Executive Directors Message
Richard Pearson

Last Saturday, February 18, the ISRA set up a booth at the Ducks Unlimited Annual Gun Frenzy in Springfield.  First, I want to thank Ducks Unlimited for inviting the ISRA.  It was a fun event with 60 guns being raffled off.  We sold memberships but we also got to meet many of our members there.  It is important that conservation groups like Ducks Unlimited and others understand the importance of defending the right to own a firearm pays off in hunting and conservation.  It is also important for gun owners to understand that without groups like Ducks Unlimited, habitats would have all but disappeared, wiping out not only waterfowl, but frogs, butterflies, songbirds, and many other of God’s creatures.  Thanks again Ducks Unlimited.

The litigation update is short this week.  As I mentioned last week, we have requested a Preliminary Restraining Order (PRO) in our case which is Harrel et al v Raoul.  We are waiting for a response from the State of Illinois.  The time limit for them to respond is midnight on March 2, 2023.  If they do not respond, we get the PRO.  I doubt that will happen.   Assuming they do respond, Judge McGlynn will write his opinion which could take until the middle or end of March.  We should know by IGOLD, March 29, 2023.

In the United States Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Judge Virginia Keller has ruled in the Bevis v Naperville lawsuit.  Judge Keller ruled that “assault weapons” are not protected by the Second Amendment.  Our case, Harrel et al v Raoul et al, is in the United State Court for the Southern District of Illinois.  If Judge McGlynn rules in our favor, this is a likely path to the Seventh Circuit since both the Northern and Southern Districts are covered by the Seventh Circuit.  It is possible that both cases could be combined.  If they are not combined, the ISRA will supply an amicus brief supporting Bevis.  It is also possible the Seventh Circuit could return one or both cases to the respective District Court.  Everyone wants to know what to do.  For now, we just wait.  I know waiting is not easy.

The Second Amendment Foundation has filed suit in Texas over the ATF’s latest AR15 Arm Brace Rule.  The ATF has been trying to ban arm braces and generally trying to drive the owners of these braces nuts with rule after rule.  The situation is so bad that the law-abiding owners of these braces have spent thousands of dollars trying to comply, only to have a new rule negate their efforts.  Hopefully, this case will reach the Supreme Court of the United States and we will get some resolution to this problem.  The real problem is the ATF itself and their politically driven agenda.

In Chicago, a 73-year-old man heard noise outside his home.  When he went outside to see what the matter was, he was confronted by two thieves stealing the catalytic converter off his car.  One of the thieves pulled a firearm but fortunately the homeowner was armed and fired at the crooks, driving them off.  They got away but they may reevaluate their career choice. 

The ISRA Range will be hosting an AR15 Maintenance/Care Class on March 4, 2023.  This is a great class for those of you who own AR15s.  Check our calendar for more information.   

Upcoming 2023 Midwest Firearms Training Classes - All Classes Held at the ISRA Range:

May 27-28, Intro to Defensive Pistol: This intensive two-day program introduces the new or novice shooter to combat handgun training.  Included in the program are firearms safety issues, marksmanship basics, various shooting positions, speed reloads, drawing from a holster, and more.  This is designed for the shooter who has never had formal firearms training or would like to review the fundamentals.  Emphasis is placed on trigger control, sight alignment, accuracy, and safety.  500 rounds.  No prerequisite required.  Contact Andy Kemp at 208-771-3413 or [email protected]  or visit www.midwesttraininggroup.net

June 24-25, Defensive Rifle: Two-day course takes beginners and intermediate shooters to advanced level. This is geared toward the environment that most of us live in, suburban and semi-rural, or home defense. Centerfire semi-automatic rifles, or pistol-caliber carbines only.  Slings are mandatory. Red dot type sights are allowed and BUIS are advisable.    At least two rifle mags and two pistol mags.  Holster, mag pouches etc.  Firing will be from short range (100 yards to nearly muzzle contact.) Covering positional shooting-standing, kneeling, sitting, prone and cover positions, one hand firing and reloading techniques, zeroing options, shooting while moving, mirror image shooting and transitions, malfunction clearing and adjusting for offset at various distances.  600 rounds rifle and 100 rounds pistol.  No Prerequisite.  Cost: $600.00.  Contact Andy Kemp at 208-771-3413 or [email protected]  or visit www.midwesttraininggroup.net

