretta firearms when he wasn’t getting married of divorced. Beretta is not only the oldest firearm company in the world – it is the oldest family-owned company in the world. Beretta ownership is now in its 14th generation.
Illinois youth hunters set a new deer harvest record during the state’s youth deer season earlier this month.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources reports a preliminary harvest of 4,852 deer during the October 10th through 12th season. That’s up from the previous record of 4,714 deer set in 2025.
Randolph County led the state with 278 deer harvested. Jefferson County recorded 166, followed by Pike County with 150, Fayette County with 145, and Marion County with 125.
State officials say hunters who still hold valid, unfilled youth deer permits can use them during the upcoming firearm deer seasons in November and December. This year also marked the first time youth deer permits were sold as a combination package that includes one either-sex permit and one antlerless-only permit.
On the 26th, the harvest moon will be lighting up the landscape. In many areas the crops are out and the deer will be frolicking everywhere. Please be alert and drive safely.
The Supreme Court of the United States is back in session. Here we go!
ISRA continues fighting for Illinois gun owners through litigation involving gun and magazine restrictions, concealed carry, firearm regulations, FOID issues, the rights of young adults, suppressor restrictions, and other Second Amendment issues.
These cases require attorneys. They require legal research, briefs, appeals, filings, experts, and years of determined work. That work costs money — and we need your help to keep doing it.
Help Fund ISRA Litigation Efforts.
Every contribution helps ISRA continue defending the constitutional rights of law-abiding Illinois gun owners. To make a contribution to ISRA Litigation efforts today, CLICK HERE.
Want to see the other legal battles ISRA is fighting? Visit ISRA Litigation page HERE.
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Thank you for standing with the ISRA as we defend the rights of law-abiding Illinois gun owners!
Veto session is on the way and we are waiting. We will keep you apprised of any news on legislation as we become aware of it
The up-coming 2026 veto session dates for the Illinois Senate are:
November 17th, 18th, 19th and December 1st, 2nd, 3rd.
You can find downloadable PDF versions of the House calendar HERE and the Senate calendar HERE to view all the legislative session deadlines.
The ISRA maintains a list of the most important bills under consideration in the Illinois State Legislature; the most current list is always the ISRA Legislation Page. Click and follow along!
When anti-gun politicians pass another restriction, Illinois gun owners need an organization prepared to challenge it.
When a lower court refuses to follow Supreme Court precedent, we need to keep appealing.
And when a major Second Amendment case reaches the United States Supreme Court, ISRA needs to be there! However, it costs much more to force a correction in the courts than it does to prevent offending legislation from happening in the first place!
STAND WITH ISRA.
Help us continue the legislative fight for Illinois gun owners in Springfield.
To make a contribution to our Legislative efforts today, CLICK HERE.
Not an ISRA member? Join the ISRA and support 2A rights in Illinois – CLICK HERE.
For more information on how you can help, call the ISRA office at (815) 635-3198, or e-mail us at member@isra.org today.
Send us your hunting pictures! They don’t have to be deer – they can be ducks, pheasants, moose or whatever. We will have a random drawing from your entries for a $50 Boyt Harness gift card and a few other prizes on February 2nd. Good luck out there!!!
We offer 18 different shooting leagues. Some are weekly and some are monthly, and all of them are fun. There is no better place to learn new things and for camaraderie while you improve on your marksmanship skills. It’s a great place for you to shoot!
For more info on Classes, Leagues, Special Events and more,
go to the ISRA Range Calendar – CLICK HERE.
Come and meet fellow activists and learn the latest on protecting our Second Amendment Rights!
Livingston County – This meeting is being reorganized to better engage area ISRA members. More information will be posted when available.
Madison County – 1st Wednesday of the month – Piasa Armory, 625 Lewis and Clark Blvd., East Alton, IL; Doors open at 6:15pm; Meeting starts at 6:30pm
Northwest Suburban – Algonquin/Dundee area – This meeting is being reorganized to better engage area ISRA members. More information will be posted when available.
South Suburban/Cook County – 2nd Thursday of the month – Barraco’s Pizza, 13445 S. Cicero Ave, Crestwood, IL; Doors open 6:00pm; Meeting 7pm – 8pm; Buffet is $20.
Will County – 3rd Wednesday of the month – Silver Dollar Restaurant, 422 E. Mississippi Ave., Elwood, IL; Doors open 6pm; Meeting 7pm – 8pm
“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must undergo the fatigue of supporting it.” ~ Thomas Payne
Drawing on November 5th!
