Protest at Chuck's discussed tonight on Fox News Channel

May 31, 2007: Last Saturday's Protest at Chuck's Gun Shop on Fox News Channel Tonight at 8:00 CDT

This is a quick note to our members and other readers:

If you've been following the fallout from Jesse Jackson's protest at Chuck's Gun Shop last Saturday, especially Father Michael Pfleger's inflammatory threats leveled at John Riggio and pro-gun legislators, then you might want to tune into the Hannity & Colmes show tonight on the Fox News Channel.

This show is transmitted via cable, satellite, certain broadcast affiliate TV and radio stations at 8:00 pm CDT. If you don't have the Fox News Channel, or don't have a TV, you might be able to listen to a live webcast at www.foxnews.com.

People's Republic of Chicago - Criminal Empowerment Program - Update

May 29, 2007 - Report from Springfield

As all as most of you know Father Michael Pfleger has threatened John Riggio (the owner of Chuck's Gun Shop) and Illinois lawmakers with being "snuffed out". We all know what that means. Fr. Pfleger has described the ISRA as a bunch of low lifes.

Excuse me, but I don't recall any of us calling for the out right murder of those who oppose us politically. That is a privilege reserved for the left wing wacos. People like Pfleger, Osterman, and Kotowski to name a few seem to get away with anything with the blessing of the "main stream" media.

I was interviewed today regarding the Fr. Pfleger story but the tape was not shown. It makes you wonder doesn't it?

I expect the session to go past the "deadline". All antigun bills will either have their deadline extended of returned to rules, or placed on second reading, which means the same thing.

I am asking all of you to pass the word about what is happening here in Springfield. We need to let all gun owners know what is going on and to join the ISRA.

Thank you for your continuing faith and support. It means a lot to all of us down here including the pro-gun legislators who are fighting for all of us.

Richard A. Pearson

Please forward this alert to all bulletin boards.

If you are not a member of the ISRA, please join. Please get a friend to join.

Please consider making a legislative donation to the ISRA.

ISRA Press Release - May 29, 2007:

Chicago Priest Calls for Murder of Gun Shop Owner

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., May 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA): Nobody expected Saturday's Operation PUSH protest at Chuck's Gun Shop & Range to be anything other than a circus of the bizarre. However, nobody anticipated that an address by a Chicago priest would include a call for the murder of a suburban gun shop owner and legislators who oppose gun control.

During an address at an anti-gun rally in front of Chuck's, Rev. Michael Pfleger, pastor of St. Sabina's Church, exhorted the crowd to "drag" shop owner, John Riggio, from his shop "like a rat" and "snuff" him. Rev. Pfleger went on to tell the crowd that legislators that vote against gun control legislation should be "snuffed" as well. As many know, "snuff" is slang for especially violent murder.

The ISRA has a recording of Pfleger's remarks in MP3 format.

"Certainly Fr. Pfleger has offered Absolution to a murderer or two during his tenure as a priest," commented ISRA Executive Director, Richard Pearson. "That's why it's shocking to hear him actually advocate the murder of a gun shop owner who has never committed a crime in his life. He then compounds the problem by calling for the murder of legislators who disagree with his personal political views -- something I suspect is a felony in this state. Pfleger's comments were disgusting and dangerous. And, I seem to remember that the Fifth Commandment frowns on murdering one's neighbor."

"This week, I'll be penning a letter to the Archbishop, expressing my concerns over Rev. Pfleger's comments," continued Pearson. "I would hope that the Archbishop would reply with words of comfort for Mr. Riggio, his family, state legislators, and all others who were injured by Rev. Pfleger's thoughtless, inflammatory remarks."

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 firearm Illinois firearm owners.

ISRA MEMORIAL DAY MESSAGE

For nearly 140 years, the last weekend in May has been a time for Americans to pause and honor those soldiers who have fallen in the defense of freedom. As the conflict in Iraq rages on, we are constantly reminded of the incalculable debt of gratitude we owe our soldiers, sailors and marines.

The sacrifices of those we honor on Memorial Day stand as supreme testimony of their allegiance to that one document that sets the United States apart from any other nation on Earth - our Constitution.

Our Constitution makes it undeniably clear that the government is the servant of the people - not the converse. Our Constitution reserves the power of self determination for the people - not the government. Our Constitution guarantees that the rights enumerated within are not the nebulous province of the collective, but individual rights to be enjoyed by all who love freedom. As many have demonstrated time and time again, the ideals and principles embodied in our Constitution are well worth fighting for, and dying for.

When those who join the armed forces take their oath, they swear to uphold and defend the whole Constitution - not just the passages they like, or those amendments ‘approved’ by the media, or those amendments that agree with the political agenda of some Hollywood celebrity. Embracing and defending our Constitution is an all or nothing proposition - a notion driven home every Memorial Day by the sea of flags marking the graves of our courageous vets.

