For Illinois Gun Owners And Voters

Illinois gun owners and voters are faced with the choice today between Gov. Bruce Rauner (R-IL) and billionaire and Hyatt Hotels' heir J.B. Pritzker. From what my Prairie State friends tell me, Rauner has been somewhat ineffectual as governor but has vetoed some of the most egregious gun control legislation to come out of the Illinois General Assembly. Pritzker, on the other hand, promises to support the whole litany of gun control from gun bans to state licensing of firearms dealers. The RealClearPolitics poll average on this race gives a clear edge to Pritzker. It will stay that way if gun owners stay home.

Both the Illinois State Rifle Association and Illinois Carry are supporting Rauner who they say has had an open door to them. Expect that door to be nailed shut under Pritzker.

Illinois Carry sent this out yesterday by email. They are correct in asserting that if all FOID card holders voted the 2A that it might be safe in Illinois.

Candidate for Governor

J.B. Pritzker Announces :

"NO safe space for NRA in Illinois!"

J.B. Pritzker vows, “The NRA will have no safe space in Illinois if I am elected governor.”  That means NO safe space for you and me!

Governor Rauner is the absolute only logical choice for gun owners.  He has a FOID card and supports the Second Amendment. The Governor has provided IllinoisCarry access to his office and staff. He has sought our opinions on gun legislation.  This last legislative session, his veto and amendatory veto power was all that stood between gun owners and the anti-Constitution tyrants in Springfield.  

If Pritzker is elected – that protection will be gone and all he will need is a simple majority to pass all the horrible anti-gun bills that gun owners have been fighting against all these years.

Imagine how safe the Second Amendment would be here in Illinois if all 2,287,291 FOID card holders went into the voting booth Tuesday and voted for pro-Second Amendment candidates like Gov. Rauner.

The Second Amendment

Is At Stake On Nov. 6th!

We Urge All Gun Owners To Vote!

Deerfield Sued Over Gun Ban By ISRA And SAF

The Village of Deerfield, Illinois passed an ordinance on Monday, April 2nd, that would ban "assault weapons" (sic) and standard capacity magazines. The ordinance contains a $1,000 a day fine for each day the items remain within the limits of the village. According to the ordinance posted on the village's website, it becomes effective immediately but gives residents 60 days to remove the firearms and magazines.

As reported by CBS News:

The ordinance states, "The possession, manufacture and sale of assault weapons in the Village of Deerfield is not reasonably necessary to protect an individual's right of self-defense or the preservation or efficiency of a well-regulated militia."

So, beginning June 13, banned assault weapons in Deerfield will include semiautomatic rifles with a fixed magazine and a capacity to hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition, shotguns with revolving cylinders, and conversion kits from which assault weapons can be assembled. And those are just a few of the firearm varieties banned. The list is long and includes all the following models or duplicates thereof: AK, AKM, AKS, AK-47, AK-74, ARM, MAK90, Misr, NHM 90, NHM 91, SA 85, SA 93, VEPR, AR-10, AR-15, Bushmaster XM15, Armalite M15, Olympic Arms PCR, AR70, Calico Liberty, Dragunov SVD Sniper Rifle, Dragunov SVU, Fabrique NationalFN/FAL, FN/LAR, FNC, Hi-Point Carbine, HK-91, Kel-Tec Sub Rifle, SAR-8, Sturm, Ruger Mini-14, and more.

You will note that the Ruger Mini-14 is included in the ban. Many other earlier bans specifically excluded it.

In response, the Illinois State Rifle Association and the Second Amendment Foundation have filed suit against the Village of Deerfield in state court. According to their email alert:

The Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) and Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) have filed a lawsuit against the Village of Deerfield this morning, April 5, 2018. This legal action is a challenge to the Defendant’s Ordinance O-18-06, passed on April 2, 2018, which bans assault weapons (used specifically as that term is defined in O-18-06) within the Defendant’s municipal limits.

The suit was filed In the Circuit Court of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Lake County, Illinois, Chancery Division.

If you want to donate to the ISRA Legal Assistance Committee, you can donate here. ISRA's LAC is a 501(c)(3) so it would be tax deductible.

I will have more up on the suit once I can get a copy of the complaint.

UPDATE: Below is the release from the Second Amendment Foundation on the lawsuit, Easterday et al v. Deerfield.

BELLEVUE, Wash., April 5, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Second Amendment Foundation today filed a lawsuit against the Chicago suburb of Deerfield, Illinois seeking an injunction against enforcement of the ban on so-called "assault weapons" and "large capacity magazines" adopted by the Village Board of Trustees earlier this week.

Joining SAF in the legal challenge is the Illinois State Rifle Association and a private citizen, Daniel Easterday, who resides in the village and is a gun owner. The lawsuit was filed in the 19th Judicial Circuit Court in Lake County. Plaintiffs are represented by Glen Ellyn attorney David Sigale.

