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Thursday Bulletin

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Thursday Bulletin

September 14, 2023

Executive Director’s Message

Richard Pearson

It sure is starting to feel a lot like fall – and hunting season!  Early season Canadian Goose hunting season has come to a close.  Next up are deer and turkey archery & firearm seasons.  Archery deer and fall turkey both start on October 1.   Firearm deer season dates are November 17 – 19, and November 30 – December 3.  Fall turkey shotgun season is October 21 – 29.  Muzzleloader-only deer season is December 8 – 10, and a late winter Antlerless-only deer season is December 28 – 31 and January 12 – 14, 2024.  Don’t forget there is also a deer firearm season, especially for youths. It is October 7 – 9.  Take your kid, grandkid, or nephew and introduce them to hunting for an experience of a lifetime.  Please check the IDNR website for inclusive dates, hours, limits, and permits in your county.  Take note of slight variances in some counties, and other season details and species hunting and trapping regulations.

Get ready for a safe and successful hunting season.  We welcome you to the Illinois State Rifle Association Range’s annual Sighting-In Day, which will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2023, 10 am – 3:00 pm.  “Zero-in” your shotgun, rifle, muzzleloader, pistol, or bow.  Open to the public – you don’t need to be a member to come.  $10 per firearm or bow, including targets.  For details of what you should bring, and more information, including directions to the Range, visit isra.org or call the ISRA office at 815-635-3198.  On the day of the event, please call the ISRA Range directly at 815-939-1909.

ISRA Exhibits at USCCA Expo in Milwaukee

ISRA gains nearly 100 new members as gun owners rally around the ISRA in the fight against new Illinois Gun laws.

Illinois State Rifle Association President Doug Mayhall, board member Thomas McDonald and Rhonda Ezell – who sued the city of Chicago to bring gun ranges to the city for all law-abiding citizens, attended the USCCA Concealed Carry & Home Defense Expo in Milwaukee over the weekend.

While New Mexico’s Governor used the weekend to try and steal 2nd Amendment Rights from citizens, https://apnews.com/article/albuquerque-guns-governor-concealed-carry-firearms-reject-ec5e8d57abc15687dd1b39d8cc197d96, the ISRA used it to meet with firearm owners from across the Midwest. The ISRA provided updates on the organization’s effort to stand up to Governor JB Pritzker, who is waging a national campaign to convince other governors – with assistance from the Biden administration, to pass additional legislation across the country that mirrors Illinois’ unconstitutional assault weapons ban.

“From our perspective, the expo was a total success,” said ISRA president Doug Mayhall. “The support that we are receiving from fellow gun owners across the area as we continue to stand up to Gov. Pritzker in the press and in federal court, is incredible. And the fact that we were able to walk away this weekend with so many new memberships is further proof that others want to join us in the fight.”  https://isra.org/isra-exhibits-at-uscca-expo-in-milwaukee/


ISRA Board Members Terry Cornell & Tom McDonald, National Gun Rights Activist Colion Noir,and ISRA President Doug Mayhall.

On January 18, 2023, the ISRA filed a federal lawsuit opposing Gov. Pritzker’s unconstitutional assault weapons ban.  Founded in 1903, 2023 marks the 120th anniversary of the Illinois State Rifle Association – solidifying their position as one of the most respected gun organizations in the United States.

To fight back, join the ISRA by visiting  www.isra.org

A chapter of women shooters, previously known as The Well Armed Woman (TWAW), recently changed its name at a national level to Armed Women of America (AWA).  Nothing else has changed about our chapter or who we are except the name.  For those of you who aren’t familiar with our group, allow us to introduce ourselves.  Armed Women of America (Kankakee Chapter) meets the last Saturday of every month from 9am – 12pm for meeting and range practice.  Open to members and the public. Instructors: Beth Bertrand & Mandi Ehler. The Kankakee County chapter email address is AWA.kankakeecoutyil@gmail.com.

