Illinois State Rifle Association Exc. Director Messagr

The National Safety Council (NSC) has just released the statistics on accidental firearm deaths for 2014-2015.  The latest totals are the lowest since the NSC has been keeping records, which was 1903.  The total number of people killed in accidents of all kinds for the period 2014-2015 was 146,571.  The number of firearm accident related deaths was 489, a minuscule amount when one considers the total.  Approximately 33,900 people died of drug overdoses.  There are hundreds of thousands of drug addicts who didn’t die, but are burned out shells, that while they are alive, just exist.  Of course, the “lame stream media” continues to decry the murder rate in Chicago and other major cities, while at the same time, ignoring the entrenched drug -fueled gang activity, which is the real cause.

In Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, three masked thugs, armed with knives and brass knuckles, invaded a home and were met by one of the home owners who was armed with an AR15.  The thugs refused to leave.  Two of them were found dead in the kitchen and one in the driveway.  Marie Rodriguez who was driving the getaway car, was captured and now faces three counts of first degree murder because of her involvement in the crime.  The officials in Broken Arrow have recognized the incident as an act of self-defense.  Meanwhile, Mary Margret Oliver, of the Georgia General Assembly(D-82) is condemning the use of the AR15.  I will bet she would not have made a peep if the family members had all been beaten or stabbed to death.  Yes, I know, these were really good boys who were just about to get their lives together.

Much has changed since the last IGOLD.  The Hillary Train was highballing down the track with a full head of steam on the way to the Democrat nomination for President and then on to the Presidency.  I was worried.  If Hillary were to be elected President, it would set the Second Amendment movement back 50 years, if not kill it altogether.  When I slept, visions of left wing Supreme Court Justices danced in my head.  How, I wondered, would we survive a Hillary Presidency?

It felt like waiting for our own execution.  As fall arrived, there was still no question that Hillary would win.  Still, Donald Trump continued his relentless campaign, undaunted by the continuous broadsides from the mainstream media.  Hillary was outspending him 10 to 1.

Last October, I detected a change in attitude.  Huge crowds were still showing up at Trump rallies.  The main stream media kept pushing Hillary harder, but I noticed that during her rallies and speeches, the camera angles kept getting narrower, in order to make the crowds appear larger.  About a week before the election, I wrote that I thought Donald Trump had a chance.

On Wednesday, November 9^th, I was extraordinarily glad to hear Donald Trump had won.  Gun owners are still celebrating.  Since the last IGOLD, conditions on the national level have turned around 180 degrees.  The problem I am seeing is signs of complacency among gun owners.  This is a most dangerous development.  We need to be mindful of the victory celebrations of Ancient Rome.  The conquering general would be given a huge parade cheered on by the citizens of Rome.  He would ride through the streets in a special chariot.  In the chariot, beside the conquering hero, was a slave whispering in his ear reminding him that victory and glory are all fleeting.  Gun owners need to listen to the slave’s message also.

The NRA went all in on the election of Donald Trump.  There was no choice.  Now, due to budgetary concerns, many traditional NRA programs are going to suffer.  More work will fall on the shoulders of state associations and local clubs who provide NRA programs.  One of those programs that will be affected will be NRA Competitions.  We will see the CMP stepping forward taking much of this responsibility.  We will have to work more closely with the CMP.  Many of the NRA members viewed the NRA as the “mother ship” with inexhaustible resources.  Some ISRA members view the ISRA in the same way.  That, of course, is not true. At the risk of stating the obvious, organizations like the NRA and ISRA’s existence depend on dues and donations.  When we have successes like the election of President Trump, about 30% of the membership think the war is over.  They stop joining, renewing and donating.  Many mistake a battle for the war.  The war will never be over.  The gun owning community is now entering our most dangerous time.  We must all redouble our efforts to present programs, recruit, and fundraise.

Thanks for being a member.

To keep up with current legislation, please follow this link: http://www.isra.org/Advocacy/Legislation.aspx

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