Where Is The Nra In Illinois???

[SaintofKillers]

I would like to know where the NRA is in Illinois? Approx half a dozen bills are in the state legislature concerning gun control and they are not even on the NRA/ILA legislative watch. Does the NRA consider Illinois a lost cause? The I$RA is pathetic and they pretty much do nothing here. We have the ConcealedCarry.org but I havent seen much of them either. Is the NRA only fighting battles that they think that they can win?? I think that the people of Ill. need to bring the fight not wait until its up for a vote on the floor of the legislature. Anyone have any input on this? Am I the only one that feels this way? Being a life member I do my part, I write my reps and make phone calls and try and educate the masses. I donate money when I can, but I want to know where they are In Illinois???? 4-5 years and I migrate to Indiana but I am not going to let this cancer spread beyond the borders of Chicago and neither should anyone else. California and Illinois the antis will meet in the middle.

 

[bad_dad_brad]

I think they have just given up in Illinois. Like Callifornia. It is a no win situation. Especially now in Illinois with a Demo Chicago Mayor, a Demo Gov, a Demo House/Senate, and a Demo States Attorney.

Hopeless to change existing gun laws in Illinois. Expect them to pile on more. Count on it.

 

[TexasVet]

They are probably deciding which bill gives the "most reasonable restriction" with out actually allowing those non-hunters to get away with anything.:banghead:

 

[Don Gwinn]

The NRA couldn't care less. From their point of view, that's what the ISRA is for. If the ISRA isn't concerned (and they apparently aren't, unless there are funds to be raised) then why should the NRA worry? Honestly, it makes sense. They funded and created this state-level civil rights org for us, and we turned it into a shooting club. That's not NRA's problem.

ISRA is a lost cause. There is absolutely no reason to put any faith in them. They (and by "they" I mean Pearson, Vandermyde and that Board) have been out-and-out lying to the membership for years. And now they've got it fixed so there's nothing that can be done to save the org. No one can run for the Board without the approval and direct support of the current members, so no changes are coming that way. There's an annual members' meeting, but it's generally several hundred members short of a quorum so it can't conduct business. This year they seem determined to keep the time and place of the meeting secret as long as possible. Vandermyde is supposed to be a lobbyist on behalf of ISRA, but he also works for ABATE and some of their best friends (and Todd's) are our worst enemies.

Concealed Carry, Inc. is the best thing we have going right now, but it's tiny. It's also not ever going to be a large org that will lobby Springfield. John has told us time and time again that he believes the fight will be won or lost in Chicago and that's where he will use his time and effort.

What we need is a large consensus organization like MCRGO in Michigan. Unfortunately the ISRA is not interested in leading a coalition in an actual fight, and none of the grassroots orgs appeal broadly enough to bring everyone together. But until it happens, Illinois gun owners are at the bottom of the outhouse.

Your time is MUCH more valuable than your money!

 

[EJ]

The ISRA has def left us out to dry---

 

[ahadams]

watching this from the next state over (MO) it looks like Don Gwinn is right on the money. NRA can't do a blipping thing without support of the gun owners in the state, and I$RA seems more intent on er, being extremely overly friendly in a way that can't be described on this board if you know what I mean with the powers that be. I gotta tell you folks CCW Inc looks like the only game in town for you guys, as far as the 2nd Amdt. goes.

 

[AnklePocket]

Sounds like IL is pretty much like NJ and you sound pretty much like many of us over here. I shouldn't guess what the NRA is or isn't thinking except to say that we're probably lucky that they're out there handling the big picture.
As far as our small parts of the world go we're at a crossroads where we can't rely on others to do our work for us. Sounds like you're doing the right things since it's got to start with us. Then maybe your efforts will spread to the point where the NRA and other organizations can start to make progress.
We're (us in states like IL, CA, NY and NJ) pretty much on our own which is fine by me. I won't give in until there's an American flag draped over my casket and neither should you.

 

[Monkeyleg]

Don, you and I know that the NRA doesn't win its victories by donating money to campaigns. Heck, Babs Streisand can probably donate more money to anti-gun causes than can the NRA.

The NRA directs limited resources to areas where it has a chance to win.

Is IL winable? NJ? CA? MD?

I suspect that the NRA has written off most gun owners--with the exception of those like you--in those states.

For the vast majority of gun owners, the enemy isn't the NRA; the enemy is in the mirror.

 

[SaintofKillers]

Why continue to be a member?

If the NRA cant do anything or isnt willing to try to help us at the state level, what is the point of being a member. Don, I agree that the ISRA is a joke believe me I have told them so, I live 3 miles from their office. It seems to me that moving is my only option, but as I have said the cancer will spread.:banghead: