Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day (IGOLD) has become the number one demonstration of citizens promoting gun owners’ rights in the United States, and the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) is its primary sponsor.
The next IGOLD will be held on April 15, 2026
The year 2026 is no exception: IGOLD will send an important and vital message to the Illinois Legislature. The Illinois State Rifle Association and others are taking the lawsuit against the State of Illinois over its unconstitutional ban on semi-automatic firearms all the way to the Supreme Court of the US. It’s imperative that you be there to show your support and resolve. You are urged to take the day off and attend this event.
We encourage every one to set up a carpool to get to IGOLD. Sporting clubs and local organizations are encouraged to sponsor a bus to IGOLD.
Check back soon for more details and updates!
Private Bus Information If your gun club, gun shop, hunting group and/or organization is thinking about bringing a bus to IGOLD with your members, NOW is the time to plan it.If you are bringing a bus,please let us know by April 1st. The ISRA must pay for your bus parking in advance. Please notify the ISRA Office and speak with Shirley at 815.635.3198 Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4pm. You can also email Shirley. Please put BUS NOTIFICATION in the subject line. We will update you on IGOLD as we get closer to the date.IGOLD Bus Seat Signup – Alton, IL There are seats available to IGOLD from Piasa Armory, in Alton. First come-first served. Location: Piasa Armory, 3685 E. Broadway, Alton, IL 62002, 618-433-2715. Please click either link below to make your reservation and for more information. IGOLD bus signup or click here: https://Piasaarmory.ezfacility.com//Sessions/session/186349815You can email questions to Scott Pulaski.IGOLD Bus Signup – Chillicothe/East Peoria/Morton, IL Chillicothe Sportsman’s Club Bus: Open for club members until April 1st. Open to the public after April 1st, first come-first served. To reserve your seat, please call: Deb Park at 309-369-6238.3 Locations/Pickup times:
8:00 am – Public parking lot downtown – Chillicothe 8:00
8:45 am – North end of Kohl’s parking lot – East Peoria
9:15 am – Morton Field Shopping Center in Morton
Cost: $30 per personIGOLD Bus Signup – Decatur, IL Sign up by booking online at Reserve my bus seat.
or by calling 217.764.5678 (The Bullet Trap, Macon, IL).Leaves from the Decatur Civic Center at 9:30 am
Pickup at Capitol Bldg. at 3:30 pm for return trip to Decatur
Cost: $35.00 per person (round trip).First come-first served. Reserve by April 1st.Amtrak Train ScheduleInbound to Springfield (1/2 mile from train station to the Bank of Springfield Center) Departs: 7:15 am Chicago Union Station
Arrives: 10:10 am Springfield StationOutbound to Chicago Departs: 4:46 pm Springfield Station
Arrives: 8:00 pm Chicago Union Station
IGOLD Special Guest:
David McDermott - McDermott Law Group
David McDermott is the founding partner of McDermott Law Group, LLC with over 27 years of experience as a practicing attorney. His natural tendency to think outside the box and his ability to go into the courtroom swinging has garnered him a reputation for winning results nationwide.
David has successfully litigated cases in multiple states, given lectures around the country on various legal subjects, and most recently appeared as an expert witness in a congressional hearing on self-defense. David is very passionate about what he does and takes pride in having curated a team of intelligent and competent attorneys who share his values.
David McDermott is one of the most sought-after and engaging speakers in the Midwest as an authority on your right to self-defense. You will not want to miss hearing him speak at this year’s IGOLD on April 15, 2026.
The Rich History of the Annual IGOLD Event
The Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day (IGOLD) was started back in the early ‘90’s to put a face on Illinois gun owners. Up until that time, the media portrayed gun owners and anyone who believed in the Second Amendment as some knuckle-dragging Neanderthal throw backs, barely worthy of being called humans. IGOLD helped change that, although the mainstream media will still label gun owners that way when they can get away with it.
The first ISRA Lobby Day was attended by about 200 people. Among those attending were four undercover policemen. In 2006, the ISRA joined with several other groups, and ISRA Lobby Day became Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day (IGOLD).
The crowds have grown each year. In 2013, 8200-gun owners showed up to lobby their legislators and to become the face of all the gun owners in Illinois. Because of IGOLD and other ISRA activities, gun owners have increased in stature in Illinois.
One of the early attendees of this big event was Otis McDonald. The court case known as McDonald et al. v. City of Chicago came about because of IGOLD. IGOLD proves what law-abiding gun owners can accomplish when they stick together. It is critical that we let politicians know how important our gun rights are. We will support only those legislators who support our gun rights. IGOLD is the ideal time to demonstrate our mutual commitment to the Second Amendment, and the right of self-defense!
IGOLD, and the preservation of the Second Amendment rights, is an expensive undertaking that involves many people, many communications, many activities, and a lot of planning. To help offset these expenses, we offer opportunities to participate with raffles and donations. We extend out thanks to all who participate in our IGOLD raffles.
“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.”
Lily Tomlin
“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”
Editor of KABA LIBERTY ADVOCATE, Friday, July 30, 2001
“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.”
SUSAN B. ANTHONY
“You may find me one day dead in a ditch somewhere. But by God, you’ll find me in a pile of brass.”
Tpr. M. Padgett
“Using inner city kids as your proof that guns and kids don’t mix, is like using an alcoholic to prove all people will abuse alcohol.”
Lori Broadhead
“How dare politicians continue to pass insane laws forcing good, law-abiding people to be defenseless and helpless.”
Ted Nugent
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.”
Samuel Adams, Massachusetts' U.S. Constitution Ratification Convention, 1788
“One of the greatest delusions in the world is the hope that the evils in this world are to be cured by legislation.”
Thomas B. Reed (1886)
“No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.”
Thomas Jefferson, Proposed Virginia Constitution (1776)
“Foolish liberals who are trying to read the Second Amendment out of the Constitution are courting disaster by encouraging others to use the same means to eliminate portions of the constitution THEY don’t like.”
Alan Dershowitz
“Every 13 seconds in America someone uses a gun to stop a crime.”
Sen. Larry Craig
“The AK-47 is not a device of aggression … I devised this machine-gun for the security of my country,”