Unfortunately, in the Illinois General Assembly we have people like Senator Dan Kotowski who apparently believes that the Bill of Rights can be salami-sliced to toss out provisions that he doesn’t like or obliterate rights that frighten him. Millions of brave Americans did not die just so that Dan Kotowski could reinvent America. Kotowski’s shameful disloyalty to our Constitution is a slap in the face to all who have sacrificed so much in the name of freedom.

Memorial Day is a reminder to all of us that we must do our part to honor the memory of our fallen heroes. Take some time this weekend to mark the grave of a vet. Donate generously to veterans’ organizations. When a gun controller attacks the 2nd Amendment, respond vigorously. Defend the honor of all those who have died to preserve and protect our entire Constitution.

People's Republic of Chicago - Criminal Empowerment Program - Update

Springfield Report for May 24:
Today we worked on shoring up our support against SB1007. The anti-gunners were out in full force. I would think we would see a vote on either the magazine bill or the private sales bill soon.

We are also assured that we will be going into an extended session. That means all the antigun bills will be extended. Contrary to popular belief extended sessions do not require a three fifths majority to pass. The three fifths majority only involves when the law become effective. If the law is to become effective immediately that would involve a three fifths majority.

This fight is a long way from over. Thank you for your support.

Please post this report to the bulletin boards that you visit.

You're already a member of the ISRA, right? If not, click here and join us.
Please get a friend to join.

They walk among us

I was at the checkout of a K-Mart. The clerk rang up $46.64 charge. I gave her a fifty dollar bill. She gave me back $46.64. I gave it back to her and told her that she had made a mistake in MY favor and gave her the money back. She became indignant and informed me she was educated and knew what she was doing, and returned the money again. I gave her the money back again...same scenario! I departed the store with the
$46.64.

...............They Walk Among Us and Many Work Retail.

I walked into a Mickey D's with a buy-one-get-one-free coupon for a sandwich. I handed it to the girl and she looked over at a little chalkboard that said "buy one-get one free." "They're already buy-one-get-one-free", she said, "so I guess they're both free" She handed me my free sandwiches and I walked out the door.

...............They Walk Among Us and Many Work Retail.

One day I was walking down the beach with some friends when one of them shouted, "Look at that dead bird!" Someone looked up at the sky and said, "Where?"

...............They Walk Among Us!

I used to work in technical support for a 24/7 call center. One day I got a call from an individual who asked what hours the call center was open. I told him, "The number you dialed is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week." He responded, "Is that Eastern or Pacific time?" Wanting to end the call quickly, I said, "Uh, Pacific."

...............They Walk Among Us!

My sister has a lifesaving tool in her car designed to cut through a seat belt if she gets trapped. She keeps it in the trunk.

...............They Walk Among Us!

My friends and I were on a beer run and noticed that the cases were discounted 10%. Since it was a big party, we bought 2 cases. The cashier multiplied 2 times 10% and gave us a 20% discount.

...............They Walk Among Us!

I couldn't find my luggage at the airport baggage area, so I went to the lost luggage office and told the woman there that my bags never showed up. She smiled and told me not to worry because she was a trained professional and I was in good hands. "Now," she asked me, has your plane arrived yet?"

...............They Walk Among Us!

While working at a pizza parlor I observed a man ordering a small pizza to go. He appeared to be alone and the cook asked him if he would like it cut into 4 pieces or 6. He thought about it for some time before responding. "Just cut it into 4 pieces; I don't think I'm hungry enough to eat 6 pieces."

...............Yep, They Walk Among Us!


They Walk Among Us, AND they reproduce, and WORST OF ALL...................................they VOTE!

People's Republic of Chicago - Criminal Empowerment Program - Update

May 23, 2007 - News from Springfield, SB1007 Passes Out of Committee

Today SB1007, the Kotowski magazine ban, passed out of the Executive Committee with 7 yeas, 4 nays, and 2 not voting. This can be looked at as a 7-6 margin, which is a very close vote in this Committee. We could see this bill on the House Floor as soon as Friday.

Please call your state representatives as soon as possible either at their Springfield office or their local District office and ask them to vote against SB1007.

Please forward this to every Internet blog and bulletin board that you belong to.

If you not a member, please join; if you are a member please ask a friend to join.

Please check out our website and consider donating to our legislative fund.

People's Republic of Chicago - Criminal Empowerment Program - Update

It appears that the Criminal Empowerment Program is at it again. Here is the latest from the ISRA:

Action Alert for Saturday, May 26, 2007:
Mobilize Against Jesse Jackson to Protect Your Gun Rights

It has come to our attention that Jesse Jackson and several other gun control activists plan to disrupt business at Chuck’s Gun Shop, 14310 S. Indiana, Riverdale, IL on Saturday, May 26th.