CLICK HERE to order tickets online!!
Ticket prices:
1 Ticket – $20
3 Tickets – $50
8 Tickets – $100
25 Tickets – $250
60 Tickets – $500
The Illinois State Rifle Association is a 501(c)4 non-profit organization, donations to Illinois State Rifle Association are not tax-deductible. Prize must be claimed within 90 days of drawing.
Please Read The Fine print:
For more information on this raffle, CLICK HERE.
For other questions or information on this raffle, contact:
ISRA – PO Box 637 – Chatsworth, IL 60921
(815)635-3198 or E-Mail: member@isra.org
Chances To Win Every Evening In November!
Enter the GUNS OF NOVEMBER RAFFLE to stand with the Illinois State Rifle Association. Your participation helps defend the rights protected by the Bill of Rights and supports safe, responsible firearm ownership.
A GUN DRAWING WILL BE HELD EVERY EVENING IN NOVEMBER. 4 chances to win with each ticket, your numbers will be picked from the Illinois Pick 4 Evening Lottery.
PLUS! Get a BONUS CHANCE to win a HK CC9 OPTIC READY 9MM PISTOL with each 5 ticket purchase made by October 24, 2026!
CLICK HERE to order tickets online!!
Ticket Donations:
1 ticket for $25
5 tickets for $100
Please Read The Fine print:
The Illinois State Rifle Association is a 501(c)4 non-profit organization, donations to Illinois State Rifle Association are not tax-deductible. Prize must be claimed within 90 days of drawing.
For more information on this raffle, CLICK HERE.
For other questions or information on this raffle, contact:
ISRA – PO Box 637 – Chatsworth, IL 60921
(815)635-3198 or E-Mail: member@isra.org
“Money can only buy happiness if you spend it on freedom.
Join the ISRA today.” ~ Richard Pearson
Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to start time.
*Every Thursday (unless otherwise noted) ISRA Precision Air Pistol Training – Range 12 & Clubhouse – 5:30pm – 7:00pm
*** Please contact academy@isra.org for any training or class questions and check the ISRA Range for links to dates, times, descriptions of ISRA activities and events.
If you would like to donate to us, please CLICK HERE.
Thank you for your support!
To Join the ISRA, CLICK HERE.
It was October, 1941, and most of America was asleep. Americans were aware of the war in Europe and, to a lesser extent, the war in the Far East. There were some that even sympathize with Germany. Americans remembered WW I and wanted to avoid a repeat war. The problem was the peace treaty, the Treaty of Versailles, was so harsh on the German People that Germany sought to restore their national pride – this was a fertile ground for vengeance. Adolph Hitler felt the same way as his countrymen and knew just how to take advantage of the situation.
The Japanese war with China was even more remote. That war was half a world away. What most Americans did not understand was that the United States had territories all over the world thanks to the Spanish American War. While the British were proud of the fact that the ” Sun never set on the British Empire”, the sun never set on the United States of America either — it just wasn’t an empire. The sun still doesn’t set on the U.S.A. to this day.
The Empire of Japan was resource poor, but it had ambitions to be a world power. Manchuria on the Chinese mainland had coal, iron ore, bauxite (aluminum) ore and small amounts of oil. The Japanese home islands were overcrowded, so Manchuria would provide “ living space” for the burgeoning Japanese population. This is the same as Adolph Hitler’s desire for living space in Poland for German people. Their attitudes were the same. Then, add the mindset that the native populations there are inferior to “us”, giving the migrants the right to take their land and resources they have, and the sparks of war began to smolder. Just for the record, Japan and Germany considered Americans to be inferior. They called us mutts.
No one in the United States knew what Japan was planning. In July, 1941, Japan began planning the attack on Pearl Harbor. On September 24, spies were plotting the locations of ships moored at Pearl Harbor. United States intelligence found out what the spies were up to but did not inform General Short or Admiral Kimmel who were in charge of land and naval forces at Pearl Harbor. After the attack, Short and Kimmel were blamed which, of course, is hogwash since intelligence didn’t bother to give them the information they needed. On November 16, 1941, the Japanese Military decided that December 7 would be the day of the attack.
The Japanese fleet had quietly sailed from their various positions into the North Pacific, avoiding shipping lanes and gathering 200 miles Northwest of the Hawaiian Islands. America was still asleep, but they were about to wake up.
