slonezp

I'm optimistic. There are 2 nights over the next 10 days below 30* and 2 days in a row in the 60's plus more rain.

I brought this up in class today. Every firearm purchased from a retailer requires a background check. IL charges $25. I bought 2 LCP's at Cabelas a couple years ago when they were on sale for $150. I had to pay for 2 background checks, not one. Made no sense whatsoever. The instructor said there are only 4 people conducting background checks for firearms purchases, FOID and CCW applications and they are backed up for months. What happens when a weapon is purchased, the computer runs a preliminary background check which allows you to make the purchase. A more thorough one is done at a later date. Why I had to pay for 2 at the same time is, the "thorough" background checks would probably be done at separate times. Our DNR is similar. There are 3 people conducting all the boat and trailer registrations. It takes 6-8 months to get our registration stickers.

IL requires 16 hours of class time. First 8 is done. 7 people in the class. 5 males and 2 females. I've been handling guns for 45 years without any formal training. All that time I never put much thought into firing a weapon from a self defense perspective. It was eye opening. The proctor teaches firearm safety and firearm training for a living and is also a competitive shooter. I'm glad I signed up. Tomorrow morning some range time and tomorrow afternoon learning the legalities.

I predicted March 22 at the beginning of this thread. There is currently 14" of ice on my home water. Beginning today temps will be in the 40's and 50's for at least the next week. Rain in the forecast multiple days. Last year I was fishing on the 10th, the year before the 5th. I'm optimistic I will be fishing the weekend of the 22nd.

Edit to the above post. Yesterday the first lawsuit against the IL State Police was filed for dropping the ball on allowing the workplace shooter to legally purchase firearms.

I know what you are implying and while I don't necessarily disagree, I also live in a state with a history of having some of the most stringent gun laws. and they are FLAWED. A buddy of mine (U.S. Marine) accidentally let his FOID (firearms owners ID card required in IL) card expire. The state sent him a letter telling him to turn in his FOID, CCW, and his guns. He went to a neighboring town and talked to the police about transferring his weapons to his wife who has a valid FOID card. Cops said as long as she lives with you, there is no way to prove whose guns they are. He went to his village police dept to turn in his FOID and CCW and was astonished as to how disorganized they were. They asked him if he had any guns and he answered no. That was it. No more questions. He reapplied, and got his permits back. Retailers are required to keep records of weapon transfers. Private individuals are not. There is a current pending bill to try and make it illegal for private individuals to transfer weapons. I've sold a number of guns over the years to private parties. I can't verify if the weapons were registered or not. What are they going to do? "Sorry, I sold the weapon...carry on." The State of MD has recently tried to pass a bill changing the classifications of long guns. The Baltimore PD has said they will not confiscate any weapons that would be reclassified as illegal. The State of IL has a current pending bill in the wake of a workplace shooting that happened a couple weeks ago in one of Chicago's suburbs. The shooter had received his FOID card because he lied on his application and the state still put it thru. He was able to purchase a firearm and ammunition legally. Only when he applied for his CCW, they figured out he was a convicted felon. He was sent a letter to turn in his FOID and his guns. As I stated earlier, there is zero follow up. 6 policemen were shot and 5 employees at the company lost their lives because of "oversight" by the state of IL. Well, we can't punish the State of IL, so lets punish the lawful gun owners. The bill wants to form a "militia" that will go out and confiscate weapons from those who have lost their FOID cards or CCW. This includes the "I forgot to renew" people. When it all comes down to it, the powers that be need a scapegoat. They need someone to blame. Pass more legislation and when the bad guys still kill someone, at least they have someone to blame.

Just think how much colder it would be were it not for global warming. ?

They will honor as long as the weapon never leaves the vehicle. I'm not sure what the paranoia is about. If I say anymore the thread will get shut down.

IL has stringent gun laws. I've been a gun owner since middle school. I've had a FOID card (Firearm owner ID card) since 1986. I've been mulling around the CCW for some time now. I may or may not have been known to carry. Now I will be legal.

Taking it this weekend. Then another 120 days to get my license.

Last year i was fishing March 10th and the year before on March 5th. Got my fingers crossed I'll be on the water sometime before Thanksgiving.

You think we cared you weren't around?

Just throwing this out there because that is what I do. This was surgery #3. Left arm will never work right again or left for that matter LOL, nor will my left hand. The first 2 surgeries were arthroscopic and repaired the labrum, removed the bursa, and whatever else. The last one drilled a bunch of holes in the shoulder blade and sutured the trapezius and rhomboid muscles back on to my shoulder blade. To this day the scarred area is still numb and I can feel the muscles slide back and forth over the shoulder blade depending on how it's angled. I'm positive I have popped at least one of the sutures. Between the 3 surgeries, I probably went thru almost 2 years of rehab and I'm still crippled and I still get shooting pains down the biceps and triceps. Prior to surgery #3 I was unable to use my left hand. My fingers were unable to pick up objects and if I picked up anything with my entire hand it would just fall out. It was a career ending injury for me being a tradesman. Don't mess around and don't rely on workmans comp doctors to have your best interest in mind.

I have stored my boats outside for over 20 years. What's the big deal?

A bit of a dog fetish I see....

I'm not singling anybody out. We occasionally mouth hook carp, drum, suckers, and buffalo fish. While I do consider these "trash" fish, the battle is well worth it. A 15lb cat will give you a run for the money, and a 50lb cat is nothing short of amazing (I didn't land the 50lb cat but got it to the boat 3 times before she broke off). Too many of us have tunnel vision when we fish. Catching a 40" musky during a bass tournament is downright depressing. Were I fun fishing when I caught her, my smile would be from ear to ear. Honestly, since I have, for the most part, stopped tournament fishing, I think I appreciate other species even more.

Memories, enjoyment, and "If I lose my job, I'll sell the boat and get top dollar because I bought the Cadillac of aluminum boats" should make you worry free

You lowly "I only fish for bass" bass fishermen don't know what you're missing. Hooking into a 20-30lb fish is memory in the making. Salmon, carp, cats, pike, musky...all a much better battle than a little green fish. Only time I don't like the by-catches is during a tourney.

The grinding could be bursitis or an impingement.

I'm no doctor, which is why I don't diagnose myself. The problem with finding exercises off the internet, without knowing what is wrong, you could be doing more harm than good.

More power to you. I could have made one too but the whole being "retractable" has a lot of pull in the decision. You're looking at about $50 from a big box store.

From a guy who has completely torn up his shoulder, get an MRI. Don't screw around.

$500 for boat and trailer is fair. Trailer would be worth $500 around these parts

Do I even ask how the 12poundbass family wipes their.....

It's a lifesaver when you need it. The pushpole I have has hinged duckbills on it rather than being fixed