Jim Zumbo speaks
From Ted Nugent's website.
The last few days have been an educational experience, to say the least. My ill-conceived inflammatory blog, as all of you now know, set off a firestorm that, I'm told, has never before been equaled. I'm not proud of that.
Let me say this at the outset. My words here are from the heart, and all mine. No one can censor me, and I answer to no one but myself. And I have no one to blame but myself. Outdoor Life, a magazine that I worked for full-time as Hunting Editor for almost 30 years, fired me yesterday. My TV show was cancelled yesterday. Many of my sponsors have issued statements on their website to sever all relationships. This may cause many of you to do backflips and dance in the streets, but, of course, I'm not laughing, nor am I looking for sympathy. I don't want a pity party.
They say hindsight is golden. Looking back, I can't believe I said the words "ban" and "terrorist" in the context that I did. I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote that. I can explain this as sheer ignorance and an irresponsible use of words. What I've learned over the last few days has enlightened and amazed me. As a guy who hunts 200 days a year, does seminars on hunting, wrote for six hunting magazines, had a hunting TV show, and wrote 20 books on hunting, how could I have been so ignorant and out of touch with reality in the world of hunting and shooting?
But I was. I really can't explain it, maybe because I just summarily dismissed the firearms in question in my mind when I saw them in magazines and catalogs. I saw one "black" firearm in a hunting camp in all my 50 years of hunting, and I shot one last year off a boat when fishing in Alaska. To tell the truth, it was fun and I enjoyed it immensely, but I never considered one for use in hunting. I have to tell you that I have had a revelation. I'm learning that many of my pals own AR-15's and similar firearms and indeed use them for hunting. I was totally unaware that they were being used for legitimate hunting purposes. That is the absolute truth.
My biggest regret is not the financial impact of all this. I'm almost 67 and retirement is an option. The dreadful impact here is that I inadvertently struck a spear into the hearts of the people I love most.America's gun owners. And, even though this huge cadre of dedicated people have succeeded in stripping me of my career, I hold no grudges. I will continue to stand as firm on pro hunting as I've ever done. But what's different now is that I'll do all I can to educate others who are, or were, as ignorant as I was about "black" rifles and the controversy that surrounds them. My promise to you is that I'll learn all I can about these firearms, and by the time this week is out, I'll order one. The NUGE has invited me to hunt with him using AR-15's, and I'm eager to go, and learn. I'll do all I can to spread the word.
I understand that many of you will not accept this apology, believing that the damage has been done and there's no way to repair it. You have that right. But let me say this. I mentioned this above, and I'll repeat it. I'm willing to seize this opportunity to educate hunters and shooters who shared my ignorance. If you're willing to allow me to do that, we can indeed, in my mind, form a stronger bond within our ranks. Maybe in a roundabout way we can bring something good out of this.
Jim Zumbo
The last few days have been an educational experience, to say the least. My ill-conceived inflammatory blog, as all of you now know, set off a firestorm that, I'm told, has never before been equaled. I'm not proud of that.
Let me say this at the outset. My words here are from the heart, and all mine. No one can censor me, and I answer to no one but myself. And I have no one to blame but myself. Outdoor Life, a magazine that I worked for full-time as Hunting Editor for almost 30 years, fired me yesterday. My TV show was cancelled yesterday. Many of my sponsors have issued statements on their website to sever all relationships. This may cause many of you to do backflips and dance in the streets, but, of course, I'm not laughing, nor am I looking for sympathy. I don't want a pity party.
They say hindsight is golden. Looking back, I can't believe I said the words "ban" and "terrorist" in the context that I did. I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote that. I can explain this as sheer ignorance and an irresponsible use of words. What I've learned over the last few days has enlightened and amazed me. As a guy who hunts 200 days a year, does seminars on hunting, wrote for six hunting magazines, had a hunting TV show, and wrote 20 books on hunting, how could I have been so ignorant and out of touch with reality in the world of hunting and shooting?
But I was. I really can't explain it, maybe because I just summarily dismissed the firearms in question in my mind when I saw them in magazines and catalogs. I saw one "black" firearm in a hunting camp in all my 50 years of hunting, and I shot one last year off a boat when fishing in Alaska. To tell the truth, it was fun and I enjoyed it immensely, but I never considered one for use in hunting. I have to tell you that I have had a revelation. I'm learning that many of my pals own AR-15's and similar firearms and indeed use them for hunting. I was totally unaware that they were being used for legitimate hunting purposes. That is the absolute truth.
