The Illinois State Rifle Association will sponsor a scaled down version of IGOLD on Tuesday, October 29th.  The venue for the meeting is the Howlett Building Auditorium which only holds about 500 people.  The purpose of this event is to stop in and see your State Senator and ask them to vote NO on SB1966.   If it passes the Senate, the Governor will surely sign it.  As long as you are there, take time to go see your State Representative.  If you are unable to be present, please call your State Senator and State Representative from your home or work.

The first Veto Session is scheduled for October 28th, 29th and 30th.  Monday, October 28th, is the day to gather all legislators.  The realization will start on Tuesday, October 29th.  The mini IGOLD will be held on Tuesday, October 29th, 2019.  We will begin in the Howlett Building Auditorium at 9:00am, give a legislative update and overview of our goals, and a briefing on lobbying the Legislators before heading to the Capitol to lobby.  The Howlett Building is on the south end of the Capitol Complex.  You will need to enter through the east entrance of the Howlett Building or the east entrance of the Capitol Building.  The east entrance of the Capitol Building may be easier because they have more scanners.  These are secured entrances so be prepared to go through a security check.  It would be a good idea to bring a Ziploc bag to put your keys, wallet, pens, and change in when you pass through security.  This will make it easier on both you and the security guards in order to keep things moving.  Please leave your pocket knife in your vehicle.

Most of us meander through life changing gradually as we meet people and entertain new ideas.  Every once in a while, we meet a person or an idea in life that causes us to take a sharp 90 degree turn in our life.  We may not even realize it right away until we view it through a perspective of our own history sometime later.  This can be a teacher, someone we work with, an acquaintance or just anyone. 

Somehow 2019 seems to be flying by.  Archery deer season has already started.  Most places still have plenty of crops in the field and things may be tough for bow hunters but that may help the gun hunters.  Harvesting has begun but the places are spotty.  Much of the corn crop was planted late so it is common to see a brown field next to a green field.  Add to that, the problem of very wet conditions so everything will be localized.  Deer will be moving, particularly at night, when the moon is up.  There is a full moon on the 13th so a week either side of that date will be dangerous.  Be careful when you drive.

Chatsworth, IL – Illinois State Rifle Association Executive Director Richard Pearson is issuing the following statement on the formation of the Illinois House Task Force on Gun Violence, which is comprised of 12 Republicans and 12 Democrats and is being asked to present a comprehensive bill for consideration to the full legislative body. 

Last week I attended the Gun Rights Policy Conference (GRPC) in Phoenix, Arizona.  This year’s GRPC was the largest ever held with nearly 1100 people registered.  I can tell you the room was jam packed. The high attendance at this year’s conference was undoubtedly driven by concerns about the rising anti-gun movement in the United States, the Democratic candidates openly supporting firearm confiscation, and the high percentage of the gun owners in the Southwestern United States.  There were people there from other countries as well.  In all, there were 91 speakers.  This is the greatest single gun rights conference in the world.  Next year’s conference will be in Orlando, Florida, on September 18th, 19th, and 20th.  You should plan on attending.