March 17, 2022
Governor Kay Ivey of Alabama signed the Alabama Constitutional Carry bill into law one hour after it passed the final vote last week. The sponsor of the bill was Representative Shane Stringer. Representative Stringer was fired from his job as a Captain on the Mobile County Sheriff’s Department for sponsoring the bill. The Alabama Sheriff’s Association opposed the bill so his boss fired him. Representative Stringer is a solid Second Amendment supporter who stood up for what he thought was right and took the hit for doing the right thing. I predict a bright future for Representative Stringer. Maybe he ought to run for sheriff. Alabama is the 22nd state to pass constitutional carry. Governor DeWine of Ohio signed SB215 making constitutional carry legal in Ohio, making Ohio the 23rd state with Constitutional Carry. That leaves Indiana being the next state to most likely become part of the Constitutional Carry family. Georgia is the next most likely after Indiana. That would bring the total Constitutional Carry states to 25, half of the states.
I do a lot of reading when I write the Thursday Bulletin or other articles. Probably 95% of background research gets tossed away. While working on the Constitutional Carry issue, I came across a couple of stories that point out the weakness and lack of understanding of how things really are in our, or any, society. One was by an Alabama reporter worrying about the increased number of women and children who will get shot in Alabama because of Constitutional Carry. It brought to mind the adage “None are so blind as those who will not see.” This argument has been used whenever permit or permit less carry is passed into law. I remember listening to a testimony claim that there would be shootouts over parking spaces, car accidents or any manner of everyday interaction between people. It didn’t happen anywhere.
Another article was by a woman who was worried because some of the members of her church were armed. She saw a man with a gun in front of her when he stood up to sing a hymn. She was afraid he was going to start shooting. The real reason he was there was for the protection of the church and its members. There is an undercurrent of weakness in this country that has been pounded into some of the people that borders on dangerous. There was a woman who lives near me who called 911 because she couldn’t find the light switch in her house. Their dependence on everyone but themselves is ridiculous. We all know people like this, but we must keep people from fearing their own shadow.
We need to teach readiness, self-reliance and yes, self-defense to our friends, family and fellow citizens. There is too much denial of how tough life can get. The attitude of “this shouldn’t happen to me“ is because people think they are owed something just because they are alive, is pure folly. I admit getting some people out of their cozy cocoon is nearly impossible, but we must try. Readiness is a state of mind and we must teach it to others. There are some questions that we will never know the answer to. For example, when a snowstorm, hurricane or other possible disasters are predicted, how does stocking up on milk and eggs help the situation? What do Eskimos do when they have neither?
Many of you have heard of the Quinnipiac Poll. When asked about the U.S. Military and NATO countries, President Biden, the Ukrainian President, Putin and Russia: “What would Americans do if we were in the same position that the Ukraine is in today?” The answers really made my blood boil in the section on “what would you do if the United States were in the same position as the Ukrainians”.
The average breakdown of those polled is as follows. In total, only 55% of those that answered the question would stay and fight. When broken down by age group of those that would cut and run are the 18–34-year-old group at 48%, which is what you get when the mainstream media and politicians continually bash the United States. By party, 68% of Republicans say they would stay, 57% of Independents say they would stay and only 40% of Democrats say they would stay. No wonder Vladimir Putin Is doing what he is doing. He knows he can get away with it and the Biden Administration hasn’t got the will or the brains to do anything about it.
We are in a time of timid, hesitant, incompetent leaders. We can only hope we can hold on until the 2022 elections. Putin and the Russian Federation, Xi Jinping and the Red Chinese, Kim Jung-un of North Korea and others are all bullies. Bullies cannot be appeased as Biden and Company are trying to do, they only get meaner and demand more. In the end, anyone who tries to appease them will only beg their way into their own nonexistence.
Do not lick the boots of the bullies. Let them know they will be licking our boots if they are not careful.
Here is what I would do If I were President:
Ask Congress to increase defense spending over the next several years by 8 hundred billion dollars.
Increase the size of the armed forces, not including the National Guard, and increase the National Guard by 50%.
Reinstate the draft.
Require 18–21-year-olds to serve a 6-month enlistment with the National Guard.
Reorder supplies and repair parts for F-16s and other aircraft.
Increase electronic warfare weapons, both offensive and defensive.
Institute war games near hot spots.
Open fossil fuel production and expand the industrial base.
Develop the Space Force.
On March 16th, oral arguments were heard before the Illinois Supreme Court in the Vivian Brown case. I don’t know when the court will decide the case, probably in a couple months. This case is a “Hot Potato” so don’t be surprised if we are on the way to the Supreme Court of the United States.
The bill which would have reinstituted the ban on carrying a legally concealed firearm on Cook County Forest Preserve walking trails (HB4269 Stoneback D-16 Skokie) has been withdrawn from consideration. The Judge gave the General Assembly until April 9, 2022, to pass a new law. It is not going to happen.
