NW Illinois News

District 37 State Senate candidate Chris Bishop expressed appreciation to Guns Save Life for the opportunity to address the audience at a recent meeting organized by the Peoria-based gun rights advocacy group. Bishop, who took to Facebook to convey his gratitude, highlighted the privilege of listening to retired Lt. Colonel Mark A. Hurley and the pleasure of meeting numerous Peoria County Republicans in attendance.

"Thank you, Guns Save Life - Peoria, IL, for the opportunity to speak at your meeting last night," Bishop siad on Facebook. "It was a privilege to listen to retired Colonel Mark A. Hurley and great to meet so many wonderful Peoria County Republicans!"

Bishop's recognition of Guns Save Life's role in promoting community engagement underscores the organization's influence on local politics and advocacy. According to information from the group’s website, Guns Save Life was founded approximately two decades ago and has evolved from a modest gathering in a fast-food restaurant into a significant force in gun rights advocacy. Although affiliated with the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the Illinois State Rifle Association, it operates as an independent non-profit committed to upholding the fundamental right to self-defense.

The mission of Guns Save Life is prominently displayed on the masthead of its monthly journal, GunNews Magazine: "We defend your right to defend yourself." The magazine has a monthly circulation of about 20,000 and serves as a platform for sharing information and perspectives on gun rights. The organization holds monthly meetings across six cities in Illinois—Champaign, Pontiac, Peoria, Springfield, Charleston, and Chicago—and these gatherings attract between fifty and three hundred attendees who are all registered voters. Beyond these meetings, Guns Save Life actively engages in lobbying efforts, public awareness campaigns, and community support initiatives.

During his presentation at the meeting attended by Bishop, Lt. Colonel Hurley shared that he had been stationed at the 183d Air Operations Group in Springfield where he served in the Illinois Air National Guard. With over 13 years of experience, Hurley has been involved in projects such as the National Planning System - Worldwide Dashboard since September 2012. This initiative integrates various strategic and tactical planning methodologies, including the Theory of Constraints, Constraint Management Model, LEAN, Joint Operational Planning and Execution System, and legacy tactical information and data systems. He has also served as an Assistant Professor at the US Army Command and General Staff School US Command and General Staff College.

Bishop is currently serving his second term on the Dixon City Council. His political career was sparked by the City of Dixon’s encounter with the largest municipal fraud case in U.S. history in 2015. He now works in the private sector as a grain marketing and crop insurance representative. Bishop holds a master’s degree in kinesiology and his political journey is rooted in his extensive experience as a teacher and high school wrestling coach in Dixon Public Schools, where he worked for a decade, according to his campaign website.

The 37th State Senate District encompasses Lee, Bureau, Henry, DeKalb, Ogle, Rock Island, Whiteside, Stark, Peoria, Woodford and Marshall counties according to ilga.gov. The district is currently represented by State Sen. Win Stoller (R-Germantown Hills). He announced in August that he would not seek a third term.