The lawsuit challenges the village ban under a 2013 amended state statute that declared "the regulation of the possession or ownership of assault weapons are exclusive powers and functions of this State. Any ordinance or regulation, or portion of that ordinance or regulation, that purports to regulate the possession or ownership of assault weapons in a manner that is inconsistent with this Act, shall be invalid…"

"We moved swiftly to challenge this gun ban because it flies in the face of state law," said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. "While the village is trying to disguise this as an amendment to an existing ordinance, it is, in fact, a new law that entirely bans possession of legally-owned semi-auto firearms, with no exception for guns previously owned, or any provision for self-defense.

"The new ordinance also provides for confiscation and destruction of such firearms and their original capacity magazines," he added. "What is particularly outrageous about this new law is that it levies fines of up to $1,000 a day against anyone who refuses to turn in their gun and magazines or move them out of the village by the time the ordinance takes effect in June. This certainly puts the lie to claims by anti-gunners that 'nobody is coming to take your guns.'"

An Alert For Those In Illinois

Given that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives regulates all gun stores and other Federal firearms licensees, why would a state want to require them to have a state license as well? The answer is simple - to put them out of business.

That is the case in Illinois where the legislature passed bills that would require all stores selling guns - Mom & Pops, hardware stores, and the big box stores - to have a state license which costs $1,000 for 5 years. This adds a $200 cost to the annual $300 cost of a 01 FFL. The gun prohibitionists also know that the big box stores are more susceptible to PR blackmail - witness Dick's, Kroger's, and Walmart - than the Mom & Pop gun shops.

The Illinois State Rifle Association is asking Gov. Bruce Rauner (R-IL) to stand up and veto these bills.

LEGISLATIVE ALERT - CORRECTED

It is time to call Governor Rauner!

Please politely call the office of Constituent Affairs at 217.782.0244 and ask the Governor to VETO
both Gun Dealer Licensing Bills: SB1657 and HB1273.

Please share this alert!  If you are not an ISRA member, please join NOW!

If you are a gun owner living in the Prairie State, you NEED to belong to ISRA. Since concealed carry passed, the number of members has dropped while the number of permits and gun owners has increased. Too many people rested on their laurels and bad guns bills got through as a result. You want the politicians, especially those in marginal districts, to look out and see all those members. You want them to weigh their actions carefully. You want them to realize that voting for gun control is a sure bet that they won't be reelected which is the goal, stated or otherwise, of damn near every politician.

Gun Day Wednesday In Illinois

A number of gun related bills may be acted upon today in the Illinois General Assembly. Both Illinois Carry and the Illinois State Rifle Association have issued alerts. Speaker Mike Madigan has a number of "shell" bills which can, and probably will, be filled up with anti-gun legislation. It is time to call your state rep and state senator if you live in Illinois.

From ISRA:

Monday, these Mike Madigan shell bills from last year were given new life, as Mike Madigan's gun grabbing minions fulfill their mission to be pawns in Madigan's "Gun Day" Wednesday, TODAY February 28 by giving each of the shell bills a brand-new anti-gun amendment The bills are HB1465, HB1467, HB1468,HB1469 and HB1664, and they all passed out of the House Judiciary Committee on a partisan 8 to 5 vote.

The bills are:
HB1465 - Shell bill turned into Semi-auto age restriction and ban - Michelle Mussman

HB1467 - Bans a Bump Stock and bans any firearm modifications - Marty Moylan

HB1468 - Sets a three day waiting period for purchase of a semi-auto rifle - Jonathan Carroll

HB1469 - Magazine Ban - Also bans protective safety clothing, like meat carvers' gloves and steel-toe boots and body armor. - Dan Burke

And finally, commented on by ISRA Lobbyists and select Law Enforcement insiders as the worst written legislation ever seen in Illinois,
HB1664 - Establishes an anonymous tip line to bring SWAT teams to your home to scoop up you and your firearm.   Deb Conroy

Remember that all of these legislators are beholden to Madigan to carry these bills, or they get no campaign "support" for the fall.  But these representatives already hate that you have the freedom to own firearms, so for them this is no stretch.  They want to take that freedom away, they have been awaiting the opportunity.

Please call your Illinois State Representatives today, starting at 8:30 am and ask that they oppose all these bills.  Don't stop there, tell your neighbors and friends about this attack on our freedom, let them know to make the calls as well.

Please use the link below to identify and get contact information for your Illinois State Representative and Illinois State Senator, then keep that information handy.  There are now floor fights on several fronts in Springfield in attempts to take away your gun rights, you will be asked to call your legislators several times this week.

http://www.elections.il.gov/districtlocator/addressfinder.aspx

From Illinois Carry:

Emergency Call to Action!   Witness Slips and Phone Calls Needed!   Four anti-gun bills were filed in the Illinois House today and are scheduled to be heard in Committee on 2/28/2018.  Don't delay!  File Witness Slips opposing the amendment (HFA1) on all four bills immediately!     Remember to log in to your account first, if you have one! File Witness Slips Now!   To avoid having to complete each field manually, Log on to your ILGA Dashboard (or Create a New Account if you have not already done so) then return to this email and click on the links for each witness slip. If you do not wish to create an account, simply click on each witness slip link and complete the required fields manually:   I, IDENTIFICATION: Enter your personal information. Enter "NA" for the Firm/Business or Agency and Title fields unless you are officially representing an organization.   II. REPRESENTATION: Enter "Myself" unless representing an organization.   III. POSITION: Unless instructed otherwise for a particular bill leave the description field at its default value "Original Bill". Indicate your position by selecting the "Proponent" or "Opponent" radio button.   IV. TESTIMONY: Select the "Record of Appearance Only" radio button. If filing manually, complete the Captcha challenge and agree to the ILGA Terms of Agreement.   Then click Create Slip.   Make sure to also include these bills in your opposition phone calls to your State Representatives.