October 5-8, Massad Ayoob MAG-40: This is an intense, four-day, 40-hour immersion course in the “rules of engagement” for armed law-abiding private citizens.  The course emphasizes legal issues, tactical issues, and aftermath management. Topics will include interacting with suspects, witnesses, responding police officers, threat recognition and mind-set, and the management of the social and psychological aftermath of having to use lethal force in defense of self or others.  Also covered is preparing beforehand for legal repercussions and minimizing your exposure to them. Situations in the home, at the place of business, or “on the street” will all be covered.  Range work will include instruction in the use of the defensive handgun under extreme stress. Drawing from concealment, two-handed stances, shooting from cover, one-handed stances with either hand, speed reloading, and more are taught with an overall emphasis on fast, accurate shot placement. The course will culminate with a written examination covering the classroom topics and a police-style handgun qualification course.  500 rounds.  No prerequisite required. 
Contact Andy Kemp at 208-771-3413 or [email protected]  www.MidwestTrainingGroup.net

SAVE THE DATE: IGOLD 2023 - March 29, 2023. I know some groups are talking about bringing buses.  We need to know If you are bringing a bus so we can arrange for parking. The ISRA will pay for the parking, but we need to know as soon as possible. 

Tidbits:

February 23, 1778 - Friedrich von Steuben arrives at Valley Forge.  Whenever we think of Revolutionary War heroes who came to America to fight, we usually think of the Lafayette or Pulaski.  One hero who is overlooked is Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin Frieherr von Steuben.  Friedrich von Steuben was a Prussian Military Officer.  He joined the Prussian Army at age 17.  By the age of 23, he had risen to the rank of Captain and was assigned to Fredrick the Great’s Staff.  For unknown reasons, he was suddenly discharged.  He was a talented infantry officer.  At the time, the Prussian Army was the best in the world.  Their tactics, training, and discipline surpassed all other forces in the world.  Messing with the Prussian Army in battle was a bad idea.  When Fredrick the Great was in charge, it was a worse idea.

Friedrich Von Steuben was in charge of a palace in one of the many German States.  He wanted a real military job.  He was going nowhere in his position.  What we know as modern Germany was made up of 258 states left over from feudal times in the 1700s.  Some were only a few square miles.  There were the equivalent of dukes, barons, princes, and kings all over the place.  It would not be until Otto Von Bismarck came along that these feudal states would become Germany.  Prussia was the largest of these German states.

Washington needed officers with experience.  One of the French Ministers told Benjamin Franklin about Von Steuben.  Franklin contacted George Washington and von Steuben was hired.  Friedrich Von Steuben got to work immediately.  The Continental Army was a rag tag mess.  Most could not read and many did not understand right from left.  The first task was to clean up the camp at Valley Forge.   Kitchens were put on one side of the camp and latrines on the other.  Most of the soldiers did not understand what a latrine was.  Friedrich von Steuben taught the soldiers how to march, how to load and fire quickly, how to use a bayonet, and other military skills.  He drilled and drilled until these skills were second nature.  When Washington went into Valley Forge for the winter, the Colonial Army was on the way to defeat.  When Washington came out of Valley Forge, the Colonial Army was as good or better than the British Army. 

Friedrich Von Steuben wrote the first American military book on tactics and training.  He spoke no English so he wrote the book in French.  Alexander Hamilton and Nathanial Greene translated the book into English.  It was known as the Blue Book and it was distributed to all Commanders in the Continental Army.  Friedrich von Steuben changed the outcome of the Revolutionary War by giving Washington a skilled army he could depend on.