October 22, 1957 – The first American forces in Vietnam suffered casualties. Nobody really knew we were there yet.
October 23, 1983 – In Beirut, Lebanon, a suicide bomber drives a truck loaded with explosives into the Marine barracks killing 241 Marines and other personnel. My cousin was there. Fortunately, he had left the cafeteria early to go back to his office, so he avoided most of the force of the blast. He was thrown against the wall and suffered a broken jaw and other injuries. It took him a year to recover. The explosive charge was equivalent to 18,000 pounds of dynamite. The truck was loaded with a highly sophisticated gas mixture that no local terrorist group could develop and build.
There had been several attacks against U.S. installations prior to the bombing. We saw a similar pattern leading up to the attack on the World Trade Center. The enemies of the United States and Western Civilization are in it for the long game.
Right now, we are entering a time of peace in the Middle East. Don’t be fooled. These enemies will be back. They will attack in different ways. Look at what is happening in New York City right now. We can’t be lulled to sleep. I leave you with two bits of advice. First, you can’t make peace with evil and, secondly, we are either at war or preparing for war. Grim, I know, but it will be even more grim if we don’t face these enemies head on.
October 24, 1921 – The body of the unknown soldier is selected to be buried at Arlington Cemetery. Four U.S. soldiers from different cemeteries in France were selected. These soldiers were buried without any evidence of name, rank, date of death or military unit.
Sergeant Edward Younger was given the task of selecting one of the soldiers to be interred in the tomb. Sergeant Younger entered the tomb and, after circling the four identical caskets three times, he laid a wreath of white roses on the third casket from the left to mark the body to be interred.
October 25, 1983 – President Ronald Reagan began the invasion of Grenada. The Caribbean island was taken over by leftist forces and the Cuban military was building an airbase there to be used to strike the United States. There were also about 1,000 Americans in Granada, most of whom were at the island’s medical school. President Reagan sent nearly 2,000 troops to seize the island and free Grenada.
October 26, 1942 – Japanese planes destroy the USS Hornet in the Battle of Santa Cruz. The USS Hornet was the last aircraft carrier built before World War II began.
October 27, 1962 – After tension-filled negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union, a plan for the Cuban Missile Crisis is complete. The Strategic Air Command was loaded and ready to go. All U.S. forces were placed on DEFCON 2, meaning war was imminent. I remember those times well.
October 28, 1886 – President Grover Cleveland dedicates the Statue of Liberty. A parade was held in celebration, which was the first ticker-tape parade in New York City.
“I am frequently asked if the ISRA sells our membership list. The answer is absolutely not.” ~ Richard Pearson
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. 24 – 25, 2026 Belleville Gun & Knife Show, Belle-Clair Fairgrounds, Belleville, IL.
Oct. 24 – 25, 2026 Sauk Trail Gun Collectors Gun Show, Bureau County Fairgrounds, Princeton, IL.
Nov. 7 – 8, 2026 Bloomington Gun & Knife Show, Interstate Center, Bloomington, IL.
Nov. 8, 2026 Kane County Sportsman’s Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, IL.
Nov. 21 – 22, 2026 Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show, Kankakee Fairgrounds, Kankakee, IL.
Nov. 28 – 29, 2026 Central Illinois Gun Collectors Association – New Berlin Gun Show, Sangamon County Fairgrounds, New Berlin, IL.
Nov. 28 – 29, 2026 Sauk Trail Gun Collectors Gun Show, Bureau County Fairgrounds, Princeton, IL.
Dec. 5 – Dec. 6, 2026 Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club Gun & Knife Show, Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club House, Chillicothe, IL.
Dec. 12 – 13, 2026 Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show, Kankakee Fairgrounds, Kankakee, IL.
Dec. 13, 2026 Kane County Sportsman’s Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, IL.
Jan. 10, 2027 Kane County Sportsman’s Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, IL.
Jan. 30 – 31, 2027 Belleville Gun & Knife Show, Belle-Clair Fairgrounds, Belleville, IL.
Feb. 6 – 7, 2027 Bloomington Gun & Knife Show, Interstate Center, Bloomington, IL.
Feb. 13 – 14, 2027 Central Illinois Gun Collectors Association – New Berlin Gun Show, Sangamon County Fairgrounds, New Berlin, IL.
Stand Strong &
Thank you for being a member!
Richard Pearson
If you are not an ISRA member, join TODAY!
Donate: isra.org/support-us/
Upcoming Meetings: isra.org/isra-activities-and-events/