HB1465 HFA1 Assault Weapons - Opponent Click here to oppose this bill

HB1467 HFA1 Bump Stock Ban - Opponent Click here to oppose this bill

HB1468 Assault Weapons - Opponent Click here to oppose this bill

HB1469 Magazine Ban - Opponent Click here to oppose this bill

HB1465 HFA1 Assault Weapons Track the Slips!

HB1467 HFA1 Bump Stock Ban Track the Slips!

HB4168 HFA1 Assault Weapons Track the Slips!

HB4107 HFA1 Magazone Ban Track the Slips!

 

For Those In Illinois

It goes without saying that the gun prohibitionists in the Illinois General Assembly are trying to make hay out of the tragedy in Parkland, Florida. The Illinois State Rifle Association sent out an action alert yesterday saying that Wednesday, Feb. 28th, will be "gun day" in the legislature. If you live in Illinois, it is time to be calling your local representatives.

From ISRA:

Wednesday, February 28th, has been deemed “GUN DAY” by the Illinois Legislature, and the cast of anti-2A usual suspects will be amassing in the State Capitol of Springfield. They are emboldened by the fever pitch of the recent tragedy in Florida and feel the wind is at their back as they move, as always, to infringe further upon the rights given to us by our Founding Forefathers. The primary pieces of legislation that will be voted on will likely be overreaching  “assault weapons” restrictions, the gun dealer licensing bill and its grossly inadequate trailer bill.

We at the Illinois State Rifle Association and Springfield Armory are heartbroken and disturbed by the acts of violence in Florida, committed by a mentally unstable individual that so many that knew, and reported, to be a danger to our citizens.

It is only natural in times like these to want to do SOMETHING. It is also in times like this that we must not act solely for the sake of acting. Clear headed discussions, free of emotion and knee-jerk reactions must be the order of the day. We must do something to protect our children so that these horrible acts are stopped for good. We also must do what is necessary to ensure the survival of our Second Amendment, the Amendment that protects all others. The Amendment our Founders trusted to our Republic with the words “Shall Not be Infringed”. These rights were fought for and earned with the blood of American Patriots at places like Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, and Trenton.

Now is the time to act. With the specter of further 2A infringements looming tall over Springfield, Illinois in the coming week, it is imperative that you contact your State Legislators and demand that they uphold their Oath to protect the Constitution of our beloved United States of America – and let them know you oppose any type of “assault weapons” restrictions, the gun dealer licensing bill and its grossly inadequate trailer bill. Freedom is not free. It must be fought for against the forces who would happily give up our most sacred rights and freedoms.

Please use the link below to identify and get contact information for your Illinois State Representative and Illinois State Senator:

http://www.elections.il.gov/districtlocator/addressfinder.aspx

"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."
- William Pitt (the Younger), Speech in the House of Commons, November 18, 1783

Attempt To Zone Gun Stores And Ranges Out Of Existence

The Illinois State Rifle Association sent out the following alert concerning a change in zoning in West Chicago, Illinois. The city is a small municipality located in DuPage County which is west (go figure) of Chicago.

URGENT ALERT - YOUR ACTION NEEDED ON OCTOBER 4TH YOUR RIGHTS UNDER ATTACK IN THE WEST SUBURBS WEST CHICAGO TO CONSIDER BANNING FIREARM RETAILERS AND RANGES

On Tuesday night, the West Chicago zoning commission will consider a measure that would effectively ban the operation of a firearm retail store or range anywhere in the village.  This proposed measure is the dirty work of the gun grabbers and is designed to squeeze the 2nd Amendment out of existence. IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO STAND UP AND DEFEND YOUR RIGHTS! The gun grabbers' plan is to inflict "death by a thousand cuts" on your right to keep and bear arms.  The West Chicago zoning proposal plays right into that overall plan.  Bit by bit, the gun control movement plans to diminish exercise of your 2nd Amendment rights.  They'll sit and smile while telling you they "...won't take your guns" while, all the time, working to make firearm ownership too impractical and too expensive for the average citizen. WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS: 1.  Attend the West Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals/Planning Commission Meeting to be held at 7 pm Tuesday, October 4, in the Council Chambers of West Chicago City Hall. City Hall is located at 475 Main Street, West Chicago, Illinois.  We recommend that you get there by 6:30 PM to ensure that you get a seat. 2.  Be prepared to vigorously defend your right to keep and bear arms.  You may have the opportunity to address the Zoning Commission so know your facts about your nation's heritage of safe, lawful and responsible firearms ownership. 3.  If you see members of the media at the meeting, approach them and tell them you are a law-abiding firearm owner who is sick and tired of baseless attempts to curtail your rights. 4.  Pass this alert along to your gun-owning friends and family. 5.  Please post this alert to any social media sites or Internet blogs to which you may belong. REMEMBER - GUN CONTROL IS A DISEASE AND YOU ARE THE CURE The text of the proposed zoning change is archived here.