We’re a group of women who enjoy safe shooting, our time together, and supporting the second amendment.  For dates & times check our Range calendar at: https://isra.org/event/awa-monthly-meeting-clubhouse-900-1000-range-10-1000-1200-9/

WHO WE ARE – OUR MISSION STATEMENT

Armed Women of America is a non-profit organization with chapters across the country where women gather regularly to learn and grow in their abilities to handle firearms safely, responsibly, and competently.  AWA exists to enable women to be their own self-protectors, creating freedom, peace of mind, and confidence in themselves.  Our vision is that women have the skills, mindset, and training to defend themselves and those in their care.

The Illinois State Rifle Association is offering
a special sale on Life and other upgraded memberships.

Please check your mail and take
advantage of this offer.

Upgrades must be postmarked by Oct. 16.

If you didn’t receive it in the mail, please call the office at (815) 635-3198.  We can easily upgrade your membership

on the phone.  Or send us an email to Member Services at: member@isra.org

 

The Illinois State Rifle Association is the home of marksmanship in Illinois.

Tidbits

September 14, 1814 – The Star-Spangled Banner
The Battle of Baltimore: The poem Defense of Fort McHenry” is written by Francis Scott Key.  The poem is later used as the lyrics of The Star-Spangled Banner.

September 14 – 19, 2022 – Queen Elizabeth II lies in state
Mounted Household Cavalry rode along the route prior to the procession of the Gun Carriage which carried the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II from Buckingham Palace for the last time, borne on a horse-drawn carriage and saluted by cannons and the tolling of Big Ben, in a solemn procession through the flag-draped, crowd-lined streets of London to Westminster Hall.  There, Britain’s longest-serving monarch was laid in state for the world to mourn for 4 days.  The coffin was draped in the Royal Standard and topped with the Imperial State Crown — encrusted with almost 3,000 diamonds — and a bouquet of flowers and plants, including pine from the Balmoral Estate, where Elizabeth died on Sept. 8 at the age of 96.

The Queen’s final resting place is in St. George’s Chapel within the grounds of Windsor Castle, one of her favorite homes and where many royals have been laid to rest before her.

The American people had great admiration for the Queen, whose dignity and constancy deepened the enduring friendship and special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.  She and Ronald Reagan were good friends.

September 15, 1835 – Charles Darwin reaches the Galápagos Islands
The HMS Beagle, with Charles Darwin aboard, lands at San Cristobal, the easternmost of the archipelago.  The next day, Darwin landed on the western end of Chatham Island, now known as San Cristobal.  The ship’s crew and Darwin spent eight days surveying the coast.

Darwin’s voyage on HMS Beagle was part of an extensive British survey of the coasts of South America

September 16, 1893 Cherokee Strip Land Rush
In 1889, Congress authorized the Cherokee Commission to persuade the Cherokee to cede their complete title to the Cherokee Outlet, which was located in Oklahoma.  After a great amount of pressure, and confirmed by a treaty Congress approved on March 17, 1893, the Cherokee agreed to “the sum of $8,595,736.12.  The eastern end of the Cherokee Outlet was opened for settlement in the Cherokee Strip land rush”.  It was the largest land rush in the United States and possibly the largest event of its kind in history.

A land rush (or run) was an event in which previously restricted land of the United States was opened for homesteading on a first-arrival basis.  Settlers hungry for their own land would compete in a chaotic race on horseback, in wagons, or by whatever means they could, for the newly opened lands.

September 17, 1787 – The United States Constitution is signed in Philadelphia
The document was drafted, often referred to as its framing, at the 1787 Philadelphia Convention and was ratified through a series of state conventions held in 1787 and 1788. Since 1789, the Constitution has been amended twenty-seven times; particularly important amendments include the ten amendments of the United States Bill of Rights and the three Reconstruction Amendments.  The original U.S. Constitution was handwritten on five pages of parchment by Jacob Shallus.

September 18, 1870 – Old Faithful gets its name
On the afternoon of September 18, 1870, the members of the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition traveled down the Firehole River from the Kepler Cascades and entered the Upper Geyser. The first geyser that they saw was Old Faithful, in what is now Yellowstone National Park. “It spouted at regular intervals nine times during our stay, the columns of boiling water being thrown from ninety to one hundred and twenty-five feet at each discharge, which lasted from fifteen to twenty minutes.” – Nathaniel P. Langford.  Old Faithful Geyser was named by Henry D. Washburn.

