Jim Zumbo Apologizes
Jim Zumbo apologizes:
I was wrong, BIG TIME
"Someone once said that to err is human. I just erred, and made without question, the biggest blunder in my 42 years of writing hunting articles.
My blog inflamed legions of people I love most..... hunters and shooters. Obviously, when I wrote that blog, I activated my mouth before engaging my brain.
Let me explain the circumstances surrounding that blog. I was hunting coyotes, and after the hunt was over and being beat up by 60 mph winds all day, I was discussing hunting with one of the young guides. I was tired and exhausted, and I should have gone to bed early. When the guide told me that there was a "huge" following of hunters who use AR 15's and similar weapons to hunt prairies dogs, I was amazed. At that point I wrote the blog, and never thought it through.
Now then, you might not believe what I have to say, but I hope you do. How is it that Zumbo, who has been hunting for more than 50 years, is totally ignorant about these types of guns. I don't know. I shot one once at a target last year, and thought it was cool, but I never considered using one for hunting. I had absolutely no idea how vast the numbers of folks are who use them.
I never intended to be devisive [sic], and I certainly believe in United we Stand, Divided we Fall. I've been an NRA member for 40 years, have attended 8 national NRA conventions in the last 10 years, and I'm an advisory board member for the United States Sportsmen's Alliance which actively fights anti-hunters and animal rights groups for hunter's rights.
What really bothers me are some of the unpatriotic comments leveled at me. I fly the flag 365 days a year in my front yard. Last year, through an essay contest, I hosted a soldier wounded in Iraq to a free hunt in Botswana. This year, through another essay contest, I'm taking two more soldiers on a free moose and elk hunt.
When I started blogging, I was told to write my thoughts, expressing my own opinion. The offensive blog I wrote was MY opinion, and no one else's. None of the companies that I deal with share that opinion, nor were they aware of what I had written until this firestorm started.
Believe it or not, I'm your best friend if you're a hunter or shooter, though it might not seem that way. I simply screwed up. And, to show that I'm sincere about this, I just talked to Ted Nugent, who everyone knows, and is a Board member of the NRA. Ted is extremely active with charities concerning our wounded military, and though he's known as a bowhunter, Ted has no problem with AR 15's and similar firearms. My sincerity stems from the fact that Ted and I are planning a hunt using AR 15's. I intend to learn all I can about them, and again, I'm sorry for inserting my foot in my mouth."
Yep, you are right Zumbo. That was about the biggest mistake you ever made in your gun writing career. You turned your back on your gun owning brethren, and went straight into the gun grabbing Brady camp to save your own hide. When you saw that you were condemned and thousands of people were writing the corporations that send your fat ass on canned hunts, you suddenly had a change of heart.
Too damned late. You have shown unequivocally who you are. You cannot drop enough names, attend enough conferences or pay enough dues to the NRA to change your words. These were your words. They were spoken when you thought you were unopposed, and you thought your Elmer Fudd readership would fawn over your elder gun writer wisdom. Wake up Zumbo! It's a new world! The internet ain't a damned gun rag!
When you said "I'll go so far as to call them 'terrorist' rifles", you called every American serviceman a terrorist. Now I don't care if you fly a thousand flags in your yard, paint your whole damned house red, white and blue, and take the entire 82nd Airborne to a free hunt in Botswana, you cannot change that. Those are your words, and they reflect your thoughts and character.
I'll give you credit for responding to your own personal blogswarm promptly, but that will not reestablish your credibility. Hopefully it will create a vacancy at Outdoor Life that can be filled by a young gun writer who cherishes the 2nd amendment, and the individual liberties this country was founded on.
Note: Anonymous commentors to this blog article may want to look at this article where Jim Zumbo susequently, finally "gets it". A canned apology such as the one in this blog article, that fails to recognize the issue at hand, only makes the problem greater. Supporting his canned apology that fails to recognize the problem only demonstrates you fail to recognize the problem as well.
Labels: Zumbo
posted by Xavier at 4:07 PM
73 Comments:
If only we could get our community to respond as promptly and ferociously to anti-gunners.
Rather a harsh position to take, isn't that, Xavier? I don't know anything about Zumbo's history -- do you? Is he a Romney or Giuliani type, with a long paper trail of anti-gun words and actions? Or is he maybe a pro-gun chap who made a mistake and intends to learn from it?
I'm inclined to give any dog one free bite. A sad world it will be if people aren't allowed to learn from their mistakes and redeem themselves. I won't forget what he said, and certainly won't ignore it -- but is there really no room in this fight for forgiveness?
He doesn't get a free bite out of my ass.
The first post was what he actually thinks, or else what he thought would suck up to the 'right' people. The second is pure CYA.
One free bite, as wolfwalker said, gives the Brady Bunch yet MORE fodder for their arsenal. He gets NO free bites when his ignorance sticks a knife in the back of ALL gun owners. Bastard.
~Monica
The Brady turds are already using this in their ongoing campaign.
Check out Mike Bane's blog for details.
Divide and conquer is their game. If they can get everyone to believe that any weapon that's not suitable for hunting should be verboten, then guess what guys and girls?
Once they get rid of all those guns, then the hunters are next because it will never be enough for them.
I'll accept his apology after he spends his time and money explaining that the restrictions imposed by the 2nd Amendment means that any law that restricts possession of any type of firearm, NFA '34 included, is Unconstitutional. The only legal "gun control" is laws reqarding your actions with a firearm. Until then, bye bye Zumbo ...
The reason we as gun owners have attacked this clown so ferociously is that we get attacked enough from the outside. We surely can't afford to have our own fellow gun owners destroying us from the inside.
He should be made a lesson of to all the other elitist gun bigots. Whether you are into shotgunning or blackpowder makes no difference. A gun is a gun and we should all stand firmly together to fight these assclowns on the left trying to disarm us.