My biggest regret is not the financial impact of all this. I'm almost 67 and retirement is an option. The dreadful impact here is that I inadvertently struck a spear into the hearts of the people I love most.America's gun owners. And, even though this huge cadre of dedicated people have succeeded in stripping me of my career, I hold no grudges. I will continue to stand as firm on pro hunting as I've ever done. But what's different now is that I'll do all I can to educate others who are, or were, as ignorant as I was about "black" rifles and the controversy that surrounds them. My promise to you is that I'll learn all I can about these firearms, and by the time this week is out, I'll order one. The NUGE has invited me to hunt with him using AR-15's, and I'm eager to go, and learn. I'll do all I can to spread the word.
I understand that many of you will not accept this apology, believing that the damage has been done and there's no way to repair it. You have that right. But let me say this. I mentioned this above, and I'll repeat it. I'm willing to seize this opportunity to educate hunters and shooters who shared my ignorance. If you're willing to allow me to do that, we can indeed, in my mind, form a stronger bond within our ranks. Maybe in a roundabout way we can bring something good out of this.
Jim Zumbo
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It is NOT all about hunting! Why don't they get that?
My opinion of him has nothing to do with HUNTING![:(!]
DSM0 -
I'll be the first one to admitt, maybe we should give him a chance to prove what he's saying is the truth. Me and my friends were just as pizzed as anyone here over what he said, but everyong makes mistakes it's what you do after to correct those mistakes is what we should judge a person by. I for one will be watching him close and see if he can not only undo the damage he's done, but make the shooting community a stronger one. 0 -
Guys, if you recieved my evite for the pity party, I am going to have to cancel it.
He said he does not want one.
Beer will be OK
How long is the salsa good for? opening day baseball?0 -
What phideaux said.
The proof is in the pudding.
God...I Really love cliches!!.0 -
What amazes me through all of this is that no matter how sincere his apology may be, he still doesn't "get it".
"Old Zumbo" wanted to ban assault weapons because he saw no legitimate hunting purpose for them.
"New Zumbo" has changed his position because now he claims to see that there is perhaps a "sporting" purpose for them.
Nowhere in any of his apologies does he acknowledge the right to own a firearm. As far as Jim is concerned, "sporting" purposes supercede all others.
Even after all of this, we still haven't gotten through to him...[V]0 -
Exec point HVOF 0 -
quote:Originally posted by HighVolumeOfFire
What amazes me through all of this is that no matter how sincere his apology may be, he still doesn't "get it".
"Old Zumbo" wanted to ban assault weapons because he saw no legitimate hunting purpose for them.
"New Zumbo" has changed his position because now he claims to see that there is perhaps a "sporting" purpose for them.
Nowhere in any of his apologies does he acknowledge the right to own a firearm. As far as Jim is concerned, "sporting" purposes supercede all others.
Even after all of this, we still haven't gotten through to him...[V]
I'd have to say DITTO! He just doesn't understand the constitution and what it says.0 -
At least he put a LITTLE thought into this apology. Apology accepted... NOW GO AWAY YOU ARE STILL NOT HELPING!!!...err I mean enjoy your retirement. 0 -
Next thing you will hear from Jim Zumbo;
Hello, I'm Jim.
Welcome to Walmart.
Can I help you find anything?0 -
quote:Originally posted by HighVolumeOfFire
What amazes me through all of this is that no matter how sincere his apology may be, he still doesn't "get it".
"Old Zumbo" wanted to ban assault weapons because he saw no legitimate hunting purpose for them.
"New Zumbo" has changed his position because now he claims to see that there is perhaps a "sporting" purpose for them.
Nowhere in any of his apologies does he acknowledge the right to own a firearm. As far as Jim is concerned, "sporting" purposes supercede all others.
Even after all of this, we still haven't gotten through to him...[V]
+ another0 -
What is so bad about having a gun purely for recreational purposes? Why does it have to be hunting or self-defense?
Model rockets are probably a lot more dangerous than guns and they are not banned!
I live in a (relatively) safe neighborhood and I do not hunt. I go to the range for relaxation and to simply enjoy a pastime that I like. I have met a lot of good people through this pastime and we are all responsible gun owners.
If I had to defend myself, property, family or others with my gun, I would. But that is not why I own them.0 -
Now lets all get together and do this to most of the ASSES
over in Washington D.C. Let them hear how we feel.[:(!]0 -
The 2nd Amendment is not about hunting and never was. His precious hunting rifles are not what the ruckus was over if he still does not understand that he is an idiot. 0 -
It ted supports the NRA and self defense, why would he have a guy on his website like that?
can someone post a link? I went to tednugent.com and could not find that refrence.0 -
quote:Originally posted by 65gto389
It ted supports the NRA and self defense, why would he have a guy on his website like that?
can someone post a link? I went to tednugent.com and could not find that refrence.
Look under the forums0 -
I don't care if it was a brain fart on his part. During Jeff Cooper's long slide into insanity, he never once harmed the right to keep and bear arms. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by 0341USMC
Now lets all get together and do this to most of the ASSES
over in Washington D.C. Let them hear how we feel.[:(!]
