We are entering the legislative season which is the most dangerous time for citizens.  Most firearm owners pay attention to federal and state legislation.  The primary job of the ISRA is to handle legislation in the Illinois State Legislature.  That does not mean we ignore federal and local legislation.  Local legislation at the county, city, village or other forms of local government can be just as dangerous.  Zoning boards are a particular headache.  The fact is, I look at all forms and levels of government with a jaundiced eye.  Every level of government has huge power when compared to the individual citizen. Most of the time, people who serve on local government boards are good people but every once in a while, somebody gets elected who believes they are God’s gift to us all.  These people become tyrants.  Someone once said “There is no tyrant like a small tyrant.”  They knew what they were talking about.

The Ranges are closed this afternoon due to the extreme weather.

I am watching anti-gunners on the march in several states.  The greatest change is in the State of Virginia but the anti-gun push is on in Washington, Oregon and New Mexico.  I call this Creeping Californiaism (CC for short).  The heck with the COVID-19, CC is much more dangerous.  All joking aside, the only cure for this is for gun owners to stop ranting and get organized and stay organized.  It takes money to fight these people and their anti-gun agenda.  It takes more than just to say we have a Second Amendment; gun owners have to fight to keep it.  Not only do we have to fight for it, we have to fight for it in an organized manner if we expect to win.  Of all the State Associations, the ISRA is the most organized.  It is time for people in every state to stop depending on organizations like the NRA to do everything.  When I first started fighting for gun rights, everyone looked around and waited for the NRA to come galloping in on a big white horse and save the day.  Early on, those of us in the ISRA understood that someday the big white horse wouldn’t make it.  I am not saying we should abandon the NRA, in fact, we should support them even more but for the foreseeable future the Washington D.C. swamp is going to keep them busy.  We need to take care of ourselves in our home states.

In a previous Thursday Bulletin I mentioned when the Illinois General Assembly would go back into session.  There have already been changes.  The Illinois House of Representatives will only meet one day in February, the 10th.  On this day they will adopt rules to hold subject matter hearings remotely.  They will not, and should not, have hearings which will advance bills and resolutions remotely.  We will keep you updated.

The ISRA held its first Zoom Webinar meeting on Thursday January 21, 2021. Watch it here

       *** ALERT***

The comment period is now open on proposed rules for video surveillance for firearm stores open to the public.  Below are the proposed rules that will go before the Joint Commission on Administrative Rules (JCAR).  The comment period is open until 02/22/2021.  I would advise commenting immediately.

By now most of you know the NRA has filed Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.  Chapter 11 is protection from creditors, not complete bankruptcy.  The NRA has also announced it will reincorporate in Texas.  The NRA Board of Directors and Wayne LaPierre have been chastised and applauded for these moves.  I am on the applauding side of these moves.  It has been suggested many times that the NRA, which was founded and incorporated in New York State in 1871, move out of New York to a more friendly state.  It’s too bad it had to happen this way but at least it is getting done.