That was one friggin' HUGE free bite, Wolfwalker. I understand if someone prefers one type of gun to another, but he was talking out of his bloated, eliteist, brady-campaign-loving ass when he posted the original article. No excuse is good enough. My besty friend is getting ready to go overseas to defend our lives with his gov't issued TERRORIST RIFLE, and there's a chance he'll die with it in his hands.
Screw you, Zumbo. This was the first time I ever read your blog, and it was enough. Good riddance.
Zumbo's blog was taken down/offline today. You'll see the blog link missing, and if you try to go to blogs/zumbo you'll see a disclamer by outdoor life.
Poor Jim Zumbo. Decades of hard work erased with a single blog. Some guys just need editors, I suppose.
I can understand him not wanting to hunt with an AR, I can understand him saying hunting with AR's is too easy. (yeah I know meanwhile he's attending a caned hunt) I can understand him not liking AR's as ahunting rifle (no company gave him a free one) but unless he's been in a cave with osama for the last 40 years he should know how the anti gun people would have used statements like those he made. And as knowing such he gets no free pass from me.
Hilarious...this is like michael richards and mel gibson getting hammered and spouting their hidden beliefs about blacks and jews, then falling all over their pathetic selves to apologize and get religion when their golden nut gets threatened; that Jack Daniels truth serum is some powerful shit!
So my $2000 hot-rodded Colt AR (and Dumbo, it IS a tackdriver!) makes me a TERRORIST? At best, this clown is incredibly ignorant and clueless and at worst he's an internal tool for incremental erosion of second amendment rights and HE'S THE TERRORIST!...either way, I'll never again pick up a publication that contains his "writing". Al Terego
Wonder if this old boy was knocking back a few bourbons when he wrote that my two thousand dollar hot-rodded Colt AR (and baby, it IS a tackdriver!) makes me a terrorist; considering world events, it's hard to imagine a professional writer using words like that by mistake or due to fatigue...
What he wrote is what he believes; his true purpose was revealed and now he knows he's going down. Attack on our rights of true liberty and freedom incrementally, and from the "inside", is far more insidious and perilous to those of us who hold the amendments to be absolute than when spouted by the usual suspects...let's hope it's an isolated incident and not endemic among these exclusivist rags...but to make a powerful point, no one who believes his rights are sancrosact should but another single issue of this magazine as long as this gentleman is associated with it. Al Terego
Writing without thinking?I was tired?Sounds like a lame juvenile excuse to me.Comes a time when you gotta accept the consequence of your own actions.
Plain and simple-you expressed an uninformed opinion which was detrimental in the utmost to the shooting sports and collecting community.You gave the anti's mucho to expound upon.That wipes out all of your prior experience which you touted.
Your losses in sponsors and credibility will be much less than you deserve.Maybe the city sanitation department needs help.
Stan in South Carolina
I think what you see is what you get. He's not a very informed person and likely not real swift, ether. It's hard to tell since he alway writes about how bumbling he is. I let my subscription to Shooting Illustrated lapse after they took him on a columnist. Terrible column, bad writing . . . I had thought the previous guy was bad, sheesh!
you don't give a dog a free bite, you never know if he is rabid or not. if a dog shows the inclination to bite you put the SOB down. you don't take chances.
Zumbo's career is over as a gun writer. I'm sure the Brady campaign will hire him though.
XB,
I understand the seriousness of this issue, but I have to ask you a question. If Zumbo really is sorry and wants to make up for his mistake, how would we know? In other words, what must he do to be forgiven?
http://www.memorableplaces.com/m1garand/joinordie.html
Join or die...
You might not like black guns, but they are coming for your deer rifle too.
[b]In Support of Jim Zumbo[/b]
In support of Mr. Zumbo, I would first like to say, I don't necessarily agree with the way Jim articulated his thoughts on AR and AK style rifles, but can understand completely what he was trying to convey to his cherished fellow hunters.
The sad part is, that the Hunting community, is willing to watch this Good man's career be totally destroyed, simply because so many hunters misinterpreted what he was saying.
He's being accused of speaking against the Second Amendment, which just isn't true. The Second Amendment reads:
[quote]A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.[/quote]
Nowhere does it mention your/our right to use whatever weapon we wish, when it comes to hunting. Hunting regulations are a separate issue entirely.
I'm surprised that so many hunters, cannot separate the Second Amendment, from which firearms may or may not be appropriate for hunting use in the field.
The Second Amendment doesn't just say "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed". It says much more. And what Jim said has nothing to do with anyone giving up their right to keep and bear Arms.
I don't even understand how the Second Amendment got into this "Hunting" conversation. I'm starting to think most hunter's interpret the Second Amendment like they interpreted what Jim said.
Jim never once said that AR and AK style rifles should be banned from ownership in America, thus infringing on your Second Amendment rights to bear arms.
He was instead trying to articulate how the general non-hunting public perceives you and I as hunters. How those millions of would be hunters, non-hunters, neutral bystanders, or even those would be anti's might be swayed to think one way or the other by the way we, the hunting community, and those who make our hunting laws, conduct ourselves. We have a huge responsibility on our shoulders in how they perceive us. He's not worried about the present anti-gun, anti-hunting lobbyists out there. They already have their minds made up. He's more concerned (as am I) about the way the rest of the general public perceives the hunting community as a whole.
Jim never once called hunters (or the Armed forces for that matter), terrorists nor did he insinuate that any hunter (or American soldier), hunting with an AR or AK rifle was a terrorist. I'm actually embarrassed and appalled that so many in the hunting community misunderstood him and mis-quoted him on this, and are willing to hang him out to dry.
The important message I got from what Jim had to say, is that us hunters, might want to seriously think about regulating ourselves in the woods, before those who perceive us and out number us in the millions, decide to outlaw "US" because of our own stubbornness and near sightedness. We should be more involved in helping make sound hunting regulations also.
I can't believe so many of my fellow hunters are so quick to destroy one of their own, who has devoted his life to hunting. You should all be very ashamed.
there are a lot of false accusation and misinterpretations levelled at Jim for what he said.
