July 23, 2026

Thursday Bulletin – July 23, 2026 Executive Director's Message Richard Pearson Litigation Update Usually, this time of year is as dull as can be as far as litigation goes but not this year.   Here are the reasons.  The Seventh Circuit, which is the federal appeals court for Illinois, has ruled the Cook County semi-auto ban constitutional. The Supreme Court of the United States ( SCOTUS ) was requested to issue a writ of certiorari to the Seventh Circuit, and it has done so.  A writ of certiorari is an order from a higher court to a lower court to send a certain case up for review. The lawsuit is Viramontes v Cook County, which has been combined with a Connecticut lawsuit, Grant v Higgins. Connecticut has a similar semi-auto and magazine ban. The Seventh Circuit has also ruled the Protect Illinois Communities Act ( PICA ), the Illinois semi-auto...

July 16, 2026

Thursday Bulletin – July 16, 2026 Executive Director's Message Richard Pearson   Volunteers Needed For The 2026 Academics Integrity Marksmanship Program   Dear ISRA Member,   The Illinois State Rifle Association is one of the proud sponsors of the Academics Integrity Marksmanship ( AIM ) program youth shoot at the World Shooting Complex in Sparta, Illinois.  This is one of the premier youth shooting events in the United States.   To make this program work, the ISRA needs 20 volunteers a day to help at this event.  The volunteers will be helping load magazines, assist the kids shooting and, of course, making sure everyone is safe.  The dates of the event are Friday, July 24th, and Saturday the 25th.  The times are from 8:30am to 5:00pm on Friday and 9:30am to 5:00pm on Saturday.  Lunches and refreshments will be provided but, if you have special dietary needs, you should bring...

July 9, 2026

Thursday Bulletin – July 9, 2026 Executive Director's Message Richard Pearson   Litigation Update   ISRA Files Federal Lawsuit Challenging Illinois’ 72-Hour Firearm Waiting Period   CHATSWORTH, IL — The Illinois State Rifle Association has joined a federal lawsuit challenging Illinois’ mandatory 72-hour waiting period for firearm purchases, arguing that the law unlawfully delays the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Illinois gun owners. The case, Pearlstein v. Raoul, was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. ISRA is joined by individual plaintiffs, federally licensed firearm dealers, and the National Rifle Association in challenging the waiting period. The lawsuit was filed by ISRA counsel David G. Sigale, who will work with the legal team as the case moves forward. Illinois is one of a small minority of states that still force firearm buyers to wait three days before taking possession of a firearm. In most states, once...