| ISRA Thursday Bulletin – August 19, 2021 |
| Executive Directors Message Richard Pearson One to the topics few people understand is the new District Map and how it will affect their Second Amendment Rights. Just to refresh everyone, there is a census every 10 years. From that new census, political districts are redrawn to adjust for changes in population. The redrawing of the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois State Senate districts is the topic of this article. This is not to say that Judicial and Congressional districts are not affected. I will inform you about those at another time. In the State of Illinois, there are 118 House of Representatives districts and 59 State Senatorial districts. Each House district contains approximately 108,734 people and each Senatorial district contains approximately 217,468 people. While there are variations in these numbers, they can’t be too large or they are subject to court challenges and that is certainly possible with the new Illinois map which will be in place for the 2022 elections. The key is how the new maps are drawn. The party in power has the upper hand. Presently, the Democrats control both houses of the General Assembly by a wide margin and also the Office of the Governor. As of now, in the Illinois House of Representatives, the Democrats have 73 members and the Republicans have 45 members. It takes 60 votes to pass a bill in Illinois. To override the Governor’s veto, it takes 71 votes or 60%. The term “veto proof” comes from passing a bill with 60% or more votes. The Democrats have two votes to spare if it is a “party line vote”. The situation in the Illinois Senate is even worse for the Republicans. To pass a bill in the Illinois Senate, it takes 30 votes. In The Illinois Senate, “veto proof” requires 36 votes. As of now, the Illinois Senate Democrats have 41 members and the Republicans have 18 members. The Democrats are five members over the “veto proof” majority. That is now but the new map will change that. The new map combines 14 solid House Republican districts into 7 districts. That means that it will be Republican vs. Republican and seven Republicans will lose. That brings the number of Republicans in the Illinois House down to 37 and the number of House Democrats up to 81. That is 10 members over the “veto proof” number for the Democrats. There is one other House of Representatives district that combines a sitting Republican with a sitting Democrat legislator. Obviously only one of those will survive. The Senate isn’t quite so bad; there are two Republican Senatorial districts combined and two Democrat Senatorial districts combined. It is likely we will see a court challenge to this new map. That certainly doesn’t mean it will be successful and even if it is, it may not change the map significantly. Generally speaking, Republicans are more pro-gun than Democrats. No matter how anyone slices it, Second Amendment supporters will have a fight on our hands. Right now, Russia, China, Iran and several other countries are yukking it up over the United States’ incredibly incompetent fleeing from Afghanistan. The abandonment of those Afghans, who actually helped us, sends a message to the world that you can’t trust the Americans. Of course, our fearless leader, Joe Biden, crept out of his den, saw his shadow and with his eyes fixed on the teleprompter, proclaimed the buck stops here, but it wasn’t his fault. Ah-huh, I got it. The terrorists who want to kill us, once again, have a nice safe haven to reconstitute themselves and prepare to attack us again. Don’t worry, they will. Those who try to man the Southern Border tell us that illegals from 150 countries have crossed into the United States to unknown places with the aid of the Biden Administration. This is like injecting yourself with cancer cells. To those 2500 Gold Star families whose children were sacrificed in Afghanistan, my heart goes out to you. To those veterans and their families who are physically or mentally damaged, you have my gratitude and my thanks. I know this will not ease your pain but I am proud of you. To all those who serve in the U.S. Military, thank you. To all those stupid do-gooders, you can take your noble ideas about nation building and stick them in your ear. Nation building in places like Afghanistan is useless, it is like trying to teach a rattlesnake to tap dance. The snake isn’t going to learn it and, in the end, you are going to get bitten. Remember Susan (I couldn’t tell the truth even if I knew what it was) Rice? She is now Biden’s gun control advisor. We are in for a blizzard of lies, falsehoods, innuendos and mischaracterizations. Susan Rice is the darling of the left wing’s newest anti-gun initiative. Right now, the Taliban is confiscating personal firearms claiming people don’t need them for personal protection, the same arguments that Joe Biden and Susan Rice are using. Please pay no attention to the fact that the Taliban is shooting women down in the streets. On a good note, the High Power Rifle matches have started at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. One of our ISRA competitors has won the Service Rifle Match and