If he's guilty of anything, it is not being able to articulate what he was really trying to say.
I find it appalling that so many FELLOW sportsman are willing to hang his career out to dry over this, and have made so many false accusations, about what he was really trying to say.
I think it's time for those of us who can understand what he was actually trying to articulate in his statements, whether we agree with the way he articulated it or not, stand up and try to save this man's career, before it's too late.
This is my personal opinion
Steve
[b]In Support of Jim Zumbo[/b]
In support of Mr. Zumbo, I would first like to say, I don't necessarily agree with the way Jim articulated his thoughts on AR and AK style rifles, but can understand completely what he was trying to convey to his cherished fellow hunters.
The sad part is, that the Hunting community, is willing to watch this Good man's career be totally destroyed, simply because so many hunters misinterpreted what he was saying.
He's being accused of speaking against the Second Amendment, which just isn't true. The Second Amendment reads:
[quote]A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.[/quote]
Nowhere does it mention your/our right to use whatever weapon we wish, when it comes to hunting. Hunting regulations are a separate issue entirely.
I'm surprised that so many hunters, cannot separate the Second Amendment, from which firearms may or may not be appropriate for hunting use in the field.
The Second Amendment doesn't just say "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed". It says much more. And what Jim said has nothing to do with anyone giving up their right to keep and bear Arms.
I don't even understand how the Second Amendment got into this "Hunting" conversation. I'm starting to think most hunter's interpret the Second Amendment like they interpreted what Jim said.
Jim never once said that AR and AK style rifles should be banned from ownership in America, thus infringing on your Second Amendment rights to bear arms.
He was instead trying to articulate how the general non-hunting public perceives you and I as hunters. How those millions of would be hunters, non-hunters, neutral bystanders, or even those would be anti's might be swayed to think one way or the other by the way we, the hunting community, and those who make our hunting laws, conduct ourselves. We have a huge responsibility on our shoulders in how they perceive us. He's not worried about the present anti-gun, anti-hunting lobbyists out there. They already have their minds made up. He's more concerned (as am I) about the way the rest of the general public perceives the hunting community as a whole.
Jim never once called hunters (or the Armed forces for that matter), terrorists nor did he insinuate that any hunter (or American soldier), hunting with an AR or AK rifle was a terrorist. I'm actually embarrassed and appalled that so many in the hunting community misunderstood him and mis-quoted him on this, and are willing to hang him out to dry.
The important message I got from what Jim had to say, is that us hunters, might want to seriously think about regulating ourselves in the woods, before those who perceive us and out number us in the millions, decide to outlaw "US" because of our own stubbornness and near sightedness. We should be more involved in helping make sound hunting regulations also.
I can't believe so many of my fellow hunters are so quick to destroy one of their own, who has devoted his life to hunting. You should all be very ashamed.
there are a lot of false accusation and misinterpretations levelled at Jim for what he said.
If he's guilty of anything, it is not being able to articulate what he was really trying to say.
I find it appalling that so many FELLOW sportsman are willing to hang his career out to dry over this, and have made so many false accusations, about what he was really trying to say.
I think it's time for those of us who can understand what he was actually trying to articulate in his statements, whether we agree with the way he articulated it or not, stand up and try to save this man's career, before it's too late.
This is my personal opinion
Steve
Keith,
I wrote my opinion over at The High Road, when another member posted about redemption onboard a ship when a member of the crew screws up. I'll copy it here.
"ArfinGreebly,
Post #333. Good post. Gave me food for thought. Indeed, food for thought.
I, too, was a sailor, and I know how valuable trust is at sea. There are times when it is best that a sailor leaves the ship at the next port of call and another sailor comes on board. I have a hard time seeing how this man can be redeemed. I, and I suspect others as well, will always think his first words of terrorist rifles were his true feelings. No amount of phone calls to Ted Nugent or interviews with Tom Gresham can change that. I give the man credit for several things.......He did not alter his words after the fact, he did respond promptly, and he has made an attempt. His apology does not address the issues at hand though, and it is tainted by coercion.
There are others who will have to go through life unforgiven. These include Robert Garwood, John Walker, Jane Fonda, John Kerry, and of course, there was Benedict Arnold. Their acts were beyond redemption to many. Zumbo has joined their ranks, and sadly, there will be more.
At times, a sailor cannot even be trusted to chip paint. He consumes more in chow and space than he is worth. His only value is to be held up as an example, ostracized, and pointed to with great scorn to show others what could happen to them if they are foolish enough to follow that path. That is where Zumbo is at. Zumbo's redemption, if it can be found at all, is up to Zumbo, and it will not come about by going deer hunting with a rock star and a AR. His suggestion that redemption could be reached in that manner only demonstrates his failure to understand the problem."
That is how I feel. Zumbo may find redemption within himself, and I forgive him as a person who made a mistake, but he can never be trusted with the leadership role he had as a gun writer again. Harsh? Yes. Unjustified? I don't think so.
I worked with a fellow who had guided Zumbo in Idaho. He said Zumbo was a first rate a-hole elitist snob. Never put much thought into it, guess he was right on the money about the guy. Me and my terrorist rifle are having a good laugh now....
Dear Jim,
You now know that America has a voice and will not tolerate ill spoken words from among the believers and supporters of the 2nd amendment of the constitution of the United States of America.
You have lost the respect and confidence of your readers and more critical to you, your corporate sponsors.
Dedicate the rest of your years to supporting what all these men and women are telling you. It's about Freedom and Liberty granted by the constitution of the United States.
Now go to work and make people believe your sincerity of your apology.
an ol friend
XB,
I see your point. I am glad that you made the distinction between personal forgiveness and forgiveness in a leadership capacity.
As you may know, I am a hardcore Christian and the recent downfall of Ted Haggard would be a very similar situation. He may be forgiven as a man, but he is forever disqualified as a Christian leader. He certainly cannot be allowed to speak against homosexuality.