Reading over the proposed zoning change to the B-2 and B-3 zoning districts, gun stores and gun ranges (which can be only located indoors and as an ancillary use to a gun store) cannot be located within 1,000 feet of one another, of a residential housing zone in West Chicago or another municipality,  and of "any educational institution that serves minors; daycare center; cemetary, public park; forest preserve; historic district; public library; dwelling used for residential purposes; or place of religious worship."

If you look at the 2016 zoning map for West Chicago, a 1,000 feet is approximately 3/4 inch. Using that measurement, I can find only two tiny locations located in a B-2 zoning district that might even qualify as they aren't next to a residential housing zone or forest preserve. Not knowing the locations of schools, daycare centers, etc., I can't even be sure of that.

The zoning code of West Chicago only permits listed uses within the manufacturing and office, research, and light industrial districts. No retail establishments are permitted within the manufacturing district unless ancillary to a manufacturing business. Thus, a gun maker could have a gun store within that district. I see no normal retail stores listed as a permitted use within the office, research, and light industrial district.

What the city of West Chicago is trying to do is called redlining. That is, to deny services to certain users based upon their characteristics. Traditionally, it was used to deny financial and business services to racial or ethic groups based upon where they lived. This redlining is at the heart of the dispute in the 9th Circuit in the case of Teixeira v. Alameda County. The 9th Circuit found that the right to bear arms includes the right to purchase them.

If you live in the Chicagoland area, I would urge you to attend this meeting. I would remind the council of the 9th Circuit's ruling in Teixeira and the 7th Circuit's ruling in Ezell which found that the City of Chicago couldn't prohibit gun ranges.

A Couple Of Alerts From ISRA

The Illinois State Rifle Association has always had to fight the gun prohibitionists on many fronts. These two alerts show that nothing has changed.

First, if you live in the Cook County area, you might want to have a bun and coffee at the Corner Bakery tonight around 6:30pm.

REVISED: URGET ALERT - YOUR ACTION NEEDED
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS GUN CONTROL GROUP WILL HOLD PUBLIC STRATEGY MEETING

Your ISRA has learned that a gun control group called "Northwest Suburbs Organizing for Action(NWSOFA)" will be holding a recruitment and strategy meeting this week in Arlington Heights. The NWSOFA has the following objectives:

1. Passage of a state "dealer licensing" law which would drastically raise the cost of firearms and ammo and eventually lead to the closing of all gun shops in the state. The NWSOFA is a proponent of Father Pfleger's "Bad Apple Gun Dealer" campaign which has harassed law-abiding firearm dealers for several years.

2. Replacing the late Justice Scalia with a gun grabber.

TAKE ACTION TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT YOUR GUN RIGHTS!

1. No matter where you live, you should plan on attending the NWSOFA Meeting:

WHAT: Gun control recruitment and strategy meeting

WHEN: Thursday, February 18, 2016

TIME: 6:30 PM

WHERE: The Corner Bakery, Northpoint Shopping Center, 470 E. Rand Road, Arlington Heights

NOTE: Please dress "under cover" so that you are not denied entry to the meeting. Nobody needs to know your view on guns until the meeting gets started.

2. Pass this alert on to all your gun owning friends and family and tell them to attend the meeting.

3. Please post this alert to any and all Internet blogs, bulletin boards, or social media sites to which you may belong.

REMEMBER - GUN CONTOL IS A DISEASE AND YOU ARE THE CURE

Second, no matter where you live in Illinois, you can respond to this one. Under a bill being considered, you would need the permission of every building owner and tenant in a 1,000 yard radius to discharge a firearm while hunting. The bill exempts "licensed ranges". That's fine except there is no such thing in Illinois. The wording "licensed ranges" is something that has been used in Bloomberg-sponsored bills in other states. I don't doubt that this is the origin of this bill as well.

SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE ALERT - YOUR IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIREDBILL WOULD BAN HUNTING, SHUTTER GUN RANGES, AND MAKE IT ILLEGAL TO WALK YOUR DOG

The gun-grabbers are going all out with HB6008 in hopes of dealing a fatal blow to hunting and target shooting here in Illinois.  We all know that the next step would be a full out attack on defensive firearm ownership and the shuttering of gun shops. Under HB6008, it would be illegal for anyone to discharge a firearm for hunting purposes within 1,000 yards of any building without the permission of the building owner or tenant.  Yes, that's right - 1,000 yards!  What that means is that if you want to bag a rabbit for dinner, you have to get the permission of every person living or working within one square mile of where you're standing.  What are the odds of success with that endeavor?  Meanwhile, your dinner has hippity-hopped his way down the road. Even crazier is the provision in HB6008 that would make it illegal for you to allow a dog to hunt within 1,000 yards of any building without the permission of the building owner or tenant.  So, you're out walking your dog one evening and Scooby-Doo happens to flush out a couple of sparrows.  Ruh-row...no permission from the neighbors so it's off to the big house for the two of you. The gun controllers are especially sneaky when it comes to the third provision of HB6008 - a provision that exempts "licensed" ranges from the 1,000 yard rule.  If you feel good about that exemption, you shouldn't because there are no licensed ranges in Illinois.  No license - no neighbor permission - no range.  It's as simple as that. HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO SAVE YOUR FIREARM RIGHTS 1.  Call the bill's main sponsor, Rep. Carol Sente at (217) 782-0499, and POLITELY inform her that you are a lawful Illinois firearm owner and that you won't be fooled by what's contained in HB6008.  Tell her that you expect her to withdraw the bill or you will do everything in your power to see that HB6008 is defeated and that you will work tirelessly to prevent her from being re-elected. 2.  Call your own State Representative and tell him or her that you are a law-abiding firearm owner and that you deeply oppose HB6008.  Tell him or her that you expect them to vote against the bill.  If you do not know how to get in touch with your State Representative, then click here for the Illinois State Board of Elections lookup.page. 3.  Pass this alert on to your gun-owning family and friends. Tell them to make calls as well. 4.  Post this alert to any and all Internet blogs, bulletin boards or social media sites to which you may belong.

Warning And Call To Action For Illinois Residents

In the wake of the 7th Circuit's ludicrous decision in Friedman v. City of Highland Park in which the court upheld a gun ban based on "feelings", the gun prohibitionists in the Illinois legislature are trying to strike while the iron is hot. State Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) has filed SB 2130 which would eliminate state preemption of local firearm ordinances. The state preemption of local ordinances was part of the grand compromise in the bill that allowed shall-issue carry in Illinois. Assault weapons (sic) bans in place before July 19, 2013 were allowed to remain in plan but no new ones could be enacted.

Both Illinois Carry and the Illinois State Rifle Association have issued alerts for their members and supporters on Sen. Morrison's move to gut state preemption.

From Illinois Carry:

Currently, the Firearm Concealed Carry Act and FOID Act concerning concealed carry and transportation of firearms is the same throughout the entire state. On May 5, 2015, Senator Julie Morrison filed SB2130 Firearm Owners ID - Assault Weapons, a bill proposing to eliminate preemption of local ordinance related to modern sporting firearms and their accessories. Preemption was included as agreed language when the Firearm Concealed Carry Act was passed and, at the time, allowed ample opportunity for home rule municipalities desiring local regulation to enact such ordinances.

Eliminating preemption now would open the door to an ever growing patchwork of ordinances, making it nearly impossible for law abiding citizens to understand the legal status of their firearms when moving from place to place, and could turn legal firearms into illegal firearms in the blink of an eye.

This late in the session we do not get the same advance notice of committee hearings, readings, etc.. Everything is ramped up to move fast, sometimes overnight or faster, so instead of waiting for notice to file witness slips, it's time to go directly to your legislators and voice your position. Please contact Senator Morrison immediately and express your concern about her bill interfering with your rights as a law abiding firearm owner.

Senator Morrison can be reached at:

(217) 782-3650
(847) 945-5200

jmorrison@senatedem.ilga.gov

Please contact your own State Senator to voice your opposition to SB2130.

Telephone numbers and email addresses can be found at this link.

I will add the Illinois State Rifle Association alert at a later time as I don't have access to it at work.

UPDATE: Here is the alert from ISRA.

URGENT ALERT - YOUR IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

MASSIVE GUN GRAB INTRODUCED IN ILLINOIS SENATE

IF THEY WIN - THEY'LL EMPTY YOUR GUN CABINET
Anti-gun extremist State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) has introduced a dangerous gun control bill that would ban the possession of most of the guns you now own. If passed, SB 2130 would allow city councils and village boards to decide which firearms you would be allowed to own - and you know what that means.

Many insiders believe that SB 2130 is the gun control movement's first stab at legislation that would allow city councils and village boards regulate concealed carry at the local level - and you know what that means too.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT TOGETHER WE MUST STOP SB 2130

The gun-grabbers have tipped their hand. They are planning a full-out assault on your gun rights in the closing days of the spring legislative session.

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO SAVE YOUR GUN RIGHTS:

1. Call State Senator Julie Morrison at (217) 782-3650 and politely tell the person that answers the phone that you are a law-abiding firearm owner and that you oppose Julie Morrison's efforts to crush your gun rights. You should also call Senator Morrison's district office at (847) 945-5200 to deliver that same message.

