Illinois –-(Ammoland.com)- I know many of you are interested in hearing how the June 11th meeting at St. George’s Church in Tinley Park [our confrontation with rabid gun banner Father Pfleger] went?
The Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) group showed up and made up about one third of the three hundred people who attended. Thanks to Mike Weisman who led the effort. Pfleger wasted no time in talking about guns but he also talked about the problems in the city: no money, no jobs and no opportunities. Most of Pfleger’s people had lost members of their family from gang violence, but he did not mention gangs. Drug fueled criminal gangs are the real problem.
Utah Congressman Rob Bishop has introduced H.R. 2710 (the Lawful Purpose and Self-Defense Act of 2015), which removes the “sporting purposes” part of the 1968 Gun Control Act. For those of you who don’t know, the 1968 Gun Control Act was modeled after the Nazi Gun Control Acts of 1935 and 1938. Senator Thomas Dodd of Connecticut had them translated by the Library of Congress. The sporting purposes provision and many other provisions of the 1968 Gun Control Act came from those translations. The ISRA’s own George Everett was one of the first to recognize this fact in the 1980’s. Until that time no one had any idea where all of this came from. In short, gun control in the United States is modeled after Adolf Hitler’s ideas.
In 1968, no one ever suspected such an idea would ever happen in the United States, but it did because gun owners weren’t organized and ready. Remember that.
A Rasmussen Poll conducted in early June showed that 68% of Americans prefer to live in an area where guns are allowed. No surprise for you and me; of course denial for the anti-gunners.
NRA Day at the ISRA Range, 13th Annual Range Open House is this Saturday, June 20th, starting at 10:00 a.m. I hope to see you there!
Below you will find a report from our attorney, Victor Quilici. You will see why it is so important to be an ISRA member. The ISRA is a leading organization in fighting for Second Amendment rights, not only in Illinois but across the nation. Members please forward this email to your friends and ask them to join.
Thanks for being a member.
Richard Pearson
ISRA Executive Director
LITIGATION REPORT: By Victor D. Quilici. ISRA General Counsel
Most members are not aware of the fact that ISRA participates nationwide as an amicus curiae (Friend of the Court) with other Firearm Rights Organizations battling draconian anti-gun laws. We are one of the amici in the following cases:
Colorado Outfitters v. Hickenlooper (10th Cir., Case No. 14-1292)
This amicus brief challenges the District Court’s failure to find a 2nd Amendment violation when erroneously ruling that the Government met its burden to prove that its flat ban on the possession by law-abiding citizens of magazines holding more than 10 rounds is narrowly tailored to its interest in preventing criminal misuses of those arms. The case is currently waiting for oral arguments to be scheduled.
Kolbe v. O’Malley (4th Cir., Case No. 14-1945)
“This case challenges Maryland’s laws banning “assault” weapons and “large-capacity” magazines. A key point in the amicus brief addresses the District Court’s error in finding that the Government may ban Constitutionally protected arms from all law-abiding citizens to reduce criminal access and misuses. This case awaits the Court’s ruling which is expected soon.
Henderson v. United States 575 US ____ (2015) [ A win in the U.S. Supreme Court.]
This amici curiae brief showed that the laws in Illinois, Massachusetts and New York universally recognize that an individual’s ownership interest in firearms survives the individual’s loss of the right to “possess” the firearms, and that a person prohibited from possession, after conviction of a crime or because of a marital order of protection, still has the right to transfer the property to another party or to sell it. So said the Supreme Court.
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In local litigation we are a plaintiff in Kevin W. Culp, Illinois State Rifle Association, et al v. Lisa Madigan.U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, Springfield Division.
This is an action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for deprivation of civil rights under color of law, which seeks equitable, declaratory, and injunctive relief challenging the State of Illinois’ prohibition on virtually all otherwise qualified non-Illinois residents from obtaining a concealed carry license. A motion for injunctive relief is being filed. We have partnered with the Second Amendment Foundation, and SAF funded this case.
Wilson v. Cook County (07CH4848) has prevailed two times in the State Supreme Court and is now “stayed” until it is determined if the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear Friedman v. Highland Park ( 13cv1973). Both cases attack so-called “assault weapon” bans that in reality ban commonly used semi-auto rifles. ISRA backs Wilson and is a plaintiff in the Friedman case.
Please donate to the Legal Assistance Committee!
The Illinois State Rifle Association Legal Assistance Committee (LAC) is a 501(c)(3) charity under the IRS tax code and, therefore, donations made by midnight December 31st will qualify as an itemized tax deduction. Check with your tax advisor for full information on deducting donations.
Check out ISRA’s new modern website at www.isra.org! Tell us what you think!
About:
The ISRA is the state’s leading advocate of safe, lawful and responsible firearms ownership. Since 1903, the ISRA has represented the interests of over 1.5 million law-abiding Illinois firearm owners Visit: www.isra.org
Well, by the end of the article, I knew little more than when I started.
Poor Father Phlegmy!