Articles by David E. Smith
Gun Control Won’t Work
By David E. Smith   |   08.17.19
In 2016, there were 11,004 gun homicides in the United States, Additionally, 10,497 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. Why do leftists demonize guns but are silent when it comes to alcohol’s role in DUI deaths? Some big government...
Early Bird Deadline Approaching!
By David E. Smith   |   08.14.19
Illinois Family Institute is looking forward to welcoming Rev. Franklin Graham to our annual fall banquet in a few months to share his faith, concerns about the secular culture and his vision for our country. He truly inspires hope for...
Stonestreet: Have We Lost the Culture? Why Christians Should Continue to Care
By David E. Smith   |   08.12.19
What is culture? For many Christians, “culture” simply means “all the bad stuff that happens in the world,” but according to John Stonestreet, it’s far more than that. The problem is not with culture, for culture is neither good nor...
Stonestreet: The Sexual Revolution: Its Ideas and Its Victims
By David E. Smith   |   08.05.19
What grounds human dignity? Without the answers that the Christian ideas of inherent dignity and equality provide, the culture turns to sex. In the first session at the 2019 IFI Worldview Conference, John Stonestreet spoke on what it means to...
The Effects Of A Lukewarm Church
By David E. Smith   |   08.02.19
The great preacher of yesteryear, Charles Spurgeon, once said, “I do not think he [the devil] cares how many Baptist chapels you build, nor how many churches you open, if you have only lukewarm preachers and people in them.”  Lukewarm...
Stonestreet: The Beautiful Biblical Vision of the Human Person
By David E. Smith   |   08.01.19
“All men are created equal” and “man is created in the image of God”—these two statements are arguably some of the most important concepts in American history and in Christianity, respectively. But what do they have to do with each...
Community Opt-Out for Marijuana Dispensaries
By David E. Smith   |   07.17.19
Last month, on June 25th, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation to approve so-called “recreational” marijuana for persons 21 years old and older. When this law (HB 1438 Senate Amendment 2) takes effect on January 1, 2020, it will allow...
Rev. Franklin Graham to Keynote IFI’s Annual Banquet!
By David E. Smith   |   06.11.19
You’ll definitely want to save the date for the next IFI Fall Banquet: Friday, November 1st. This year our keynote speaker will be none other than Rev. Franklin Graham, President & CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Christian...
More Anti-Family Legislation Approved by State Lawmakers
By David E. Smith   |   06.04.19
The regular session of the Illinois General Assembly ended at midnight on May 31st. When that deadline passed, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) called for a Special Session of the Illinois House in order to finish what they started--namely the expansion of immorality, exploitation of citizens with new fees and taxes, and irresponsible spending of state government. They finished "business" on Sunday.
Illinois Senate Passes Legal Weed
By David E. Smith   |   05.30.19
The Illinois Senate approved the so-called  “Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act” (HB 1438 Senate Amendment 2) late yesterday by a vote of 38–17 with two voting present and two not voting. This bill now moves to the Illinois House for consideration. We have been told that Governor Pritzker has been making personal calls to lawmakers, promising them favors for their yes vote.
Pray, Pray, Pray & Call, Call, Call
By David E. Smith   |   05.27.19
As you may know, our state lawmakers returned to the Capitol late Sunday afternoon to begin their last week of regular session, which is scheduled to end on Friday, May 31st. At 6:08 PM, SB 25 (House Amendment 1) was...
“Is This What You Really Want for Your Children?” Asks State Rep. Moylan
By David E. Smith   |   05.23.19
“There’s other ways to generate revenue, not on the backs of our kids and young adults who are going to be addicted and sucked into this.” So said State Representative Marty Moylan (D-Des Plaines), at a news conference that was held outside the Thompson Center earlier this month. Rep. Moylan is leading a bipartisan effort that opposes Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s precipitous push to legalize recreational marijuana.
Psychologist Warns Lawmakers Against Marijuana Legalization
By David E. Smith   |   05.16.19
“Any change in drug policy should reduce drug use, not increase it,” states Dr. Aaron Weiner, licensed clinical psychologist and Director of Addiction Services at Linden Oaks Behavioral Health in Naperville. Dr. Weiner succinctly details the facts that refute Illinois...
Industrialization, Commercialization of “Millennial Marijuana”
By David E. Smith   |   05.14.19
Abu Edwards, National Director for Smart Approaches to Marijuana, has an impassioned message for Illinois legislators who are pursuing a headlong rush to legalize weed – slow down, or better yet, stop altogether! Based on personal experience, Edwards describes the...
Pastor Livingston Speaks Out Against “Hopped-Up Super Weed”
By David E. Smith   |   05.10.19
Pastor Gregory Livingston, interim pastor of New Hope Baptist Church on the west side of Chicago, is bold enough to speak the blunt truth (pun intended) about the “hopped-up super weed” that Governor JB Pritzker and the Democrats in Springfield are eager to legalize – or as Livingston states, “weaponized” against disadvantaged communities.
David E. Smith
Executive Director
David  E. Smith

Dave Smith is the executive director of Illinois Family Institute (501c3) and Illinois Family Action (501c4).

David has 30 years of experience in public policy and grass-roots activism that includes countless interviews for numerous radio, television, cable programs and newspaper articles on topics such as the sanctity of life, natural marriage, broadcast decency, sex education, marijuana, gambling, abortion, homosexuality, tax policy, drug decriminalization and pornography.

He and his wife of 29 years are blessed to be the parents of eight children. They strongly believe that their first duty before God is to disciple their children in the Christian faith, and impress a love of God on their hearts. There is a plethora of research that suggest that parents are the primary influencers in a child’s life. In an ideal world, that’s a mom and dad. Discipleship includes not only studying God’s Word but living a life of faith and walking in obedience to God. Discipleship is also necessary for sound doctrine, love of God and others. We do this in hopes of raising healthy and productive members of society who live to honor God and love their neighbors.

Dave has also served as a precinct committeeman and served as an ordained minister/elder in his local church.

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