Thanks again XB. You sure are articulate for a crusty old sailor! ;-)
"Jim never once called hunters (or the Armed forces for that matter), terrorists nor did he insinuate that any hunter (or American soldier), hunting with an AR or AK rifle was a terrorist."
I guess what he was implying was that the rifles themselves are terrorists and need not have a human operator in order to impart destruction on whatever crosses the muzzle. You can try to justify what he said from now until eternity. Unfortunately the irrational thinking of the antis will twist and contort what he posted as a fact and that's all that matters. The fat bastard got what was coming to him.
I really have no interest in the typical hunting rifle, but I don't run around shitting on them and their owners. The 2A doesn't say we can have arms for hunting, it says we can have arms, period. It's up to us to decide what we are responsible enough to have and I can say that I don't need some left-wing mental case that has a profound fear of reality dictating to me that I have no need for what I have. Assholes like Dumbo fuel their fire and reinforce an attitude that is not representative of me.
Dumbo is the Benadict Arnold of the gun culture and deserves what he gets. No compromise!
Looks like zumbo is gaining support from his anti following crowd. http://www.outdoorlife.com//outdoor/columnists/article/0,19912,1591915,00.html
apology accepted.
the un-patriotic comments we left you were in response to your classifying of AR-15/AK users as "terrorists". Those same weapons you called "terrorist rifles" are being carried by US soldiers around the world. And the kalashnikov is the main small arm of dozens of nations.
-spike
I SUPPOSED I AM A PURIST, MY FAVORITE HUNTING RIFLE IS A 1903 MANNLICHER SCHOENAUER SPORTING RIFLE. I WOULD GUESS MANY YOUNGER HUNTERS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS IS.I HAVE CHASED LIONS AND HAVE BEEN CHASED BY ELEPHANTS. IN MY OLD AGE I NOW CHASE STAG IN THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS AND WHITETAIL DEER IN THREE STATES ANNUALLY. I ALSO LOVE TO TO SHOOT MY MILITARY RIFLES. THIS INCLUDES MY SHARPS CARBINE TO MY AR. I AM FIRST AND FOREMOST A RIFLEMAN. I OWN PISTOLS AND SHOTGUNS, BUT MY TRUE PASSION IS THE RIFLE. I AM NOT AN AVID PISTOL SHOOTER, BUT I AM NOT CRITICAL OF MY PISTOLERO FRIENDS. I CANNOT BELEIVE WHAT ZUMBO SAID. NO FORGIVING ON MY PART. AS FATHER ALWAYS SAID, IF YOU DO NOT WANT A DRINK OF THE WHISKEY YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SPIT IN THE BOTTLE.
Greg said..
This whole thing is the wierdest thing I've seen in a long time.
He shouldn't have said something like that.. Although I agree that somebody hunting with assault rifle kind of looks like a jack ass.. but that's the extent of where I go on that. Two minutes latter i wouldn't even remember.
Assualt rifles are kind of cool and I guess if you want to look like a jack ass or a fool chasing deer it's a free world. I'd stick to using them for targets/training/defensive purposes..
Does that make me a friend of Brady? If so I'm laughing at your ass
Well with all the blogs we atleast know we have many brothers in arms.I will never buy nor read anything that has to do with Zumbo or a sponsor of him. So much damage done by one man. I hope this is a lesson to all of us that we must stay vigilant and stand together. Or forever we may loose our right to keep and bear arms. Please all stay active in the fight be heard be active in anyway you can. Join the NRA if your not in allready. Call and or write your congressmes and senators. And we just might keep out GOD given right. P.S Mitt Romney might be a good bet for 08 he joined the NRA and swore to uphold the 2nd.........
WHAT CAN'T YOU IDIOTS UNDERSTAND JIM ZUMBO'S BLOG WAS NOT ABOUT THE 2ND AMENDMENT!!!! IT WAS ALL ABOUT HUNTERS IMAGE TO REST OF THE NON-HUNTER PUBLIC !!!
Zumbo has stood tall among hunter for many years. Give him a chance to at least explain. I hope you don't suffer his fate for opening your big mouth one day. I won't buy anything else from Remington, Cabelas, Time Inc, and the rest of the companies that have shunned him.
When the framers of our constitution put our second ammendment right into play they had our best intrest at heart. Survival, the right to bare arms one of the greatest things America has to offer its people. Arm yourself for protection,protect the ones you love, provide food for ourselves. It was basic and without it survival was bleak. Before this in the first ammendment they also gave us another wonderful gift, the freedom of speech. Zumbo's statement was not taken lightly by those of us who love guns, not just some types of guns but all guns. We do not expect one of our own to make such statements. As many of us fear drawing attention to ourselves by the so called Brady Bunch and espically negative attention by one of our own who we have followed for so many years as voice for so many of us joined by a common cause. It is important for us to remember that as individuals we all have our own ideas about acceptaple gun use especially hunting. I would not choose to hunt with an AR but someone else might. I feel that Zumbo should have carefully thought out his words before he tried to make his point. A sad thing really for a career to end in a way that they very people who have supported him for over 40 years are now so quick to turn their back on him. Its weakness really, a weakness we have now created amoung ourselves so here we are divided about a mans words. A man we all know supports our common cause, the right to bare arms. We can say that its because some of us felt offended by a comment that makes reference to terrorists but i for one no longer offend easily when it comes to my guns. I understand what he was trying to say and no i do not agree with how he said it. Yet i feel we have created an injustice among ourselves. America is always watching us and we know so many would love to take this right from us yet we can't even agree to disagree among ourselves.
jimbos' iqnorant for someone who is in the hunting communities fore-ground. i spent 6 years in utah wyoming area and varmit hunting is popularly using assault and sniper rifles. i never known or seen anyone carring one into an elk or deer hunt.