2. Call your state senator and politely tell him or her that you are a law-abiding firearm owner and that you do not appreciate Sen. Morrison's efforts to restrict your rights. Politely ask your senator to vote against SB 2130. If you do not know who your senator is, or if you do not know how to get in touch with your senator, then click this link: Find Your Senator.

3. Please post this alert to any and all Internet blogs, bulletin boards or social media sites to which you belong.

4. Pass this alert on to your friend and family and ask them to make phone calls as well.

REMEMBER - ONLY YOU CAN STOP THE GUN-GRABBERS FROM DESTROYING THE 2nd AMENDMENT!

For Chicago-Area Gun Right Activists

The Illinois State Rifle Association has released an urgent alert regarding a public meeting held by the anti-concealed carry forces including the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence (sic) and anti-gun State Rep. Elaine Nekritz. They are trying to build support for more restrictions on concealed carry in Illinois. After fighting so hard for so many years, it would suck to see all that hard work go to waste through overbearing regulations.

From ISRA:

URGENT ALERT - YOUR IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

GUN GRABBERS PLAN ANTI-CONCEALED CARRY MEETING

The Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence along with Anti-Gun State Representative Elaine Nekritz are planning a public meeting to build support for legislative restrictions on Illinois new concealed carry law.

IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT LAW-ABIDING GUN OWNERS SHOW UP FOR THIS MEETING!

Anti-gun forces in the Illinois House are attempting to pass legislation that would make it nearly impossible for law-abiding citizens to get concealed carry permits. They even want to force the removal of firearms from American Legion and VFW halls. Imagine that. Our vets serve their country with honor and the gun grabbers want to thank them by denying them their Second Amendment Rights.

HERE'S HOW YOU CAN STOP THIS NONSENSE!

1. IMMEDIATELY call (847) 229-5499 and politely tell the person that you would like to RSVP for the April 16th public meeting. Call and RSVP even if you cannot make it to the meeting. DO NOT say anything to the person on the phone about your position on guns. If asked, just say that you are interested in learning about the impact of the concealed carry law on you and your family. Again, DO NOT say anything to the person about being pro-gun...they do not need to know where you stand...they only need to know that you are RSVPing for the public meeting. It's important that you make their phones ring off the hook! Keep them busy!

2. Attend the public meeting - even if organizers tell you that there is no space available:

a. Indian Trails Library, 355 Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling, IL
b. The meeting will be held Wednesday, April 16, 2014 and begins at 6:00 PM. Be sure to show up by 5:15 or so to be sure that you get a seat. This meeting will be very crowded so plan ahead and get their early.
c. The antigunners who will be there will certainly attack your right to keep and bear arms and your right to defend yourself and your family from dangerous criminals. Be prepared to vigorously defend your rights! Do not let these people trample on the rights that so many brave Americans fought and died for.
d. If you see members of the media there, approach them. Tell them that you are a law abiding citizen and that you do not appreciate having your rights challenged. Tell the media that you fully support the right to self defense that you will not allow your right to defend yourself to be diminished.

Remember - only you can preserve and protect your rights. If you leave that job up to the "other guy," you will see your rights evaporate.

DO NOT FORGET TO RSVP (847) 229-5499 WHETHER YOU PLAN TO ATTEND OR NOT!

CALL NOW!

For Illinois Readers

The Illinois State Rifle Association Political Victory Fund has made an endorsement in the upcoming Republican primary for governor.

The ISRA Political Victory Fund (ISRA-PVF) is proud to endorse Senator Kirk Dillard in the Republican primary for Governor. Along with Senator Dillard, Senator Brady and Treasurer Rutherford have been staunch, long standing proponents of the Second Amendment and the efforts of the Illinois State Rifle Association. It is clear, however, that Senator Dillard alone presents the best opportunity to defeat Governor Quinn in November. We urge you to vote for Senator Dillard in the Republican primary on March 18.

It Begins Again In Illinois

When the legislature returns to town, it is always a time be on guard. It doesn't matter if it is Washington DC, Raleigh, or, in this case, Springfield, Illinois. The Illinois General Assembly reconvenes tomorrow, October 21st, and the anti-gunners are seeking to cut back some of the items contained in the shall-issue concealed carry act that passed in July.

The Illinois State Rifle Association has sent out an alert regarding four bills that the gun prohibitionists are proposing including ones that would ban concealed carry in restaurants that serve alcohol, increase penalties for carrying in prohibited areas, and eliminate safe havens for gun owners near school zones.

On the good side are three bills including one that would provide for reciprocity between Illinois and a number of other states. Currently, the only way a non-resident of Illinois may carry once the Illinois State Police implement the concealed carry law is by getting an Illinois non-resident carry license.

The full alert from ISRA is below:

ANTI-GUNNERS BEGIN CAMPAIGN TO DISMANTLE CONCEALED CARRY

The Illinois General Assembly returns to session Monday, October 21st, and the anti-gunners are wasting no time in attempting to dismantle the concealed carry bill passed last spring. Your help is desperately needed to shut down the gun control movement’s efforts to strip you of your fundamental right to defend yourself and your family from muggers, murderers, robbers and rapists.