another came in third in the Multi Sight Midrange Match. The Service Rifle Match is shot at 200, 300, and 600 yards. The Multi Sight Match is fired at 300, 500, and 600 yards. Half of the Multi Sight Match is fired with iron sights and half with telescopic sights. One of our Pistol Team members has achieved his Distinguished Pistol Badge. The U. S. Shooting Team received the most Olympic medals since 1964. The U. S. Team struck gold in Men’s Air Rifle, Women’s Skeet, and Men’s Skeet. Silver Medals came in Mixed Team Air Rifle and Women’s Trap. We received a Bronze Medal in Mixed Team Trap. On November 3rd, 2021, the Supreme Court of the United States will hear the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v Bruen (formerly it was the NYSR&PA Corlett). This case challenges New York’s “good cause” requirement to be able to carry a firearm outside your home. New York apparently does not care if you are protecting your own life or your loved ones, it isn’t good enough. New York is one of eight states that are “may issue” states. Illinois is a “shall issue” state. The ISRA is part of an amicus brief supporting the NYSR & PA complaint against New York. Nothing is new in any of the Illinois court cases at this moment. Ammo Quest: I have had reports from readers on ammunition prices and available around the state of Illinois. Thank you for that. Online prices haven’t moved since last week. There is an occasional email blast that has good prices but that ammo disappears quickly. Local dealers, farm stores and a few big box stores have the best prices right now. Deer season is not far away. I would get a supply of deer slugs right now. If you can’t find your favorite slug, buy a few extra boxes of whatever you find to sight in your slug gun. Slug guns are finicky. One brand and lot number of slugs can be right on, and the next brand or lot can be a foot off. Always sight in with the slugs you are going to use to hunt because if you don’t, your hunting success will leave a lot to be desired. Tidbits: August 19, 1812 – The United States Navy Frigate USS Constitution defeats the British Frigate Guerriere and earns the name “Old Ironsides“. Witnesses claim the British cannon balls just bounced off her oak sides as if they were made of iron. By the end of the War of 1812, “Old Ironsides” had destroyed or captured seven more ships of the invincible British Navy. She was retired from active service in 1855. She now lies in Boston Harbor and is open for tours from 10am until 6pm every day but Sunday, when the hours are 10am to 5pm. If you go to Boston, take the tour. You will understand why the age of sailing ships was called “The age of wooden ships and iron men.” August 20, 1911 – The first around the world telegram is sent. The New York Times wanted to find out how long it would take to send a telegram from New York around the world and back to New York and back to the same telegrapher. The message travelled 28,000 miles and was relayed by 16 telegraphers and back to the same telegrapher in 16.5 minutes. Not bad. So why is it when someone sends me a message on my super-duper cell phone that it sometimes takes a week, sometimes two weeks? August 21, 1858 – The Lincoln-Douglas Debates begin. Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas began a series of seven debates. The first one was in Ottawa, Illinois. They were both running for United States Senate. Lincoln lost the race but it set him up for the race for the presidency two years later. Despite their differences, Lincoln and Douglas got along very well personally. August 22, 1851 – The United States wins the first America’s Cup race. There is a little more to it than a simple yacht race. There was a rivalry between the United States and Great Britain in all kinds of things, one them ship building. Five members of the New York Yacht Club decided to build a Schooner to compete against the Great Britain’s first. The Royal Yacht Squadron offered a two-foot-tall silver water jug as the trophy. The American design was much different than the British design. The America was the name of our boat. The America came in 22 minutes ahead of the best British boat and an hour ahead of the third boat. The America’s Cup is the oldest traveling trophy in the world. What is even more interesting is what happens to the America after the race. It was sold to an Irish Lord. The boat changed hands several times. Somewhere along the way, her name was changed to Camilla. Eventually, she wound up in the Confederate Navy renamed the C.S.S. Memphis. serving as a blockade runner. The Confederates, fearing she would fall into Union hands, sunk the boat. The U. S. Navy raised her and she was rebuilt and served as a Union blockade ship. In 1870, the second America’s Cup race was held and was refitted and the America was used in the race. This time she came in fourth place and the British boat was up against 14 U. S. built boats. The best they could do was 10th so the America beat them again in spite of her hard life. The Navy used the America for trading but she was eventually sold to private owners who let the America fall apart. There only a few pieces of her left today. |