I own an assault rifle and I think that if you want to hunt with one and your state says it's legal, go right ahead, but to crucify this guy over his opinion is mindless zealotry. I don't think he should have retracted. If you think it's fun or funny to blow away a whole family of prairie dogs, as long as it's legal, go ahead, but I think there is something wrong with you! Everybody is acting like BIG BROTHER is going to come take their pretty guns away, but it's not going to happen.
I met Jim Zumbo several years ago and found him to be a good person. How many of us have made mistakes and said things we did not mean to those we love the most however after saying what we did, we realized what we said was not what we meant. This does not excuse the fact that he carries a very important roll as an example of the American Hunter. Given the chance, I am sure he would in time be a greater fan of those who hunt with the assult rifle and perhaps even write stories supporting such type of hunting. How many articles do we see about hunting with assult type weapons? Mr. Zumbo, go on that hunt and write about the great time you had and the great experience you had hunting with an assult type rifle. This in time will help strengthen the arguement supporting those people who choose to hunt with this firearm. Take this chance to prove you did not mean any harm and help the fight to keep and bare arms.
Jim Zumbo is being wrongfully crucified.
I disagree with the manner in which Outdoor Life and others have handled the Jim Zumbo incident.
He is being unfairly treated and ostracized. Jim Zumbo has paid his dues, and I would welcome him into my house, and on a hunt any day of the week. Merely because he made a comment on military style weapons being used in hunting, he is now being shunned by Outdoor Life, the NRA, and many others. This reaction is totally out of proportion to what has occurred. It is analogous to the radical clerics and religious fanatics reaction to anyone who happens to express an opinion that differs in any way from their version of the truth.
Are the Outdoor Life, the NRA, and the other critics of Jim Zumbo so weak in their own beliefs about firearms and so threatened by his single comment that they feel they are justified in killing him financially and professionally? I disagree with Mr. Zumbo’s opinion but I don’t feel threatened by it. Many other hunters and sportsmen I know have expressed a similar opinion. The proper response is a respectful discussion, not cutting off all debate and shunning.
I am seriously questioning whether I will renew my NRA membership and my Sports Afield subscription in view of the Taliban-like intolerance you and they have shown to Jim Zumbo.
I usually don't post comments on blogs and to be truthful this my first time, but this is a topic I must comment on. Jim Zumbo wasn't infringing on or denying people's right to the second ammendment, he was just using his first amendment right to post his opinion on the use of assault type rifle for hunting, opposed to the use of traditional shotgun. I absolutely agree with Jim, why would a person need an assault rifle to hunt with, it takes the game out of the hunt. On the other hand I believe one hundred percent that we have the right to own assault rifle to protects ourselves, our homes, our families and our great nation, but please don't persecute the guy because he has an opinion that differs from yours or anybody elses.
After following this over the past week I have come to some conclusions. I need to first clarify what I mean by forgiven. I am a firm believer if someone wrongs me and repents that he should be forgiven. However this is not what I am talking about.
I think that Mr. Zumbo should take up any genuine offers to educate himself in the use of tactical rifles. I would also welcome him if he chose to join me on a shoot, however I would have nothing to teach him on these AR types of rifles, as I do not own one.
With that out of the way, we can now get to the heart of what I am writing; Zumbo's unforgiveness. You see; I am a 2nd Amendment Supporter first, a collector of Curio and Relics and other military style firearms second, a shooter third and a hunter (if thats what you call occasionally freezing your butt off in the woods) last. One thing is that no matter how we place our priorities we all should have the same number one priority: the 2nd Amendment, without it the others matter not.
The article posted by Mr Zumbo was not: 1) a precision comparison of bolt action to AR type rifles, 2) a ballistics comparrison of various ammo capabilities 3) a dependability comparison based on functionality and number of moving parts. It was in its truest form GUN SNOBBERY and a complete lack of respect for someone else's 2nd amendment rights.
I would never, no matter how much I dislike a gun, no matter how much I dislike a certain genre that uses a certain gun, NEVER tell someone that their gun choice does not belong, has no place, and should be banned. If I were to do this then my choice of gun has no relevance and would be undeserving of ownership as I would have condemned another's choice. And I certainly would never describe a gun with the term "Terrorist". Someone who has been in the NRA for 40 years and as well respected hunter should have known this! For this Jim Zumbo should NEVER be forgiven.
Jim Zumbo should never make another dime off his name. He should never write, or publish for that matter, any opinions on firearms or firearms skills. He should never endorse, or be endorsed, by any name or label no matter how big or small. He should never recieve another free promotional item to be tried out or tested. He should just simply fade away only to be rolled out as an example of what true 2nd amendment support is all about.
I hunt deer with an SKS an assault rifle and I'm sure there are many more that do also. I think Zumbo has a right to his opinion just as I have a right to mine. I think he meant what he said and deserves what he got.
there's also an amendment that allows freedom of speech.
i'm just having a hard time picturing the "sport" of using an ak47 to bring down blood-thristy prairie dogs.
he never once referred to soldiers as terrorists. his comments were directed toward the guns use in hunting game, not when used in a time of war. there is a difference.
hah! i just noticed that comments must be approved by the blog author. oh, that's too rich. selective freedoms abound.
The last anonymous is an idiot.
I stumbled on this issue by chance while on the net. After a couple of clicks I landed at this site. I'm a seasonal hunter and mostly a fly fisherman, hiker/camper. I have spent a large number of my 43 years exploring and enjoying the outdoors. I believe in conservation and environment. I own weapons and believe in the right to own them. I don't belong to the NRA or any political party or vote straight ticket. I have always done my own thinking and drawn my own conclusions instead of having someone or any organization do it for me. After reading the posts on this site I have come to a few conclusions. First, here's another group of people led by their noses by an organization (NRA). Second, here's another group of people are so shallow they turn on one of their own whom might have a different individul thought than the herd. Lastly, this type of behavior is why I do not belong to organizations. Hive/herd mentality requires very little individual cognitive ability. By the way, I do not know that much about Jim Zumbo or really care what he said. After all this is America, you remember, land of Freedom of thoughts and speech.