We also need your help to support 3 pro-concealed carry bills that have been introduced. The details on all the bills are below:

PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION CAREFULLY AND TAKE THE ACTIONS LISTED TO HELP SAVE YOUR RIGHTS

HB3646 – DANGEROUS BILL – Bans Concealed Carry in any restaurant that has alcoholic beverages on the menu. Drastically reduces your choices on when and how to protect yourself. This bill is a foot in the door to create a growing list of places where you will be prohibited from protecting yourself and your family from dangerous criminals.

HB3669 – DANGEROUS BILL - This bill eliminates “safe haven” provisions for areas near schools – meaning that you could not even have a firearm locked in your trunk if you drive on to ANY property controlled by a school district. Once again, this bill would severely limit your self defense options and would make you a felon for doing nothing more than possessing a firearm. Under this bill, you would have to leave your defensive firearms at home if your plans called for you to enter any lands controlled by a school district. The real purpose of this bill is to pave the way for sweeping prohibitions on concealed carry that would make self defense impractical and a serious legal risk for most Illinois citizens.

HB3675 – DANGEROUS BILL – This bill would severely increase penalties for persons found to be carrying firearms in restricted areas. This bill is designed solely to scare law-abiding citizens out of carrying defensive firearms. This bill in no way targets gang-bangers or other violent criminals.

SB2594 – DANGEROUS BILL – This is another bill that would prohibit carry in restaurants that have alcoholic beverages on the menu.

HB3651 – GOOD BILL – This bill lowers the burdensome 16-hour training rule to a more reasonable 8-hour requirement. This bill also eliminates the re-training requirements for carry permit renewals. In short, this bill undoes that anti-gunners’ attempts to discourage people from applying for carry permits by easing burdensome training requirements.

HB3650 – GOOD BILL – This bill provides for concealed carry reciprocity between Illinois and dozens of other states.

HB3649 – GOOD BILL – This bill reduces the exorbitant fees the State Police plan on charging people for permit applications. The state should not be allowed to price-gouge citizens who want to defend themselves. This bill would make fees more reasonable and thus allow greater access to self defense for Illinois citizens.

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHT TO SELF DEFENSE:

1. Call your State Representative and politely tell him/her that you are a law-abiding firearm owner and you do not want your right to self defense diminished for political reasons. Ask him/her to vote AGAINST HB3646; HB3669; HB3675.

2. While on the phone with your Representative, tell him/her that you would like them to vote FOR HB3649; HB3650 and HB3651.

3. Call your State Senator and politely tell him/her that you are a law-abiding firearm owner and that you do not want your right to self defense diminished for political reasons. Ask him/her to vote AGAINST SB2594.

4. Post this alert to any and all Internet bulletin boards or blogs to which you belong.

5. Pass this alert along to all your gun owning friends and family members – ask them to take action as well.

6. Please consider a generous donation to the ISRA so that we can continue to fight against those who would take your gun rights away from you.

If you do not know who your State Representative or State Senator is, the Illinois State Board of Elections has an interactive search page here:
www.elections.state.il.us/DistrictLocator/DistrictOfficialSearchByAddress.aspx

If you already know who your State Representative and State Senator are and just need the contact info, you can find that here: www.ilga.gov/house & www.ilga.gov/senate .

Friday Will Be Last Day For Towns In Illinois To Ban Guns

With the override of the amendatory veto of HB 183, the clock is ticking for towns and cities in Illinois who want to impose their own semi-auto firearm restrictions. The bill gave Illinois municipalities 10 days after its passage to have these ordinances in place or forever forego them.

From the alert below from the Illinois State Rifle Association, it appears that a number of cities and towns in and around Cook County are racing to get them in place before the deadline.

From the ISRA alert:

URGENT ALERT – Will your town try to ban your rifle this week? Attend one of these meetings! Monday Night Meetings to Ban Guns: Evanston Lake Zurich Morton Grove* Darien Clarendon Hills Thornton Waukegan Gurnee Flossmoor River Forest Lake Forest Steger Buffalo Grove Batavia University Park Tuesday Night Meetings to Ban Guns: Lincolnwood Winnetka Thursday Night Meetings to Ban Guns: Morton Grove** Palos Hills Hanover Park