Bingo.0 -
I think we gun owners as a lot ought to be careful about a. reveling in the career suicide committed by this man, b. reveling in burying the guy. I think it shows bad form... 0 -
Perhaps not most, but a majority of hunters I have known or spoken with share his opinion. They seem to think the Second Amendment is about hunting. I get exasperated talking to them!
They say, "Well, I don't care about that. I ain't never gonna own no assault rifle! I don't want no plastic pistol!"
I don't hunt. Never have. Absolutely no interest in it at all. And it really ticks me off when one of these jokers is willing to sell me down the river because he has no interest in my choice of firearms. Hunting land is in jeopardy just like gun rights. You'd think they would want all the friends they can get. But not if you don't hunt too!
And you'll be hard pressed to find a hunter who belongs to the NRA or any other gun rights organization. Again, they think their hunting rights are guaranteed.
Maybe most of you hunters aren't like that. But think seriously about some of the others in your group!
When my rights are gone, theirs are too.0 -
He still doesn't get it! The 2nd Ammendment is not about hunting...it's about keeping big brother in check.[V] 0 -
At least Nuge is making an effort to amend things.
If this guys is truly sorry, and honestly didn't know AR's, etc, were used for hunting, then maybe all of this is a mistake. But then, come one, who doesn't know that AR's make great Coyote/Varmint rifles?
Hell, even Rock River is producing their "Varmint" line of rifles. It's hard to imagine this guy has been in a closet somewhere and didn't honestly know this.0 -
quote:Originally posted by slipgate
What is so bad about having a gun purely for recreational purposes? Why does it have to be hunting or self-defense?
Model rockets are probably a lot more dangerous than guns and they are not banned!
I live in a (relatively) safe neighborhood and I do not hunt. I go to the range for relaxation and to simply enjoy a pastime that I like. I have met a lot of good people through this pastime and we are all responsible gun owners.
If I had to defend myself, property, family or others with my gun, I would. But that is not why I own them.
It does not matter! If you use the gun for any purpose or not it is the RIGHT, no the responsibility to own a firearm.0 -
And PS I think Mr. Zumbo doesn't get it because for one he is 67 and he has formed his opinions and has no desire to change them, albeit now maybe excepting that.
I feel for Mr. Zumbo in the same way I feel for anyone who screws up and has to pay the concequences. It is a shame and yet as he says he will survive, it almost sounded as if he was saying IF we accept him he can continue on and educate and stand for our rights, Mr. Zumbo I sasy to you "just do it" You do the right thing and if you live long enough and prove it you may be remebered differently by history
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Yawn......He still has NO clue about the 2nd. Goodbye and good riddance. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by p3skyking
I don't care if it was a brain fart on his part. During Jeff Cooper's long slide into insanity, he never once harmed the right to keep and bear arms.
10-4! Zumbo actually made the latter-day Cooper sound like a freaking genius!0 -
I agree with jgreen.
I don't want to revel in someone else's misfortune. Think about this for a minute. We are so powerful that we caused one of our own to fall from grace. Why can't we bring that power to bear against the anti folks? If we apply just have of the venom we used against Mr. Zumbo to all of our foes we will be one heck of a force to be reckoned with.
Trinity +++0 -
Zumbo is still wrong. He still believes if it is not used for hunting you don't need it. 0 -
quote:We are so powerful that we caused one of our own to fall from grace.
I disagree trinity.
If Michael Moore owned a firearm and belonged to the NRA (both may very well be true for all the wrong reasons), would that make him "one of our own"?
Would that make Moore's statements and actions any less damaging to our 2nd ammendment rights?
As I've said before, Zumbo is (or WAS) an elitist, he's not one of us!
That said, I hope he can be comfortable in his retirement and can find some way to undo the damage he's done.0 -
stanman,
I understand what you are trying to say, but you can not confuse Michael Moore with Jim Zumbo. Jim has presented himself as an elitist, but we have educated him on how wrong he was to be such. Jim was one of us, he owned guns, and he promoted sport hunting for years. His mind set was screwed up for sure. He was thinking about sport hunting only, not just gun ownership. He now knows that you can not separate the two. Without the other the defense of one falls flat on its face. I think we drove the point home to Mr. Zumbo. He really got worked over, and I pray I never do something so stupid that I risk losing my profession & livelihood.
Now with that said, why can't we bring that much heat on the Michael Moore's of the world? We really decimated Jim; it would be great if we could do that against Sara Brady too. The real question is whether we can generate that kind of response when we need to defeat a gun ban. Can we melt down mail servers of elected representatives the way gun owners hammered the servers at various companies?
Trinity +++0
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