Unreal. Zumbo and Brady dancing in the moonlight. If you can't smell the BS in that inference, please get some help for that crippling paranoia. I don't need an AR to feel like my right to bear arms is valid. I am certainly not going to shit all over the FIRST AMENDMENT because of some misconception on the SECOND AMENDMENT. If you have a burning desire to shoot AR style weapons, join the military. Your help will be greatly appreciated. Otherwise, relax my FELLOW COUNTRYMEN, we're all in it together....you, me, Zumbo. If the black helicopters circle your encampment don't worry those of us with .270's can still prevail.
P.S. They won't pry it from my cold dead hands, they'll be too busy explaining the gaping wound in their ass cheek.
I occationally watch your (former) shows. It is too bad that the radical forces both right and left have made such a big deal of your comments recently. My father helped establish the NRA here in Washington in the 40's, was a certified instructor and led me along the same path. I am a long time member of the NRA and lately have to keep reminding myself that we do more harm than good. Now it's harder. I think Pierre and his gang have overstepped their reach. While I think that the 1st amendment would have no meaning without the second I still don't agree with the widespread reaction to your comments, especially from the NRA.
However badly worded, your comments do not make me feel threatened. Best of luck and God bless.
Yeah right! Turn on Zumbo. Any one offering advice on this blog would be hard pressed to come up with the credentials (hunting/gun owning) that Zumbo has. Zumbo is first and foremost a hunter and gun owner. I've heard some fisherman say that spearfishing violates the spirit of fishing but I don't see anyone crucifying them. In my opinion, his only mistake was apologizing for it. He should stand up for what he said and live with it. AND, I'd like to see any of you say the things you are saying here to his face. You'd be ashamed of yourself. Too bad Outdoor Life turned on one of their own. But I guess they have a business to run ($$$$$)not truth to preserve. If you need me I won't be reading Outdoor Life mag, I'll be IN THE FIELD....living it. I don't see anything in his comment that spoke against gun ownership PERIOD. But go ahead and ostracize Zumbo, it's dividing the hunting/gun owning community far more than any comments he made.
rick..........the nra had nothing to do with this, except they were next if they didn't weigh in. zumbo was toast three days before the nra said anything.
I support your right to own guns. I support it mostly because it increases the odds that you will kill yourself or your children in a gun accident.
And face it, every time a gun nut, or the child of a gun nut, dies, the world becomes a better place.
So please keep buying assault rifles and hollowpoint ammo. And I will keep laughing at your gun and hunting accidents.
Sure, most of you will live. But I'll piss on the rest of your graves.
Here's to all you AR/AK 15+ clip nail drivin',shootemup, old west beleivers, one way thinkers, head in the sand box, bloodnguts kind of gun toten gun owners. Your right Mr.Zumbo stuck his foot in his mouth, but he had a right to (1stamend). And you have a right to own AR's and AK's (2nd amend). What so sad, your are not free thinkers. What happened to the challenge of 222's and 223's and the hunt for rodents. Are you all really that blood thirsty? I know a person in this catagory. The target range is the place for the rapid fire weapons (note weapons)ie combat. Hopefully we will never see combat on our soil. You of rapid fire will use up all your ammo the first day. One shot at a time will be best. You will not be able to carry enough ammo. As of now the ammo manufactures are happy with spending of ammo. AR's and AK's are weapons of war and were designed as such. Yes, hunting rifles, muzzelloaders and shot guns can be used as weapons, but were not designed as such. A bow and arrow can be used as a weapon, but was not designed as such. We have folks who 'terrories" our communities every day, and they will always have weapons. Yes, we need the 2nd ammendment. And we need to be rational. God Bless America and our Military and I thank them for all their sacrifices.
Some of us are catching on that maybe the all out assault on Zumbo is hurting gun owners but some of you aren't. He compared hunting with a conventional weapon to using terrorist weapon as like fly fishing is compared to using a net. Maybe we should apologize to him for the damage we are doing to our own image in persecuting him.
nixt hes gonna say wes can cant catch fish wit grenades. stoopid libril gumbo.
The treatment of Zumbo by the NRA and its more fascist nazi jack booted supporters is a sad commentary on our modern times. Here's a man who is a gentleman of the highest order, a mason fith removed, a good hunter, a patriot of the finest kind, and looks what he gets for expressing an opinion. He makes gun owners look like a bunch of raggedy-ass toothless get em up fools who'd follow anyone off a cliff.
The NRA grinned this up fearing that hunters would start withholding their contributions if a crackhead opened a pouch of Red man between hunters and gun nuts who would buy a 50mm automatic if they could. Guys, this is fascism, pure and simple, and you're an faggot if you buy the NRA's line. There's no place in the hunting world for fully automatic weapons. They were designed to kill people, and terrorists can't get enough of them. And yes, the Bushmaster AR is fully automatic.You aren't fooling me. If you think that there's no difference between single-shot or semiautomatics and fully automatic weapons for hunting, then why not use a RPG or a bazooka for hunting?
And by the way, I am a gun owner.
He put his big foot in his big mouth--how does it taste? His initial comment was how he really feels on the subject and the "apology" straight out of Chuck Haldeman's playbook--TL Squared--Too Little, Too Late!
Bye, bye, Dumbass
Well we heared from all the "anti Zumbo's," and frankly I feel most of them were "anti Zumbo's long before this posting. I'm sorry Jim that you had to be the "big name" to speak the truths that so many of us "Zumbo supporters" have felt for years. These AK whackos are sinking us all. We have seen these folks with their AK's drive nice weapon owners into the clutches of the anti-gunners for years. I've covered my eyes and ears as a 40 year life member to NRA watching the organizations true values over-taken and destroyed by these techno-holic AK terroristic fanatics. Jim you have many supporters, who I hope will now speak up. However, I'm sorry that you will pay such a high price. The commercial world will not support you because their only interest is money and they always cave in to the biggest mouths, but there are enough of us here to give you a welfare check.