Here is the current status:  The Illinois CCW act has been passed into law by an override of the governor's veto on July 9.  The 10-day window for municipalities for enact their own local semi-auto bans expires on July 19. In a last-ditch effort to solve to a non-existent problem, Cook County and collar county communities are going to show that they can get tough on crime by coming down hard on the law-abiding citizens who choose to own popular semi-automatic firearms. Are you tired of hearing about attempts to take away your firearms? Here is what you need to do: 1. No matter where you live, plan to be at one of the meetings listed below. Be sure to bring a friend or two along with you. 2. Wear IGOLD or NRA hats and/or teeshirts. 3. Be prepared to vigorously defend your rights. 4. If you see media there, approach them and tell them that you are a law-abiding Illinois firearm owner and that you do not support gun bans. 5. Be sure to get to the meeting site at least 45 minutes early so you will get a seat. We need to make our voices heard. 6. Pass this alert on to you friends and family and tell them to attend meetings too. 7. Post this to all forums to which you belong. Monday: What: Evanston City Council - GUN BAN on agenda. Agenda  Packet (p10) Where: 2100 Ridge Ave  Evanston 60201 When: Monday, 15 July 7:00 pm What: Darien City Council - GUN BAN on agenda. Agenda  Memo Where: 1702 Plainfield Rd  Darien 60561 When: Monday, 15 July 7:30 pm What: Waukegan City Council - GUN BAN on agenda. Agenda Where: 100 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Av When: Monday, 15 July 7:00 pm What: River Forest "Special" Village Board - Nothing in the published agenda yet.  Go there anyway. Where: 400 Park Avenue, River Forest  60305 When: Monday, 15 July 7:00 pm What: Buffalo Grove Village Board - GUN BAN on agenda. Agenda p229 Where: 50 Raupp Boulevard When: Monday, 15 July 7:30 pm What: Lake Zurich Village Board - GUN BAN on agenda. Agenda p229 Where: Police Dept  200 Mohawk Trail Community Room  60047 When: Monday, 15 July 7:00 pm What: Clarendon Hills Village Board - GUN BAN on agenda. Agenda  Packet p72 Where: 1 N. Prospect  Clarendon Hills 60514 When: Monday, 15 July 7:00 pm What: Gurnee Village Board - GUN BAN on agenda. Agenda  Where: 325 N O'Plaine Rd  Gurnee 60031 When: Monday, 15 July 7:30 pm What: Lake Forest City Council - Agenda Gun Ban discussion to be continued from last meeting Where: 220 E. Deerpath When: Monday, 15 July 7:30 pm What: Batavia City Council - GUN BAN on agenda. Agenda Where: 100 N. Island Ave  Batavia 60510 When: Monday, 15 July 7:30 pm What: Morton Grove Village Town Hall Meeting - GUN BAN on agenda. * Agenda  Patch Article  Where: American Legion  6140 Dempster When: Monday, 15 July 7:00 pm What: Thornton Village Board - Nothing in the published agenda yet. Go there anyway. Where: 115 E Margaret St.  Thornton 60476 When: Monday, 15 July 7:30 pm What: Flossmoor Village Board - GUN BAN on agenda. Agenda Packet (p45) Where: 2800 Flossmoor Rd   Flossmoor 60422 When: Monday, 15 July 7:30 pm What: Steger Village Board - GUN BAN on agenda. Agenda Packet p49 Committee Agendas Where: 35 W 34th St. Steger  60475 When: Monday, 15 July 7:00 pm What: University Park "Special" Village Board - GUN BAN on agenda. Agenda Where: 90 Towncenter Dr.  University Park 60484 When: Monday, 15 July   Committee: 6:00 pm    Board: 7:30 pm Tuesday: What: Winnetka Village Board - GUN BAN on agenda. Agenda Packet p197 Where: 510 Green Bay Rd  Winnetka 60093 When: Tuesday, 16 July 7:00 pm What: Lincolnwood Village Board - GUN BAN on agenda. Agenda  & (big) Packet  p515 Where: 6900 N. Lincoln Ave  Lincolnwood 60712 When: Tuesday, 16 July 7:30 pm Thursday: What: Morton Grove "Special" Village Board - ** GUN BAN on the (yet to be published) agenda. Where: 6101 Capulina Ave  Morton Grove 60053 When: Thursday, 18 July   7:00 pm What: Hanover Park Village Board - GUN BAN on the (yet to be published) agenda. Where: 2121 Lake Street, Hanover Park When: Thursday, 18 July   7:30 pm What: Palos Hills City Council - No published agenda yet.  Go there anyway. Where: 10335 S Roberts Rd  Palos Hills 60465 When: Thursday, 18 July   7:00 pm For status of previous meetings, other meeting times, talking points against semi-auto bans, copies of proposed ordinances, links to other resources; please visit http://isra.org/townhall .

UPDATE: Thanks to Todd Vandermyde of the NRA, we have a report of which towns adopted any new gun control and which ones did not. It looks like it turned out to be a good night as most towns failed to adopt any new ordinances controlling firearms.

Batavia – FAILED motion to table.
Buffalo Grove – passed a bifurcated ordinance cook ban in cook, no ban in Lake county side
Clarendon Hills – FAILED
Darien – FAILED
Evanston – PASSED modified to exempt C&R licensees
Evergreen Park – FAILED no motion
Flossmoor – FAILED
Gurnee – NO ACTION, DEAD
Lake Forest – TABLED
Lake Zurich – NO BAN. Shell ordinance Failed.
Morton Grove – pending
River Forest -- ????
Round Lake Beach – FAILED
Steger – FAILED
Thornton – removed from agenda
University Park— BanFAILED, storage ordinance passed
Waukegan – FAILED