The owners of Chuck’s have been long-time defenders of the right to keep and bear arms. Unfortunately, they have paid dearly for supporting your rights. Chucks was the primary target of Mayor Daley’s $433 million lawsuit against the 2nd Amendment. Although the Daley suit failed, Chuck’s was forced to bear huge legal costs to defend their business - and to defend the 2nd Amendment. Chuck’s has also been harassed ceaselessly by anti-gun church groups and the gun-hating media - including “60 Minutes.”

It’s time for gun owners to stand up for what is right and put an end to these unabashed attacks on our innate right to self defense, and our constitutional right to keep an bear arms.

As a show of support for Chuck’s, and as sharp stick in the eye of Jesse Jackson and his gun-grabbing cohorts, we are asking all Illinois gun owners to do the following:

1. Plan on gathering at Chuck’s Gun Shop & Range, 14310 South Indiana Avenue, Riverdale, IL, at 1:00 PM on May 26th for a counter protest against Jesse Jackson.

2. While at Chuck’s, express your solidarity with the owners and, if you can, make a purchase. No matter how small, your loyalty to Chuck’s will be greatly appreciated.

3. Prepare to confront anti-gun protesters with the truth. Don’t be shy about defending what you know is rightfully yours.

4. If possible, take photographs of the anti-gun protesters and send copies to webmaster@isra.org.

5. BIKERS - If you are a motorcyclist who supports the 2nd Amendment, please plan to swing by Chuck’s at about 1:00 PM on the 26th. The louder your bike is, the better.

6. TRUCKERS - If you are a trucker who supports the 2nd Amendment, please plan to swing by Chucks at about 1:00 PM on the 26th. The more noise you can make on Chuck’s block, the better.

7. LONG HAUL TRUCKERS - If you are a driver who has traveled this great country, and loves every square inch of it, please try to take a short detour on Saturday and swing by Chuck’s to express your support for one of our most basic rights. If you can, get on the CB, tell your buddies about this important event and have them stop by Chuck’s. Let’s show Jesse Jackson what real Americans think about his gun grabbing.

8. Please post this alert to every Internet blog and bulletin board that you belong to. Encourage all your friends and fellow shooters to join in this counter-protest against the gun grabbers.

Only you can defend your rights from destruction by guys like Jesse Jackson. You are the foot soldiers of freedom in our patriotic struggle to defend what is ours. The gun grabbers must not attack our rights with impunity. They’re looking for a fight - let’s give it to them on May 26th at Chuck’s Gun Shop.

My idea? Stage a counter protest with every 2nd amendment supporter carrying this sign:

-Bob

People's Republic of Chicago - Criminal Empowerment Program

It appears that the leaders of the People's Republic of Chicago are at again with their Criminal Empowerment Program.

First a little Q and A (for all of you Outlook users notice that the answer comes after the question):

Q: What is the People's Republic of Chicago?
A: The state in the United States of America that is also known as the State of Illinois. The People's Republic of Chicago gets it's name because the current governor of the State is mostly a pawn to the Mayor of Chicago. What ever the Mayor wants, the state (governor) gives him. Hence the true leader of the state is the Mayor of Chicago.

Q: What is the Criminal Empowerment Program?
A: It's what the liberals try to “sugar coat” and call “Gun Control”. Gun Control, in their eyes, is the removal of any weapon (firearms mostly) from the hands of law abiding citizens.

Q: What is the effect of this?
A: More crime.

Q: Why?
A: Because “Gun Control” laws do not apply to criminals (they wouldn't be criminals if they did) and criminals benefit greatly from the increased power. As they say: “don't bring a knife to a gun fight”.


So, now that we understand what we're talking about, here's what People's Republic of Chicago - Criminal Empowerment Program has been up to:

May 2, 2007 - Springfield Report

Magazine Ban Introduced in the Illinois Senate

We spent all day today working against SB 1007. This is a very bad bill now that anti-gun Illinois State Senator Dan Kotowski (D-33) filed a magazine-ban amendment (Senate Amendment 1) to this existing legislation currently before the Senate.

As amended, this bill would ban the manufacture, possession, delivery, sale and purchase of standard capacity magazines with a capability of holding more than 10 rounds. The amendment is so poorly worded that it would also ban commonly used firearms with fixed, boxed or tubular magazines, including many lever action rifles, since the amendment's language does not limit the ban to detachable magazines.

This is a gun and self-defense ban that will stand no chance of curtailing crime and will only hurt law-abiding sportsmen, hunters and gun owners.

This legislation could be voted on at any moment. Please contact your State Senator today and urge him or her to oppose Senate Amendment 1 to SB 1007!


Please join the ISRA if you're not already a member.