| ISRA Thursday Bulletin – August 19, 2021 |
| Executive Directors Message Richard Pearson One to the topics few people understand is the new District Map and how it will affect their Second Amendment Rights. Just to refresh everyone, there is a census every 10 years. From that new census, political districts are redrawn to adjust for changes in population. The redrawing of the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois State Senate districts is the topic of this article. This is not to say that Judicial and Congressional districts are not affected. I will inform you about those at another time. In the State of Illinois, there are 118 House of Representatives districts and 59 State Senatorial districts. Each House district contains approximately 108,734 people and each Senatorial district contains approximately 217,468 people. While there are variations in these numbers, they can’t be too large or they are subject to court challenges and that is certainly possible with the new Illinois map which will be in place for the 2022 elections. The key is how the new maps are drawn. The party in power has the upper hand. Presently, the Democrats control both houses of the General Assembly by a wide margin and also the Office of the Governor. As of now, in the Illinois House of Representatives, the Democrats have 73 members and the Republicans have 45 members. It takes 60 votes to pass a bill in Illinois. To override the Governor’s veto, it takes 71 votes or 60%. The term “veto proof” comes from passing a bill with 60% or more votes. The Democrats have two votes to spare if it is a “party line vote”. The situation in the Illinois Senate is even worse for the Republicans. To pass a bill in the Illinois Senate, it takes 30 votes. In The Illinois Senate, “veto proof” requires 36 votes. As of now, the Illinois Senate Democrats have 41 members and the Republicans have 18 members. The Democrats are five members over the “veto proof” majority. That is now but the new map will change that. The new map combines 14 solid House Republican districts into 7 districts. That means that it will be Republican vs. Republican and seven Republicans will lose. That brings the number of Republicans in the Illinois House down to 37 and the number of House Democrats up to 81. That is 10 members over the “veto proof” number for the Democrats. There is one other House of Representatives district that combines a sitting Republican with a sitting Democrat legislator. Obviously only one of those will survive. The Senate isn’t quite so bad; there are two Republican Senatorial districts combined and two Democrat Senatorial districts combined. It is likely we will see a court challenge to this new map. That certainly doesn’t mean it will be successful and even if it is, it may not change the map significantly. Generally speaking, Republicans are more pro-gun than Democrats. No matter how anyone slices it, Second Amendment supporters will have a fight on our hands. Right now, Russia, China, Iran and several other countries are yukking it up over the United States’ incredibly incompetent fleeing from Afghanistan. The abandonment of those Afghans, who actually helped us, sends a message to the world that you can’t trust the Americans. Of course, our fearless leader, Joe Biden, crept out of his den, saw his shadow and with his eyes fixed on the teleprompter, proclaimed the buck stops here, but it wasn’t his fault. Ah-huh, I got it. The terrorists who want to kill us, once again, have a nice safe haven to reconstitute themselves and prepare to attack us again. Don’t worry, they will. Those who try to man the Southern Border tell us that illegals from 150 countries have crossed into the United States to unknown places with the aid of the Biden Administration. This is like injecting yourself with cancer cells. To those 2500 Gold Star families whose children were sacrificed in Afghanistan, my heart goes out to you. To those veterans and their families who are physically or mentally damaged, you have my gratitude and my thanks. I know this will not ease your pain but I am proud of you. To all those who serve in the U.S. Military, thank you. To all those stupid do-gooders, you can take your noble ideas about nation building and stick them in your ear. Nation building in places like Afghanistan is useless, it is like trying to teach a rattlesnake to tap dance. The snake isn’t going to learn it and, in the end, you are going to get bitten. Remember Susan (I couldn’t tell the truth even if I knew what it was) Rice? She is now Biden’s gun control advisor. We are in for a blizzard of lies, falsehoods, innuendos and mischaracterizations. Susan Rice is the darling of the left wing’s newest anti-gun initiative. Right now, the Taliban is confiscating personal firearms claiming people don’t need them for personal protection, the same arguments that Joe Biden and Susan Rice are using. Please pay no attention to the fact that the Taliban is shooting women down in the streets. On a good note, the High Power Rifle matches have started at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. One of our ISRA competitors has won the Service Rifle Match and