Prairie State Wire

Andy from ASO Magazine recently sat down with Richard Pearson from the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) for an update on ISRA activities. Pearson expressed his frustration with the negative portrayal of gun owners, stating, “Ninety-eight percent of the people in this country are decent, hardworking, honest Americans. It’s the other lousy two percent that get all the publicity. But then, we elected them.”

Regarding the opposition to gun rights, Pearson remarked, “The people who work against your gun rights are basically saying to you, ‘The right of the criminal to rip you off, rape and kill you shall not be infringed.’ And they wonder why we’re a bit testy.”

Pearson also emphasized the importance of self-protection for women, quoting, “I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand.”

In discussing the impact of gun control laws, Pearson expressed his strong stance, “How dare politicians continue to pass insane laws forcing good, law-abiding people to be defenseless and helpless.”

The conversation also touched on the Second Amendment, with Pearson quoting, “The said Constitution [shall] never be construed to authorize Congress to infringe or to prevent the people of the United States from keeping their own arms.”

Pearson highlighted the role of guns in self-defense, stating, “Every 13 seconds in America someone uses a gun to stop a crime.”

Lastly, Pearson defended the AK-47, stating, “The AK-47 is not a device of aggression … I devised this machine-gun for the security of my country.”

The discussion between Andy and Richard Pearson shed light on the ongoing debate surrounding gun rights and the importance of self-protection and the Second Amendment.