But it looks like we have a new True Meaning of the 2nd Amendment friend.
My recent blog on the Outdoor Life Web site was written with the interest of the hunter’s image in mind.
In it my use of some words inflamed America’s gun community to the point where, in less than 24 hours, they were able to mount enough pressure to cause my TV sponsors to withdraw from my show. Outdoor Life magazine, under similar demands, asked for my resignation, which I reluctantly gave. I had worked for the magazine full time for almost 30 years.
Despite this, I hold no grudge against America’s gun lobby. I have publicly apologized and stated, “I was wrong – big time.†Although I have always been active in advocating hunting rights, I’ve never thought of myself as a spokesman for gun rights.
It was an inevitable outcome. Remember that throughout major firearms incidents, such as the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Sen. Bobby Kennedy, the more recent Columbine school shootings in Colorado, and the sniper shootings in the D.C. area, there have been flurries of bills to outlaw guns. Those of us who hunt and shoot, or simply own firearms for protection, could have been severely impacted by those bills had they come to pass.
As an example, there have been bills written to do away with “sniper†rifles and “semi-automatic†firearms. To those of us who hunt, that “sniper†rifle could include our Winchester bolt-action elk rifle, or our Browning or Remington shotguns or .22s. The bottom line is that to hunt with a firearm, we must be afforded the legal right to own one.
The Second Amendment, which guarantees us the right to keep and bear arms, has nothing to do with hunting, but everything to do with gun ownership. During the ensuing controversy surrounding my blog, some people have taken me to task for abandoning the Second Amendment. Nothing could be farther from the truth. If I ever, in my wildest dreams, thought the words I had written would bring the validity of the Second Amendment into question, I assure you I never would have touched my fingers to the keypad.
Good on ya, Mr. Zumbo.
Link found at Uncle’s Place
He writes that and more (follow the link) from Uncle Ted’s ranch in Tejas.
I’m looking through some of the links from last weeks discussions throughout the ether for all of Zumbo’s former employers. I’ll be writing them to ask for his previous positions back.
Apology accepted, Mr. Zumbo. I believe you’ve finally learned your lesson. Now go and sin no more but shoot all thee will in a safe and fun manner.
I’m still worried. For a guy who is supposed to know the history (at least recent) of guns and gun laws, this statement:
“Those of us who hunt and shoot, or simply own firearms for protection, could have been severely impacted by those bills had they come to pass.”
Is worrisome.
He was referring specifically to the Kennedy brothers, and the GCA of 1968 was a DIRECT result of those assassinations.
The GCA of 1968, of course, prevented citizens from exercising their Second Amendment rights of possession by ordinary transactions, and required that all interstate dealings in firearms go through a Government agent (FFL holder).
Zumbo is NOT, I repeat NOT, out of school yet.