May 9, 2007 - ISRA Alert

SB1007 passes IL Senate Vote

Today Senator Kotowski's magazine ban bill passed the Senate with 31 yeas, 26 nays, 1 present and 1 not voting. This bill is headed for the house. It will probably go to an anti-gun committee so it will likely pass out of committee easily to become a floor fight. Please be sure to call your Representative and tell them to oppose SB1007.

I would begin calling right away. We could see this bill next week in the House.

Pass this alert on to everyone you know and to every bulletin board.

Join the ISRA or recruit a new member today.

Please make a legislative donation today. This session is going to last along time and it will be expensive. Freedom is not free!

May 15, 2007 - Urgent Action Alert

SB1007 Magazine & Gun Ban

This is an Urgent Action Alert on SB1007, a bill sponsored in the Illinois Senate by career anti-gun Senator Dan Kotowski (D - Park Ridge) and Republican Senator John Millner from Bloomingdale. This bill would ban commonly available magazines for many firearms that hold more than 10 rounds, and would also ban many firearms with tubular magazines that more than 10 rounds, such as ever action rifles owned by cowboy action shooters and many shotguns. This bill does nothing to reduce crime and would penalize law-abiding gun owners in Illinois.

This bill passed the Illinois Senate last week on a 31 to 26 vote. It's now in the House Executive Committee and could pass out from that committee onto the floor of the House.

It's important that you to help make sure that this bill gets defeated in the Illinois House, as Governor Blagojevich would cheerfully sign it immediately if it ever crossed his desk.

Do your part by taking the following actions:

1. Call your Representative and urge him or her to not support this bill, SB1007, to vote no on it should it come up for a vote. Even if you have received assurances in the past from your representative in the past that he or she is in your corner and supports the second amendment, do not neglect making that call on this bill.
   The ISRA webmaster and the ISRA staff in Chatsworth have fielded many calls and emails from angry and surprised gun owners whose Senators voted for this bill last week.


2. Make a personal visit to your representative's local office in your district to show your support for the Second Amendment. Bring family members or a shooting buddy with you when you go. Leave a personal message for your representative urging the defeat of SB1007.


3. Call the Springfield (217-782-3696) and district office (847-566-5115) of Illinois Representative Ed Sullivan, Jr. (R - Mundelein) and urge that he withdraw as Chief Co-Sponsor of this punitive legislation. Never mind that he's not in your district, his direct advocacy of this ban impacts all Illinois gun owners.

Please forward this alert to all bulletin boards.

If you are not a member of the ISRA, please join. Please get a friend to join.

ISRA is now supported by three lobbyists in Springfield. Please consider making a legislative donation to the ISRA.

May 15, 2007 - ISRA Press Release

Illinois State Rifle Association to Advise Members on Compliance With Kotowski/Millner Gun Ban

CHICAGO, May 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA):

The ISRA is advising its members, especially cowboy action shooters and gun collectors, to be prepared to dispose of firearms they may have in their possession.

This advisory comes in light of the passage of Senate Bill 1007, the Kotowski/Millner gun ban, which now resides in the House for consideration. Under SB1007, any firearm with a tubular magazine that accepts more than 10 rounds would be banned. As a result, many shotguns and most lever action rifles used by cowboy action shooters would be outlawed. At the present, there is no official guidance for citizens on how to comply with the gun ban.

The ISRA is also issuing an e-mail alert calling upon gun owners to visit their legislators' district offices to make clear their opposition to SB1007.

"SB1007 comprises one of the most sweeping gun bans in Illinois history," said ISRA Executive Director, Richard Pearson. "Disguised as a 'magazine ban,' SB1007 actually bans a large number of rifles owned by collectors and used by participants in cowboy action shooting competitions."

"We are currently compiling a list of rifle and shotgun models that would be banned under SB1007," continued Pearson. "When that list is complete, we'll distribute it to shooters across the state so that they may be prepared to take whatever actions are necessary to comply with this misguided legislation."

"SASS and other cowboy action shooting enthusiasts will be hit especially hard by this legislation," said Pearson. "To date, our banned list includes such popular cowboy action shooting rifles as the Marlin 1894; Henry Rifles; Winchester 1866; Winchester 1873 and the Colt Lightning. These rifles are the mainstay of cowboy shooting -- which is the fastest growing and one of the most colorful of the competitive shooting sports."

"One would have expected a piece of junk legislation like SB1007 to be voted down handily," commented Pearson. "Unfortunately, several suburban Republican senators decided to stand with the Daley Administration and vote in favor of this gun ban. We've received hundreds of phone calls at the ISRA offices from gun owners furious at suburban Republicans for advancing this punitive proposal. What we have here in SB1007 is another example of the law-abiding gun owner taking it on the chin while violent robbers, rapists, muggers and murderers get a free pass."

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.

In closing, please do something to end the "Criminal Empowerment Program" before it's too late!