Remembering 9/11/2001

It is hard to believe that 9/11/2001 was 20 years ago.  I, like many of you, remember where I was and what I was doing when the terrorist attack happened, as well as those agonizing days after.  When I was thinking about the 9/11 attacks, it dawned on me that those under 30 have little or no memory of what happened or the aftermath.  It is like the memories my parents had of Pearl Harbor; I was not around yet so I had to learn what happened.  Still, learning what happened does not give the feelings of what happened.  That too has to be explained even though it isn’t like having lived through it at the time.  History is pretty boring if all you are learning is facts and not the emotions people felt about the people involved and the events.

The talking heads in Washington including government types, media mouthpieces and so-called experts are claiming the war in Afghanistan is over.  These people have lied so much that they are believing their own lies.  This war is not over.  This is an ideological war and there are no time limits on ideological wars.  This will only end when one side is totally crushed. 

What the Biden Administration is doing in Afghanistan is more than a blemish on the reputation of the United States, it is a scar that will be there forever.  Moreover, what the Biden Administration has done to the United States Military and the Army, in particular, is unforgivable.  What the role of the United States has been since WWII is to stabilize the world by providing the muscle to organizations like NATO, SEATO and even the UN.  Without the United States the world would be in much more chaos than it is.  That reputation is fading fast with the calamitous fleeing and abandoning of Afghanistan and all those who trusted us there.

One to the topics few people understand is the new District Map and how it will affect their Second Amendment Rights.  Just to refresh everyone, there is a census every 10 years.  From that new census, political districts are redrawn to adjust for changes in population.  The redrawing of the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois State Senate districts is the topic of this article.  This is not to say that Judicial and Congressional districts are not affected.  I will inform you about those at another time.

On August 2, 2021, Illinois Governor Pritzker signed HB 562 with Senate Amendments 1 & 2, known as the FOID Modernization Act.  There are all kinds of gnashing of teeth about what is in the bill.  Most have not actually read the bill or understand what it does.  It is true that the ISRA was neutral on the bill.

The Reload, a publication which reports firearm news, reports that David Chipman, Biden’s nominee for ATF Director and former Chief Advisor to the Gifford’s anti-gun organization, has had racial complaints lodged against him in the past.  The Reload also revealed ATF agents who worked with Chipman won’t talk about him for fear of reprisals against them if he indeed is nominated.  There are many gun owners and dealers who fear that if Chipman is nominated, he will use the ATF to punish them whether they did anything wrong or not.  Please continue to call Senators Dick Durbin (202.224.2152) and Tammy Duckworth (202.224.2854) and oppose his nomination. 

July is somehow slipping away and we are in the dog days of summer.  We have a while yet but Fall is creeping upon us.  Sunday marks the beginning of hunting season.  If you are a first-time buyer of a hunting license, get it now.  The IDNR has had a few glitches in its new licensing system.  To err is human but to really screw things up, computerize it.  I remember going down to the hardware store and Shirley or Virgil would sell you a hunting or fishing license on the spot.  You could also get hooks, bobbers, fishing line, shotgun shells or .22s and be out the door in a few minutes.  We sure have improved things, haven’t we?  Federal Duck Stamps are out for the 2021-2022 season.  The regular stamp has a lesser scaup drake on it and the junior stamp features a pair of hooded mergansers.  Duck stamps raise about 40 million dollars a year for conservation.  Don’t forget to buy them.