September 19, 1 863 – The first day of the Battle of Chickamauga
American Civil War: The first day of the Battle of Chickamauga, in northwestern Georgia, the bloodiest two-day battle of the conflict, and the only significant Confederate victory in the war’s Western Theater.

September 20, 2017 – Hurricane Maria
Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, resulting in 2,975 deaths, US $90 billion in damage, and a major humanitarian crisis.

Nearly five and half years after the hurricanes, Puerto Rico is recovering, albeit slowly and not uniformly.  Many of the still damaged properties lie outside of tourist’s eyesight.

At the Range

All classes and events are open to the public & all range members, unless otherwise noted.

ISRA Black Powder State Championship

October 15 @ 7:30 am – 3:00 pm

Black Powder rifles with iron open sights; flintlock-rifles or smooth bore. Open to public. Registration at 7:30am. Cost: $20, youths (under age 18): $15.  Walk-ins: $25, youths $20

To preregister, email mel@isra.org


 

Massad Ayoob’s MAG 40 Class
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.

Don’t wait to sign up – it’ll fill up fast!

Please click here for details on how to sign up. 

Hotels near the ISRA Range

Range Calendar of Classes & Events

Click on the calendar to expand the view.

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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

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.

September 16 – 17 Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show, Kankakee County Fairgrounds, Kankakee
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 – 24 Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club Gun & Knife Show, Chillicothe
Sept. 30 – Oct. 1 Central Illinois Gun Collectors Assoc. 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, Kankakee
November 12 Kane County Sportsman’s Show, Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles
November 19 McHenry County Gun Show, McHenry County Fairgrounds, Woodstock
November 25 – 26 Central IL Gun Collectors Association, Sangamon Co. Fairgrounds, New Berlin
November 25 – 26 Sauk Trail Gun Show, Bureau County Fairgrounds, Princeton
November 26 – Lake County Gun & Sportsman Show, Antioch VFW, Antioch
December 2 – 3 Will County Gun Show, Will County Fairgrounds, Peotone
December 2 – 3 Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club Gun & Knife Show, Chillicothe Sportsmen’s Club House, Chillicothe

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“Ninety-eight percent of the people in this country are decent, hardworking, honest Americans. It’s the other lousy two percent that get all the publicity. But then, we elected them.”

Lily Tomlin

“The people who work against your gun rights are basically saying to you, “The right of the criminal to rip you off, rape and kill you shall not be infringed.” And they wonder why we’re a bit testy”

Editor of KABA LIBERTY ADVOCATE, Friday, July 30, 2001

“I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand.”

SUSAN B. ANTHONY

“You may find me one day dead in a ditch somewhere. But by God, you’ll find me in a pile of brass.”

Tpr. M. Padgett

“Using inner city kids as your proof that guns and kids don’t mix, is like using an alcoholic to prove all people will abuse alcohol.”

Lori Broadhead

“How dare politicians continue to pass insane laws forcing good, law-abiding people to be defenseless and helpless.”

Ted Nugent

The said Constitution [shall] never be construed to authorize Congress to infringe or to prevent the people of the United States from keeping their own arms.”

Samuel Adams, Massachusetts' U.S. Constitution Ratification Convention, 1788

“One of the greatest delusions in the world is the hope that the evils in this world are to be cured by legislation.”

Thomas B. Reed (1886)

“No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.”

Thomas Jefferson, Proposed Virginia Constitution (1776)

“Foolish liberals who are trying to read the Second Amendment out of the Constitution are courting disaster by encouraging others to use the same means to eliminate portions of the constitution THEY don’t like.”

Alan Dershowitz

“Every 13 seconds in America someone uses a gun to stop a crime.”

Sen. Larry Craig

“The AK-47 is not a device of aggression … I devised this machine-gun for the security of my country,”

Mikhail Kalashnikov, April 1997