Poor guy - turned on by his own gun-nuts.
Still, at least if you all start shooting each other, it will make it easy for us anti-gunners to rid the world of you.
Unfortunately, this is what happens when a hunting organization becomes the chief lobby group for the gun manufacturing industry. Jim Zumbo's remarks and his subsequent ostracization illustrate the greatest obstacle we face to gun ownership and hunting activities in this country - namely the rift that exists between hunters and other gun owners. As a lifelong hunter from a hunting tradition that spans countless generations I am deeply concerned about my Second Amendment rights. The NRA however, has not represented me or anyone I know on this issue for quite some time. Instead they choose to sell their soul and the public image of the gun owning community to corporations intent on one thing - selling as many guns as possible. As a conservationist I have no need for an automatic rifle. As a civil libertarian I will vigorously support the right of anyone to own one. Let's be clear about this distinction. A firearm is first and foremost a management tool. It is second a means of preserving our God given personal liberties. The Grandfather of the American conservationist movement, Theodore Roosevelt, is rolling over in his grave at the injustice that has been done to one of America's greatest sportsmen and conservationists. As gun owners and hunters we face a dire uphill battle in the court of public opinion. The recent events and infighting do nothing but continue to tarnish our public perception with the end result being that America's conservation movement has lost one of its most vocal advocates. Look for the anti-gun lobby to exploit this weakness. I urge all hunters and sportsmen to commend Jim Zumbo and condemn those who would deprive him of his livelihood. Outdoor Life, the NRA and everyone else who has jumped on the "Down with Jim Zumbo" bandwagon should be ashamed.
I don't think you should have to apologize for your opinion, Mr. Zumbo. This is America, after all. It's too bad that all those gun enthusiasts who have criticized you have only read one part of the constitution. Freedom of speech is right up there with the freedom to bear arms. Or is free speech only for the people who agree with them? It's one thing for people to criticize you; that is their right. It's quite another to destroy your livlihood. Sadly, they are only reinforcing the unfortunate stereotype many associate with the NRA.
Zumbo got what he's been deserving for a long time. He's neither a gentleman or good hunter. Zumbo couldn't find a bull elk tied up in his backyard without a guide. Ask a few he's hunted with.
Dear Mr. Zumbo,
Firstly let me state my position; I an 100% anti-gun, so that's got that out of the way...
Now, you voiced an opinion, (tired or not), which, as an American you have the RIGHT BY LAW to express.
Do your detractors invite you to debate your position, do they have the decency to ask you to explain, do they have the respect to see that after 40 years you might know what you are talkin about. No! They just sh*t on you (sorry, couldn't find another word to express it), just as they vilify anyone who dares to object to thier viewpoint.
Mr. Zumbo, I respect your right to have an opinion opposite to mine but you should have had more respect for yourself by not writing such a snivelling, subserviant, disrespectful apology.
You have sent a sad message about the NRA and freedom of speech in America. Sadly, a sign of the times...
Sincerely,
SH
i read the article from the washingtin post. i think it stinks what they have done to you. i am a member of the nra for 40 years and i am dropping my mebership. i think hunting with a assaulk weapon is nuts. you don't need to spray hundreds of bullets into a deer to kill it. that tears up the meat. there are to many morons in the woods hunting with assaulk weapons now. it has to stop.
So lets get a little more Naive shall we. Your telling me that we have no American made automatic weapons being used in "terrorist" acts in other parts of the world. Well wow thats amazing I didn't know that. How many of you have shot and killed an Elk with an AR? Do you think a Fish and Wildlife official will be just ok with you running around in the forest with an AR? Didn't think so! A person makes a mistake and all you can do is make sure they bleed to death! I can't wait for the next "word" to come out of someones mouth and we go.. "lets get em"!!
I'm not going to read every comment on this blog (big long opinionated gab) and try to respond to one or the first.
I hunt everything - just like the rest of the "claimers". And when I do, I don't need an AR 15 assault rifle. Those who do and/or think we should are like a day old "adult" who has just turned 21 who has just been given the "right" to drink legally.
"Hey everybody not only can I drink but I can drink heavily! There's no turning back now, first a .22 then a 12-guage, a .243 and now I'll slam em' all down with an AR 15. Why? Because I can."
Jim Zumbo was a hero and now an idiot - only because he tucked his tail between his legs and apologized for his opinion. Say it, mean it, and stick to it.
Zumbo has been writing his experiences, his opinions and his "how to's" for over 40 years. They were his. If they were meant to be the minds of the top dogs from ODL or any other company that deals with them then Zumbo's problem is that he didn't tell them to blog it, write it, say it, shoot it, or cook it themselves. He should have just said STICK IT!
I appreciate the messages posted regarding this issue that were thoughtful and constructive--but it is a sad day when we see some of the hateful comments -- I can only imagine how the gun opponents will analyze and use this undignified way of response against us as much as the Zumbo's statements. We need to remain united - distressing to see members of NRA dividing - come on folks, lets address this with utmost care.
Jim Zumbo blew it, and needs to pay the price. His flag waving notwithstanding, he took the side, both politically and practically, of the vabid anti-gun groups in the U.S. He was tired after a hunt. Poor boy. I am tired too. I make a cop's salary and send money to the NRA constantly. I write letters, I call congressmen, I put an Endowment membership on a credit card, and I am tired too. Tired of trying to explain and re-explain the Second Amendment and the beauty of freedom, and of choice. Tired of paying money for my Bill of rights. Tired of worn out linear thinkers like Zumbo, who, in their moment of self-importance, seriously gave fodder to our freedom's enemies. Shame on you Zumbo. Please disappear
and make room for a hunter/shooter with better sensibilities. Jack Zeller
It's amazing the way the gun-worshipping crowd turned on one of their own just because he didn't toe the NRA party line.
