Fellow Firearm Owner,
As many of you know, a ruthless criminal recently
murdered 12 persons and wounded scores more at a
theater in suburban Denver. Of course, the gun
control movement has absolved the perpetrator and
transferred blame for the this brutal crime to you,
the law-abiding firearm owner. Once again, the gun
grabbers expect lawful gun owners to take it on the
chin for the
murderous misdeeds of others.
In the weeks and months ahead, you will hear the
media and anti-gun politicians calling for a
"national dialog on reasonable solutions to violent
crime." Rest assured, this will not be a "dialog."
Rather, this so-called dialog will be a listening
session for gun owners who will find
themselves on the receiving end of a scolding from
the self righteous, gun-hating leftists who will
make it very plain that gun owners must accept
curtailment of their rights.
In recent days, gun control advocates have been all
over leftist talk radio shows and internet blogs
advancing proposals for "reasonable restrictions" on
gun ownership. Among these restrictions are the
following:
1. A ban and mandatory surrender of your
semiautomatic rifles, pistols and shotguns.
2. A ban and mandatory surrender of magazines having
a capacity exceeding 10 rounds.
3. A ban on internet sales of ammunition and
reloading components.
4. Limits on ammunition purchases (100 rounds per
year according to one proposal)
5. Performance-based bans on certain bullet designs
and calibers.
This list of restrictions being furthered by the gun
control movement is just the beginning with even
more onerous limits sure to follow. Nonetheless,
enactment of any of these restrictions would
certainly doom private firearm ownership. As we all
know, the true aim of the gun control
movement is a gun-free America.
My friends, I guarantee you that the ISRA will never
engage in any "dialog" that will result in the
diminishment of your right to keep and bear arms. We
will not set foot on "common ground" and we will
never participate in any sort of compromise just to
make some political candidate look good. We are gun
owners helping gun owners preserve gun ownership.
Given the political climate, the task before us is
daunting. Yet, I am confident that, with your help,
we will turn back this latest attack on your right
to keep and bear arms. Here are 5 things you can do
to help ensure victory for our nation's traditions.
1. Call the offices of your U.S. Senators, your U.S.
Representative, your Illinois Senator and Illinois
State Representative. Firmly, yet politely tell the
person who answers the phone that you are a
law-abiding firearm owner and that you will not
accept arbitrary limitations on your gun rights
merely for the sake of "doing something" in response
to wholesale slaughters carried out by disturbed
criminals. If you do not know how to get in touch
with your elected officials, then follow this link:
Illinois Board of Elections District
Official/Search:
http://www.elections.state.il.us/DistrictLocator/DistrictOfficialSearchByAddress.aspx
2. Please pass this alert on to your gun owning
friends and family members for action.
3. Post this alert to any and all Internet blogs,
bulletin boards and social media sites to which you
may belong.
4. Join the ISRA or ask a friend to join.
www.isra.org/join
5. Give a generous donation to the ISRA by going to
the following link:
www.isra.org/fight_4_your_rights.
This is one of the most crucial moments in the
history of private firearm ownership. If we lose
this upcoming battle, then we may never see our
rights restored. Hard work, determinations, and love
of our Constitution are the three greatest tools we
have to ensure that our traditions are
preserved for future generations.
Sincerely,
Richard A. Pearson
Executive Director
Illinois State Rifle Association
