cont.
The right thing to do is to replace Pearson with a respected outsider
with no personal agenda (i.e. former NRA Director Leroy Pyle.) But the
"right thing" is elusive. Most on the board owe their existence to
Pearson and their future is tied to his. As for Pearson, resigning is
not an option. The ISRA is really all he has going so he'll ride this
pony till it or he dies.
Many (to include Concealed Carry, Inc.) warned that the last ISRA
election was a referendum on new by-laws. We failed to make our case and
the Illinois Shooter ravaged us as "out to take over Your ISRA." The
result? It's now "Pearson's ISRA" as the so-called "Vision Team"
candidates were defeated in a land slide defeat of near epic proportion.
So next year, thanks to the new by-laws, Pearson will run uncontested
for ISRA president and it will look like he's in by acclamation. You
read it in CC NEWS first.
Looks like the gun rights movement in Illinois is in for a long hard
Winter.
TEXT OF LETTER RECEIVED BY CONCEALED CARRY, INC. 24 JULY 2001:
Folks:
In a lengthy phone conversation with Jim Butler, I learned that the Bd
of Directors of the ISRA has voted to pass a resolution throwing
Champaign County Rifle Association out of the ISRA. The vote was
9-1-1, Sue Darnall abstained, and Jim butler voted against. The Bd.
was upset, as was Mr. Pearson, that Mr. Boch put a copy of the Ill.
Ins. Dept. consent decree in his case on our website. Some of you are
aware that Mr. Pearson had an attorney send John a "Cease and Desist"
letter, claiming that the Consent decree, where by he admitted to
mishandling insurance premium funds received by him, and agreed to pay
a $13,000 civil fine, and submit his business operations to strict
scrutiny by the Ill. Dept. of Insurance for the next few years, was a
privileged, and private record, that could not be made public. John
obtained a copy of the document from the Ill. Ins. Dept. for $4.00, if
I have the numbers correct. It is a public record, and therefore is
available to the public to inspect, copy and republish. John has since
responded to Mr. Pearson's attorney, with his additional comment that
the Ill. Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, the
enforcement arm of the Illinois Supreme Court, which licenses
attorneys, takes a dim view of attorneys who misrepresent facts and the
law to Illinois Citizens. So far, no other response has been received
from the attorney. As for any "slander", truth is an absolute defense,
and publishing a public record so that interested parties might know
the truth, does not constitute slander. Boch wins.