ISRA: Photos of last week's counter-protest at Chuck's Gun Shop

We've posted more great pictures taken by ISRA member Jeff Marienthal of the march last week at Chuck's, click here to view them.

Make sure that you join us there again on Saturday at 12:30 PM!

If you've not been there before, here's a mapquest map of Chuck's Gun Shop in Riverdale.

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ISRA Press Release

ISRA Press Release:
ISRA Wonders Whether Saturday Gun Shop Protest Will See Father Pfleger Restore Dignity To His Vocation

CHICAGO, June 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released today by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA):

The ISRA has learned that Fr. Michael Pfleger, Pastor of Chicago's St. Sabina's Church, is planning yet another march on Chuck's Gun Shop, located in south suburban Riverdale. Late last month, Fr. Pfleger sparked an embarrassing controversy for the Chicago Archdiocese by urging those attending a similar protest to "snuff" Chuck's owner as well as any state legislator who votes against gun control legislation.

In a recent e-mail alert, the ISRA urged area firearm owners to attend a counter-protest at Chuck's scheduled for Saturday, June 23, 2007 at 12:30 PM. The purpose of the counter-protest is to demonstrate support for Chuck's embattled owner and to rally opposition to gun control bills pending in the state legislature.

"Fr. Pfleger's last performance in front of Chuck's shocked the nation," commented ISRA Executive Director, Richard Pearson. "Imagine hearing an ordained priest calling for a legitimate businessman and sitting state legislators to be "snuffed" because they do not subscribe to that priest's social philosophies. The outrage over Pfleger's hate-filled remarks was compounded by his refusal to apologize for uttering them, and the fact that the mainstream press pretty much gave him a pass."

"The Pfleger situation brings to light an interesting double standard," continued Pearson. "Earlier this week, the ISRA released the results of an investigation into the apparent harassment of gun owners by the Illinois State Police. In these cases, gun owners were treated to visits to their homes by state police detectives because they had sent faxes to Sen. Dan Kotowski expressing opposition to gun control legislation sponsored by the senator. Based on our investigation, there was not even the slightest hint of a threat conveyed in the content of the subject faxes. Nonetheless, these citizens had to bear the embarrassment of having the police show up at their homes with the additional strain of having to answer humiliating questions about their mental health and personal lives. In contrast, when Fr. Pfleger publicly advocated the "snuffing" of state legislators, the Illinois State Police turned a blind eye and a deaf ear. One would think that Sen. Kotowski would be especially sensitive to threats against legislators, yet his anti-gun alliance with Pfleger has left him totally mum on the priest's dangerous remarks."

"Fr. Pfleger can rest assured that the videotape will be rolling when he takes the stage this Saturday in front of Chuck's," said Pearson. "We'll be watching and listening. It will be interesting to see whether he displays the dignity and self respect that should accompany his calling, or whether his identity crisis casts him once again in the role of an absurd, yet malevolent, cartoon character."

The ISRA is the state's leading advocate of safe, lawful and responsible firearms ownership. For more than a century, the ISRA has represented the interests of more than 1.5 million law-abiding Illinois firearm owners.

Amnesty gang bending Senate rules to pass bill

The Amnesty gang is still at it. They appear to want amnesty for illegals at any cost. From Grassfire.org:

The Senate is committed to formally bringing back the Bush-Kennedy amnesty bill possibly as early as this Friday--meaning we may have precious time remaining to make our voices heard!

Here's what our insiders are telling us...

The Amnesty Gang (including Bush, Kennedy, McCain, Kyl, and Reid) will introduce a new bill as a "substitute" of the last failed bill. This allows them to bring the bill to the Senate floor without going through committee -- just like the first Bush-Kennedy amnesty bill.

This is where it gets shadowy. Harry Reid will employ what is being called the "clay pigeon" procedure whereby all the amendments are lumped together as one to limit the ability of opposition to resist the bill!

What does all this mean?

It means that you and I and the rest of the citizens of our nation have been sold out by an arrogant Senate that has completely lost touch with the American people. Just listen to the bristling arrogance of Senate Minority leader (and Amnesty Senator from Mississippi) Trent Lott, who spoke to reporters yesterday. "I've had my phones jammed for three weeks. Yesterday I had three people answering them continuously all day. To think that you're going to intimidate a senator or any senator into voting one way or the other by gorging your phones with phone calls -- most of whom don't even know where Gulfport, Mississippi, is -- is not an effective tactic. But it's their right to do that."

That's right, Trent, it is our right, and you are feeling it! In simple terms, the ONLY barrier left for the Senate to pass this bill is YOU. That is why I'm calling for an even greater grassroots uprising than before.

Whether they formally bring the amnesty bill back on Friday, or Monday really doesn't matter. What matters is that they are bringing amnesty back, and it is up to grassroots America to stop them cold!

+ + Action #1: Faxes and Phone Calls

If you have not scheduled faxes in the past few days, do so right now. We must have faxes flooding the Senate every day until AMNESTY IS DEAD. Use our FaxFire system or fax them yourself (info. provided here):

http://www.grassfire.org/19042/offer.asp

After scheduling your faxes, call your two senators.

We've gotten many reports of citizens calling their Senators EVERY DAY, and I want to challenge every member of our team to do the same. Here's a number of KEY talking points:

1. You are disappointed that the Senate is reconsidering the amnesty bill.
2. A "yes" vote on cloture is a "yes" vote for amnesty.
3. Vote NO on cloture for the Bush-Kennedy Amnesty bill.

Your two senators:

Sen. Durbin (202)224-2152
Sen. Obama (202) 224-2854


I'm also asking team members from Mississippi to contact Mr. Lott, to let him know that his constituents who oppose amnesty certainly know where Gulfport is!

Here's his number: 202/224-6253

Or call his district offices: Jackson, 601/965-4644; Gulfport, 228/863-1988; Pascagoula, 228/762-5400; Oxford, 662/234-3774

To recap, AMNESTY IS COMING BACK perhaps as soon as Friday and certainly by next Monday. We've been told the back-room deal cut last week is in motion, and a plan to manipulate Senate rules and tie the hands of Senators opposing the amnesty bill is underway.

YOU AND I are the last line of defense!

Thanks for your help fighting amnesty!


Steve Elliott, President
Grassfire.org

P.S: I've just heard that the AFL-CIO is finally realizing that an amnesty bill would devastate and demoralize their membership. They have come out strongly against this bill!

+ + Recent media coverage (NYTimes, NPR, MSNBC):

http://www.firesociety.com/blog/107/14532

+ + Comments/feedback/more resources on this update:

http://www.firesociety.com/comments/14859/?src=111

+ + Grassfire's May Presidential Straw Poll Results:

http://www.firesociety.com/article/14468

It's also quite funny to find out that the Republican Amnesty Senators don't seem to be able to handle the concept that they will be scoffed by conservatives when they go against the will of the people! In Republicans Hearing Static From Conservative Radio Hosts, "Vacant Lott" says:

When they're with you, it's great, When they're not, it's not good.

Maybe, with enough pressure from grassroots conservatives, the Republican Amnesty Senators will finally get it. If not, there's always the next election...