Illinois Congressmen Chooses to Hold First News Conference of the 2012 Election Year at Rock Island Auction Company and Talks 2^nd Amendment

Bobby Schilling (R) a U.S. House Representative for Illinois’s 17th congressional district, choose to hold his first news conference of the 2012 election year at the Rock Island Auction Company. Mr. Schilling assumed office back in 2011 and was the first Republican to hold the seat in 27 years. The freshmen Republican used the press conference to announce that he would be returning $110,000 back to his district from the allotted tax-payer funded MRA (member’s representational allowance). “A lot of my collogues believe that they need to spend every dollar that is given to them. With a growing state and national debt to the tune of billions in the state of Illinois, and many trillions nationally we need to be as conservative as we can with our money and cut wasteful spending”, Mr. Schilling said. Congressman Schilling is one of only a handful of members to actually return allotted funds back to the tax payers.  After the press conference was over Mr. Schilling fielded questions from both the press and audience.

Theodore Roosevelt’s Colt Automatic Pistol

26^th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt’s Colt Automatic Pistol to be Offered at Public Firearms Auction. December 2011

Rock Island, Illinois. One of the most interesting and important personal effects of the celebrated 26^th Presidents of the United States Theodore Roosevelt, known for his animated and energetic personality, wide variety of interests, a love of the outdoors, will be auctioned off Saturday December 2^nd  by the Rock Island Auction Company.

The item to be sold is a Fully Documented Colt Model 1902 Semi-Automatic Pistol Factory Gold Inlaid with initials “T.R.”. The pistol is one of a handful of firearms ever to have been presented to a standing U.S. President. The pistol is accompanied by a factory letter which confirms all features of this pistol. More importantly though are a pair of letters, the first of which was discovered in the Library of Congress dated March 4, 1903 and is a thank you letter from President Roosevelt to Colt President Franklin Julian Price in which he inquires about what cartridges the pistol fires. The second letter dated March 5, 1903 comes from the Colt President Mr. Price “I am glad you like the Colt Automatic. As to the cartridges, the weapon takes either the .38 caliber Automatic Colt or the .38 Caliber Rimless Smokeless. The pistol is expected to fetch upwards of $150,000.00

The President was an avid outdoorsmen, and hunter. And among many other things is considered the father of our National Park system. He was also known to be a fantastic marksman and from the documentation that accompanies this pistol it is clear the President had every intention of firing this pistol. The practice of presenting special firearms to diplomats, and other high ranking influential people, was originated by Samuel Colt in the early 1850’s as a means to secure large government contracts.

View the description and photos. Lot 1434