February 24, 1803 - The Supreme Court of the United States decides the case of Marbury v Madison.  This case is about Thomas Jefferson withholding a judgeship from William Marbury who was appointed by the John Adams Administration a few hours before it came to an end and the Jefferson Administration took over.  James Madison, Jefferson’s Secretary of State, would not deliver the commission to Marbury.  Marbury sued.  The Supreme Court, under Chief Justice John Marshall, ruled that not delivering Marbury’s commission was illegal.  More importantly, the Supreme Court found that the Judicial Act of 1789 that expanded the power of the Supreme Court beyond the Constitution was also illegal.  The Supreme Court established the authority for judicial review.  That means that if the Congress passes unconstitutional laws, they are not law, and the Supreme Court can overturn those laws.  Judicial review of state and local laws as to their constitutionally is pursuant to Article III Section 2 of the Constitutional. This ruling also applies to local jurisdictions through article VI of the Constitution, known as the supremacy clause.  It is obvious I am not an attorney, but I am sure you get the idea.  By the way, William Marbury never did get appointed to his judgeship.

February 24,1917 - The Zimmerman Telegram.  This is an annual reminder that neighbors are not our friends.   In 1917, the United States was trying to stay out of WWI.  The German submarine attacks on U.S. ships were swaying the American public.  Woodrow Wilson was President and a pacifist.  British intelligence had intercepted as what became known as the “Zimmerman Telegram.”  The United States Ambassador to Britain, Walter H. Page, was handed a telegram from Arthur Zimmerman to the Mexican government.  In the telegram, Zimmerman offered to Mexico the States of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona if they entered WWI on the side of Germany.  As far as anyone knows, Mexico did not reply to the telegram.  There were several reasons why United States entered WW1, one of those reasons was that the telegram was discovered and made worldwide news.  Our southern border has always been an avenue for spies, criminals, and terrorists into the United States.  At first, those who supported Germany tried to pass the telegram off as a hoax.  Their German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmerman verified he had sent the telegram.  Wilson vacillated for a few weeks but then asked for a Declaration of War against Germany. 

February 24, 1940 - The first televised National Hockey League game is televised over W2XBS, the NBC experimental television station.  The station had 300 subscribers at the time.  The TV screens were only a few inches across.  The first TV show I ever saw was “Howdy Doody Time”.  It was on a massive eight-inch screen.

February 26, 1945 - U.S. Troops recapture the island of Corridor from Japan.  The island which lies in Manila Bay, was held by U.S. Troops for several months after the invasion of the Philippines, slowing the Japanese down.  They were among the bravest.

February 27, 1942 - The U.S.S. Langley, the United States first aircraft carrier, is sunk off Java.  The Langley started out as a collier or coal ship.  It was converted to an aircraft carrier in 1922.  In 1937, it was converted again to a seaplane tender.  The Langley was the first U.S. Navy ship to be designed with electric motors to drive the propellers.  The Langley was attacked by Japanese twin engine bombers.  All but 16 of the 300 crew escaped.  Two destroyers finished off the Langley so it would not get into Japanese hands.

Thanks for being a member. 
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Visit www.isra.org
Upcoming Events: https://isra.org/events-calendar/

Saturday, February 25, 2023
Armed Women of America

Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Air Gun Practice

Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Pellet Rifle League
Women’s Pistol Team Practice

Saturday, March 4, 2023
AR-15 Maintenance & Care Class
Range Work Day
IL Concealed Carry Renewal Class

Sunday, March 5, 2023
Bonfield Muzzle Loaders

Saturday, March 11, 2023
ISRA Academy Basic Shotgun Class

Gun & Trade Shows

Decatur Gun & Knife Show – Decatur, IL
Decatur Conference Center & Hotel
Dates: February 25 & 26, 2023
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
             Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $8.00

Bloomington Gun & Knife Show – Bloomington, IL
Interstate Center
Dates: March 4 & 5, 2023
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-4:00
             Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $7.00

Kankakee Gun & Sportsman’s Show – Kankakee, IL
Kankakee County Fairgrounds
Dates: March 4 & 5, 2023
Hours: Saturday: 8:00-3:00
             Sunday: 8:00-2:00
Admission: $6.00

Aledo Gun & Knife Show – Aledo, IL
Mercer County Fairgrounds
Dates: March 11 & 12, 2023
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
             Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $5.00

Belleville Gun & Knife Show – Belleville, IL
Belle-Clair Fairgrounds
Dates: March 11 & 12, 2023
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-4:00
             Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $7.00/$10.00 Weekend Pass

Kane County Sportsman’s Show – St Charles, IL
Kane County Fairgrounds
Date: March 12, 2023
Hours: Sunday: 7:30-1:30
Admission: $7.00














 































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