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ISRA Thursday Bulletin - February 18, 2021
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Executive Directors Message
Richard Pearson
The State of Illinois has submitted their reply to the court in the ISRA FOID card case. All the preliminary work is done and now we have to wait for a court date. In the past, it has taken anywhere from one month to six months for that to happen. As I have mentioned before, watching paint dry is quite exciting compared to waiting for courts and court cases to move. When something happens it will be posted in the Thursday Bulletin. Joe Biden’s gun control plan is out there. Of course, one of the things it includes is the approval of the United Nations Small Arms Treaty which calls for an international registry of gun owners. That will be coming up for approval in the United States Senate. Those who read my this column regularly know how much I detest the United Nations, the ground it sits on and the air its members breath. Beyond that, Joe Biden’s “common sense gun control” scheme is a nightmare for legal gun owners. Only the general language is out there but the intent is clear as to where this is heading. The plan includes: * Mandatory screening of all people who are seeking to be firearm owners. * Restrictive licensing for guns and ammunition. * Restrictions on the number of guns and the amounts of ammunition you can own. * Bans on magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. * Bans on firearms used for self-defense. I am sure there will be more when we see the details. This is going to be a trying time for us all. At this time, the ISRA is tracking 57 bills at the state level. More bills will be added; some are good and some are bad. At the moment, we only have House Bills listed because Senate Bills have not been filed yet. They will come soon enough. Right now, both the Illinois House and Senate are still in disarray but at some point that will end. The anti-gun crowd seems to be pushing for two pieces of legislation at the state level. The first is for fingerprints to get a FOID card and a fee increase. We have not seen a bill at the time I write this but I’m sure one will be coming. The second item is an ammunition tax. They will do anything to make it tough on gun owners but even worse, if they get the tax, they will use our money against us in some way. Right now HB0438 is the ammunition tax bill we are tracking. Keep an eye on the ISRA website for more bills as they are released. We will let you know when it is time to act. It is no surprise the Colt Firearms has been sold. The good news is that they were sold to CZG who makes CZ firearms in Czechoslovakia. CZ makes really good stuff and is committed to the shooting sports. In recent years and several times in the past, Colt has had serious financial problems. Like all of these buyouts, the purchasing company usually brings infusions of cash, new technology and ideas into the company. I assume this will be the case with CZG and Colt. One of the things I would advise CZG to do is get out of Connecticut and move to a friendlier gun climate. The ISRA is offering another Glock Armorers Course on March 16th at the ISRA Range in Bonfield. We are also hosting a Glock Operator Course at the ISRA Range on March 18th. There are still openings left for both classes. You will need to sign up on the Glock website. Recently the ISRA office received a call looking for ranges that can accommodate extreme long range shooting and I found a few. Extreme long range shooting is 1500 yards and beyond. The closest ranges are in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. If you Google Extreme Long Range facilities, you will get the list. It is something I would also like to try sometime. Rush Limbaugh, long time ISRA Life member, has passed away from lung cancer. Rush Limbaugh was a true American patriot. He will be sorely missed in these trying times. Tidbits: February 18, 1942 - The United States Marines invade Iwo Jima. February 19, 1851 - Vigilantes are formed in San Francisco. A storekeeper was beaten and robbed and a fellow businessman forms a vigilante group and captured the robbers. Vigilantes were common during the Gold Rush and throughout the West. In 1856, it was estimated that San Francisco had 6000 vigilantes. The vigilantes were well respected and many went on to hold public office. After the vigilantes were ordered to disband, it was reported that a traveling salesman came to town asked one of the merchants what had happened to all those vigilantes. The merchant replied “Go ring that bell across the street and you will find out.” February 20, 1942 - Lt. Edward O’Hare of Chicago becomes the first American flyer to become an ace. Lt. O’Hare was a F4F Wildcat pilot aboard the U.S.S. Lexington when radar picked up a flight of Japanese bombers heading toward the ship. Lt O’Hare intercepted them, shooting five of them down in four minutes. It takes five kills to become an ace and O’Hare did it in record time. O’Hare was from Chicago. In 1949, O’Hare International Airport was so named to honor him. February 20, 1962 - John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the earth. The event was televised and millions of Americans watched it. I was one of those. I was a freshman at Eastern Illinois University. The University Union had a television and students were gathered around to watch. There was a bit of an argument because some of the girls wanted to watch soap operas. John Glenn won that that day but it was the only one. Soap Operas won every day after that. February 21, 1885 - The Washington monument is dedicated. February 21, 1948 - The National Association of Stock Car Racing in incorporated. February 22, 1732 - George Washington is born in Westmoreland County, Virginia. February 23, 1954 - Vaccinations against polio begin. I remember my mother (and many others) feeling relieved. Polio was a crippling disease everyone feared. New York had the most cases and I remember signs along the road warning New Yorkers to not stop. President Franklin Roosevelt, himself a victim of polio, started the March of Dimes to fund a cure for polio. At basketball games and football games, cheerleaders would stretch out bed sheets, walk around the crowd and people would throw dimes into them. Dr. Jonas Salk, who invented the vaccine, was a national hero. Thanks for being a member. If you are not a member, JOIN NOW! Upcoming Events: ISRA Calendar For more information, visit www.isra.org Thursday, February 18, 2021 Saturday, February 20, 2021 IDNR Hunter Safety Course - CLASS IS FULL Tuesday, February 23, 2021 Tuesday Afternoon Indoor Air Gun Open Practice ISRA Indoor Air Gun Practice Wednesday, February 24, 2021 ISRA International Air Pistol League Saturday, February 27, 2021 The Well Armed Woman Saturday, March 6, 2021 Range Work Day AR-15 Care & Maintenance Class – CLASS IS FULL Sunday, March 7, 2021 ISRA Black Powder League (Bonfield Muzzle Loaders) Saturday, March 13 & 27, 2021 NRA Range Safety Officer Course Gun & Trade Shows McHenry County Gun Show – Woodstock, IL McHenry County Fairgrounds Date: February 21, 2021 Hours: Sunday: 8:00-1:00 Admission: $5.00 Crown Point Gun Show – Crown Point, IN Lake County Fairgrounds Dates: March 6 & 7, 2021 Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00 Sunday: 9:00-3:00 Admission: $5.00 Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show – Kankakee, IL Kankakee County Fairgrounds Dates: March 6 & 7, 2021 Hours: Saturday: 8:00-3:00 Sunday: 800-2:00 Admission: $6.00 Aledo Gun & Knife Show – Aledo, IL Mercer County Fairgrounds Dates: March 13 & 14, 2021 Hours: Saturday: 9:00 – 5:00 Sunday: 9:00 - 3:00 Admission: $5.00 Kane County Sportsman’s Show – St Charles, IL Kane County Fairgrounds Date: March 14, 2021 Hours: Sunday: 7:30-1:30 Admission: $7.00 |