The following three bills are currently in the Senate Committee on Assignments:
HB4386 – We have bi-partisan Chief Co-Sponsors Senators Patrick J. Joyce – Neil Anderson
Synopsis As Introduced:
Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that a centerfire rifle may be used to harvest deer during the firearm open season set by the Director of Natural Resources annually. Provides that all straight walled rifle rounds are legal ammunition for a centerfire rifle. Amends the Wildlife Code. Defines “centerfire” and “single shot”. Allows a person to take deer with a single shot centerfire rifle during the open season
HB4680 – We have bi-partisan Co-Sponsors Linda Holmes, Rachelle Crowe, Brian W. Stewart and Terri Bryant
Synopsis As Introduced:
Amends the Fish and Aquatic Life Code. Removes provisions requiring a veteran who has served as an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces, the Illinois National Guard, or reserves of the United States Armed Forces to apply in person for a fishing license at a regional office of the Department of Natural Resources. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall establish by administrative rule the documentation that qualifies as acceptable verification of service; defines “acceptable verification” of service.
HB5042 – We are working on securing support, Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Dale Fowler
Synopsis As Introduced:
Amends the Wildlife Code. Provides that resident and nonresident landowners shall complete a landowner permit application and submit proof of eligible land ownership to the Department of Natural Resources once every 5 years.
Once the Senate Committee on Assignments meets to assign these bills to be heard in committee, we’ll advise you of the hearing dates and times
We will be hosting an Emergency Response for Trauma Injuries. This is a one-day class that will be held at the ISRA Range on April 9. This is a certified class by the Illinois Department of Public Health and is NRA certified for 8 hours of continuing education For Range Safety Officers. Sign up must be completed on the Spartan Tactical website: teamsttg@aol.com
Tidbits:
March 17, 461 – St Patrick dies. St Patrick was born to a wealthy Briton family (British in later years). The family were citizens of Rome and Briton was the westward most territory of the Roman Empire. At age 16, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and forced to tend flocks of sheep. Six years after he was kidnapped, he escaped to Briton. He studied for the priesthood and often had dreams of the poor Irish peasants calling for help. He decided to return to Ireland and began preaching the Gospel. Nearly all the Irish could not read or write. St Patrick used shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity which became the symbol of Ireland. The death of St. Patrick became a religious holiday in Ireland. The first St. Patrick’s Day celebration was in a Spanish colony in 1601, not in Ireland. In 1737, homesick Irish soldiers in the British army held a parade in Boston to honor St. Patrick. This was the first St Patrick’s Day parade in the United States. In 1762, a St Patrick’s Day parade was started in New York City as a show of strength and unity for the persecuted Irish Immigrants.
Corned beef and cabbage became the traditional fare for St. Patrick’s Day in the new world. In Ireland, it was ham and cabbage, but pork was much more expensive in the colonies and much cheaper corned beef was substituted.
March 18, 1933 – Studebaker car company goes broke, a victim of the Great Depression. Everything went wrong for Studebaker. The company was well ahead of their time. They hired Knute Rockne, the famous coach of Norte Dame, as their spokesman. Rockne was killed in a plane crash in 1931. Nothing went right for the company. Studebaker reformed itself but was unable to complete with the Big 3, Ford, GM and Chrysler. They closed their doors for the final time in March of 1966 after 114 years in business. Originally, Studebaker made their wealth in the production of wagons for the Union army in the Civil War.
March 20, 1778 – King Louis XVI of France receives two United States Representatives, Silas Deane and
Arthur Lee who were requesting aid for the American Revolution. The French had actually started to send some aid quietly in May of 1776. The victory of the Americans at the Battle of Saratoga encouraged the French and aid to Washington’s Army greatly increased.
March 21, 1778 – Massacre at Hancock Bridge. British Colonel John Simcoe or the Queens Rangers
attacked a sleeping group, the Salem militia, at Hancock’s Bridge. At least 20 of the members of the Militia were killed while surrendering. This deepened Patriot resolve.
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Upcoming Events: ISRA Calendar
For more information, visit www.isra.org
Saturday, March 19, 2022
Air Pistol League
Tuesday, March 22 & 29, 2022
Tuesday Night Air Rifle League (5:00-8:00)
Tuesday Afternoon Air Gun Open Practice
Saturday, March 26, 2022
Armed Women of America
Saturday, April 2, 2022
Range Work Day
Introduction to 3Gun & Steel Challenge
Gun & Trade Shows
Peoria Gun & Knife Show – Peoria, IL
Exposition Gardens
Dates: March 19 & 20, 2022
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $6.00
McHenry County Gun Show – Woodstock, IL
McHenry County Fairgrounds
Date: March 20, 2022
Hours: Sunday: 7:30-1:00
Admission: $5.00
Sauk Trail Gun Show – Aledo, IL
Mercer County Fairgrounds
Dates: March 26 &27, 2022
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $5.00
Crown Point Gun Show – Crown Point, IN
Lake County Fairgrounds
Dates: April 9 & 10, 2022
Hours: Saturday: 9:00-5:00
Sunday: 9:00-3:00
Admission: $5.00
Kane County Sportsman’s Show – St Charles, IL
Kane County Fairgrounds
Date: April 10, 2022
Hours: Sunday: 7:30-1:30
Admission: $7.00