I have zero respect for Zumbo for not having the guts to defend his opinion. He let himself be kicked into submission like a mistreated puppy. Maybe it was the threat of losing his career, or maybe it was the avalanche of death threats he received from some "law-abiding" gun owners, but he ran away with his tail between his legs. Coward.
maybe it was because he changed his mind.
Give the guy a break! Zumbo made a mistake and admitted to it. He is not advocating taking our guns away; infact, I think he is protecting our right to bear arms by attempting to keep the public perception of slob hunters to a minimum. Keep your assault rifle, AR and AK for target practice, a means to impress your friends,and as a boost to your testosterone, and not for hunting.
This man over the years has done much for the promotion of the firearms industry,sportmanship and protection of our firearms. Why are we now turning on one of our own when Jim Zumbo can continue to be a great advocate for us? I am ashamed of those sponsors that have run like dogs with their tail between their legs at the first sign of controversy. They will no longer receive my support.
Justs H Christ, look at waht this man has done in his career for the good of us all? He was thinking and typing at the same time, and his thoguht for the moment was that these firearms make us look bad in the public's eye. No shit, he's right, he may have been wrong in is thought but for Christ's sake it was a thought, get off his back and fight the real bad guys, the anti everythign eco-terrorists, and be ashamed of yourselves, you who call him a coward, what have you done for my sport?
Justin Rondeau
Umpqua_warrior@yahoo.com
Jack of Tucson,
Go buy a new Winchester. Fudd.
First of all, he who is without sin should throw the first stone!
I have met Jim Zumbo, he is a hell of a nice guy. I question those who say he is an elitist. those who keep making statements about Jim's canned hunts are wrong as well. If you go on a paid hunt to Canada and hunt in a 200 square mile hunting area is that Canned? Hardly, great chance of success, you bet! Easy, you have got to be kidding.
Jim has done more for Hunting and Shooting then just about anyone and let's not hang him out to dry.
He mispoke,apologized and is trying to right a wrong. Yes, he should have investigated hunting with the AR15 a little further.
All this squabbling reminds me of a bunch of Women at a Horse show.
Those who have been around Horse shows will know what I mean.
A few years back my Dad and I attended an NRA rally at the State Capital in Olympia Washington. I was shocked to find out that next to the NRA officials I was in the ten best dressed catagory and I was wearing Jeans and a Polo! The rest of the bunch looked like they crawled out from under a rock! I was embarrased for Gun owners as a group. We looked like a bunch of idiots. Looks like a duck quacks like a duck.
We certainly dont police ourselves very well.
Gun owners must be taken seriously! This backbiting over Jims comments hurts us more then helps.
On the floor of the US Senate, Powerful Anti-Gun Senator Carl Levin used Zumbo a reason that guns must be banned:
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, the National Rifle Association leadership has stated repeatedly that a ban on assault weapons is ineffective and unnecessary. They assert that guns labeled as assault weapons are rarely used in violent crimes and that most people use them for hunting. However, despite these repeated assertions, the list of
[Page: S3348]people speaking out against assault weapons continues to grow.
Jim Zumbo , an outdoors entrepreneur who lives in a log cabin near Yellowstone National Park, has spent much of his life writing for prominent outdoor magazines, delivering lectures across the country and who starred in a highly rated TV show about big-game hunting. Jim has been an NRA member for 40 years, and, according to his Web site, has appeared with NRA officials in 70 cities across the country. This relationship changed drastically when Jim expressed his commonsense opinion on assault weapons.
Last month, after learning that some hunters were using assault weapons to hunt prairie dogs, Jim expressed his thoughts in his personal blog on the Outdoor Life magazine website. He wrote:
Maybe I'm a traditionalist, but I see no place for these weapons among our hunting fraternity. I'll go so far as to call them ``terrorist rifles.''
He continued by stating that in his:
..... humble opinion, these things have no place in hunting. We don't need to be lumped into the group of people who terrorize the world with them, which is an obvious concern. I've always been comfortable with the statement that hunters don't use assault rifles. We've always been proud of our ``sporting firearms.''
The reaction from NRA officials was swift and callous. They immediately severed all ties with Mr. Zumbo . His TV program on the Outdoor Channel was canceled, and his longtime career with Outdoor Life magazine ended. In addition, many of his corporate ties to the biggest names in gun making, such as Remington Arms Co., were terminated.
Jim Zumbo has worked for years to improve the image of outdoorsmen. As he put it:
As hunters, we don't need the image of walking around the woods carrying one of these weapons. To most of the public, an assault rifle is a terrifying thing. Let's divorce ourselves from them. I say game departments should ban them from the prairies and woods.
We all owe Jim Zumbo a debt of gratitude for his forthrightness, his honesty and his courage. We must put the safety of our communities first by taking up and passing sensible gun legislation that includes renewing the assault weapons ban.
(Congressional Record, page S3347, March 20, 2007)
Even after the apologies I see he is STILL falling into their trap of trying to justify these rifles as having a hunting or sporting purpose?????? For the love of G..
the 2ND IS NOT ABOUT HUNTING OR SPORT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He still doesn't get it YET!
HANG IT UP jim! You saying what you said is worse than Bill clinton shaking his finger at the us public and saying, he did not have sexual relations with that woman. Waving your bolt action rifle in our faces and saying you dont like are AR-15's, and they are useless is still mind blowing and career blowing. Judas got 30 pieces of silver, you betrayed U.S for free. The I WAS TIRED excuse, was just that a tired excuse. MIke Hobbs
If Jim was a nobody, this would not be an issue. I work hard to present a good image to the public about gun ownership and use of ALL kinds. To use the anti's definitions about our rifles plays into their hands. Any rifle can be a "sniper" rifle and any gun can be used to "assault".
He has the 1st Ammend right to speak out, but I see it affecting my 2nd ammend right to use any rifle I want to hunt. To carry my AR style rifle is "sport".
Roger Jahn
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