another came in third in the Multi Sight Midrange Match. The Service Rifle Match is shot at 200, 300, and 600 yards. The Multi Sight Match is fired at 300, 500, and 600 yards. Half of the Multi Sight Match is fired with iron sights and half with telescopic sights. One of our Pistol Team members has achieved his Distinguished Pistol Badge. The U. S. Shooting Team received the most Olympic medals since 1964. The U. S. Team struck gold in Men’s Air Rifle, Women’s Skeet, and Men’s Skeet. Silver Medals came in Mixed Team Air Rifle and Women’s Trap. We received a Bronze Medal in Mixed Team Trap. On November 3rd, 2021, the Supreme Court of the United States will hear the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v Bruen (formerly it was the NYSR&PA Corlett). This case challenges New York’s “good cause” requirement to be able to carry a firearm outside your home. New York apparently does not care if you are protecting your own life or your loved ones, it isn’t good enough. New York is one of eight states that are “may issue” states. Illinois is a “shall issue” state. The ISRA is part of an amicus brief supporting the NYSR & PA complaint against New York. Nothing is new in any of the Illinois court cases at this moment. Ammo Quest: I have had reports from readers on ammunition prices and available around the state of Illinois. Thank you for that. Online prices haven’t moved since last week. There is an occasional email blast that has good prices but that ammo disappears quickly. Local dealers, farm stores and a few big box stores have the best prices right now. Deer season is not far away. I would get a supply of deer slugs right now. If you can’t find your favorite slug, buy a few extra boxes of whatever you find to sight in your slug gun. Slug guns are finicky. One brand and lot number of slugs can be right on, and the next brand or lot can be a foot off. Always sight in with the slugs you are going to use to hunt because if you don’t, your hunting success will leave a lot to be desired. Tidbits: August 19, 1812 – The United States Navy Frigate USS Constitution defeats the British Frigate Guerriere and earns the name “Old Ironsides“. Witnesses claim the British cannon balls just bounced off her oak sides as if they were made of iron. By the end of the War of 1812, “Old Ironsides” had destroyed or captured seven more ships of the invincible British Navy. She was retired from active service in 1855. She now lies in Boston Harbor and is open for tours from 10am until 6pm every day but Sunday, when the hours are 10am to 5pm. If you go to Boston, take the tour. You will understand why the age of sailing ships was called “The age of wooden ships and iron men.” August 20, 1911 – The first around the world telegram is sent. The New York Times wanted to find out how long it would take to send a telegram from New York around the world and back to New York and back to the same telegrapher. The message travelled 28,000 miles and was relayed by 16 telegraphers and back to the same telegrapher in 16.5 minutes. Not bad. So why is it when someone sends me a message on my super-duper cell phone that it sometimes takes a week, sometimes two weeks? August 21, 1858 – The Lincoln-Douglas Debates begin. Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas began a series of seven debates. The first one was in Ottawa, Illinois. They were both running for United States Senate. Lincoln lost the race but it set him up for the race for the presidency two years later. Despite their differences, Lincoln and Douglas got along very well personally. August 22, 1851 – The United States wins the first America’s Cup race. There is a little more to it than a simple yacht race. There was a rivalry between the United States and Great Britain in all kinds of things, one them ship building. Five members of the New York Yacht Club decided to build a Schooner to compete against the Great Britain’s first. The Royal Yacht Squadron offered a two-foot-tall silver water jug as the trophy. The American design was much different than the British design. The America was the name of our boat. The America came in 22 minutes ahead of the best British boat and an hour ahead of the third boat. The America’s Cup is the oldest traveling trophy in the world. What is even more interesting is what happens to the America after the race. It was sold to an Irish Lord. The boat changed hands several times. Somewhere along the way, her name was changed to Camilla. Eventually, she wound up in the Confederate Navy renamed the C.S.S. Memphis. serving as a blockade runner. The Confederates, fearing she would fall into Union hands, sunk the boat. The U. S. Navy raised her and she was rebuilt and served as a Union blockade ship. In 1870, the second America’s Cup race was held and was refitted and the America was used in the race. This time she came in fourth place and the British boat was up against 14 U. S. built boats. The best they could do was 10th so the America beat them again in spite of her hard life. The Navy used the America for trading but she was eventually sold to private owners who let the America fall apart. There only a few pieces of her left today. |
