Both numbers of FOID card holders and ICCL holders is up and I am expecting those numbers to rise even further.  I keep getting calls from reporters asking why these numbers keep increasing.  If you look around and see what is happening in the United States the answer is obvious.  Moreover, we are just at the beginning of the long hot Illinois summer in addition to a long Fourth of July weekend.  I predict things could get pretty rough in some cities with Chicago being number one on that wild list.

In our FOID application case, Bradley V. Kelly, we have been denied our Preliminary Injunction.  We have a couple of actions we can take and we are weighing our options at this time.  In our second FOID appeal case, Thomas v. Kelly, the judge denied a motion to dismiss brought by the State.  We will be moving forward on this case.  Other cases are waiting at this moment.  I will let you know as soon as something happens.

Every once in a while, there is a bright spot in our day.  One of those bright spots popped last week in the form of a court ruling.  U.S. District Court Judge Roger Benitez of San Diego, California, struck down California’s so-called assault weapons ban declaring it unconstitutional.  The lawsuit was brought by Jim Miller et al.  The et al includes other California residents, Second Amendment Foundation, Firearms Policy Coalition, California Gun Rights Foundation and several other groups.  Judge Benitez stated in his decision, “Like the Swiss Army Knife, the popular AR15 is the perfect combination of a home defense weapon and homeland defense equipment, good for home defense and battle.”  Of course, California Governor Gavin Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonita are squalling like a couple of long tailed cats in a room full of rocking chairs.  What else could we expect from these two darlings of the left wing?

The Spring 2021 Legislative Session is over for the Illinois General Assembly.  The good news is nothing bad passed.  The bad news is nothing good passed.  The reality is that like it or not, the State of Illinois has the FOID card and we have to deal with it.  Before we get into the discussion about the bills in the Spring Session, one has to realize that the ISRA has both long and short-term goals.  One of the long-term goals is to get rid of the FOID.  One of the short-term goals is to get the FOID cards and ICCLs in the hands of law-abiding Illinois citizens as fast and easy as possible.  We recognize that a right delayed is a right denied.

Oral arguments were heard in the Bradley et al v. Kelly FOID card case on Thursday, May 20, 2021.  The judge will give her opinion, by letter, sometime in the future.  That could mean days or weeks.  Whatever the opinion, I imagine this case will be appealed.  Other ISRA cases have had no new developments.

The Spring Session of the Illinois General Assembly ends at midnight on May 31, 2021.  That is slightly less than 11 days by the time you read this.  The pace keeps picking up the closer we get to the end of session.  From now on, committees will be on one hour posting notices.  Your ISRA lobbying team is here. 

On Wednesday afternoon we once again witnessed how fast legislation can move in Springfield.  HB 1092 was passed out of committee and was called for a vote on the House floor within two hours.  The lobbying team got word of this possibility and the ISRA administrative staff put out an Action Alert immediately asking everyone to call their State Representative asking them to oppose HB1092.  The bill did pass 69-43-0.  HB1092 now moves to the Senate.  Please call your State Senator and ask them to oppose this bill.  We are down to 16 legislative session days before adjournment at midnight on May 31st.  Please stay tuned for these important Action Alerts.