The Tail Spin For Jim Zumbo

I won’t condone nor support the use of “assault” rifles. I say, to each his own. If folks want to use AR’s to hunt, I say the 2nd Amendment and current laws make provision for it.

I lost a lot of respect for Mr. Zumbo when he aligned himself with USO’s (owner), George Taulman, in a law-suit filed in U.S. District Court against the AZG&FD for alleged discrimination against non-resident hunters and violation of commerce laws.

Zumbo made a serious mistake by being vocal on the use of “assalt” rifles for hunting use without much thought to the consequences. I feel he should receive sanctions, but certainly not lose his employment or livelihood. We all make mistakes, and some may even anger folks. Why so different for Mr. Zumbo?

I think OL and Remington could simply make statements that… “the 2nd Amendment views of Mr. Zumbo with regard to assault rifles, are not the views that we share on the subject. We do, however, allow Mr. Zumbo his constitutional right to personal expression.”

None of us will experience the public scrutiny for our opinions that Mr. Zumbo will endure. I say throw your stones at him in blogs, but don’t call for his be-heading. Where’s the humanitarian sense in that?

The foolishness is not being aware of what is going on in his industry. AR’s can be great varmint rifles, perfect for coyotes. They are accurate and handle well. What makes them different from a Savage 110 in .223? Nothing but the plastic and the semi-auto action. I liked Zumbo and I hope that he will redeem himself. But true redemtion will most likely take the rest of his life.

My problem with Mr.Zumbo’s blog is he says that he is a defender of hunter and shooters rights. Well he should bring himself to Camp Perry. All of his dreaded rifles are there and being used by God fearing Americans. My opinion is that the man is an elitist hunter and Knows nothing about shooting sports. Great hunter ? I won’t argue that but a friend of the second amendment, I think not. ” IT AIN’T ABOUT HUNTING” and those that defend him should re-think their positions.
My.02
Bill Out

Jack,

I’m not sure I understand the point of your comments. My blog, if that’s the one you are referring to, has done nothing more than clearly and precisely supported and defended the Second Amendment, so kindly don’t refer to the Black Bear Blog as being dangerous to that cause. Are there blogs that are? Yes, but not this one.
The truth is that as is the over used statement, “2nd Amendment isn’t about duck hunting”, is absolutely true and the truth also is that there are many, many hunters who believe and think as does Jim Zumbo but that doesn’t mean there should be a war between hunters and shooters or gun owners.
Thanks for your comments but you are unnecessarily inflaming this story by lumping all blogs as dangerous to the Second Amendment.
Please call a spade a spade, it will help us all out.

I have read with much interest at all this back biting, insolent remarks, brainless thinking from people, feeling a need for retaliation.

I am a Viet Nam era Army Veteran proud of my service to my country at that time. The United States Army trained me as an 11 Bravo infantryman and I am experienced and was trained and qualified on all types of military firearms and munitions of that period.

First, I am not an active hunter at the present, nor am I an NRA member. I have hunted, enjoyed it, and finally just didn’t have time to devote to it anymore. I am just a Joe Blow off the side of a NE Tennessee mountain that has nothing wrong with his logic and thinking abilities.

It could be that because I am not an active member of the “hunting, gun owners, activist community” that I can evaluate this situation from conception to the present in an unbiased and unprejudiced.
I have no axe to grind, no need or desire to try to destroy a great man (human being), with evidently recognized authority, position, and expertise.
While I now recognize and see the prominence and effect that Jim Zumbo’s words have when in print, my logic is I, nor most likely Mr. Zumbo realized that this simple opinionated expression (constitutionally guaranteed, i.e like the 2nd Ammendment if I can parallel here sensibly) could or would cause or set off or give the impetus for latent, closet, do gooders to come out of the woodwork and get their fifteen seconds of fame and publication, by making this into a Jim Zumbo Vs. the 2nd ammendment rights of America.
Oh of course, the businesses (OL, Cabella’s,Gerber,etc) are concerned more with with the bottom line $$$ more than anything or anyone else in their organization and operational philosophy- many decisions made is made without regard to the “human factor” in this, just the money. I personally think and from personal experiences over my career, know this mentality and have been in exactly the same position as Mr. Zumbo is in as a “Man without a Country”.
It is one thing to be on top of it all one day—AND the next day be relegated to dirt under someone’s feet being trodden over. The blow and affect to the individual that has made a mistake is often overlooked and all his credentials and accomplishments being a NON decision making factor is incomprehensible to me. Granted guns, gun owners, hunters, whomever the “Brady bunch zealots” all come into the corporate decision making– that has left Mr. Zumbo spinning in the wind, with very few covering “his back”.

I realize the sentiment is treating this as some type of platform, or issue to make Mr. Zumbo the “whipping boy” for whatever purpose or reason, totally ignoring and leaving out, his contributions and sacrifices he has made over this career to work for, promote, and bring pleasure into the lives of those whom a month ago worshipped him and others of relative same status and position, who have basically given their lives, sacrificed their families, missed alot of domestic family things that life is all about, and lived the glamorous life, we see in his celebrity status. Let me say, yes glamorous and intriguing, but only at the expense of what us regular folks take for granted, our everyday normalcy hum drum lives. You know watching the kids play ball, going into work everyday, a trip to the walmart whenever we need something. Mr. Zumbo has missed our normal peaceful lives and trials, by trying to promote, and do good for hunters and people that recreationally enjoy it. The end result is Mr. Zumbo has enriched and made better the way for the “hunting community” and gun owners by giving his life for our good.
Now the bottom line is this—Is this really a Jim Zumbo Vs the World, is this a failure to recognize and give credit to someone who has done so much for the “community”, OR is it merely yet another great, famous, credentialed person, with feelings and family and emotions, being done wrong by the very segment of the population that recognized and worshipped him and his works only a couple of weeks ago. Is it a situation for opportunistic people/companies/CEO’s to take advantage of and use for their selfish best interests.

I personally feel, conscientiousness and ‘scruples’ needs to and must come into this. The moral judgments and inflammatory remarks are more divisive than anything contained in Mr. Zumbo’s words he published. The damaging actions of his supposed backers and supporters are understood but in my judgment are only demonstrative of how cheap and expendible the human factor, hard work, sacrifice, and accomplishment factors really are.

This is the time to rally, to come together and use Mr. Zumbo’s right to express his ideas (again contitutionally guaranteed like the right to bear arms). If he was mistaken, misunderstood, whatever on what he said due to not fully understanding the “black rifle” implications, then let us go forward with him, let us support this great educator of hunting, and give him a chance to continue to discover the applications of these rifles for legitimate hunting applications. Mr. Zumbo I am sure has in other things and areas over his career, has changed 360 on less controversial things, and used it as a means to educate the rest of us. I honestly, truthfully, believe he will do the same thing concerning application of “black rifles”.
I beg the detractors, the zealots, the very people who created this to re-evaluate their position, their thinking, the benefits of having Mr. Zumbo go forward, pick it ALL back up and use his abilites and notoriety to promote and expand on the use the the “black rifles” he mentioned in his first opinion. I think this will be the beginning for a stronger platform, a stronger united we stand expression, than what has brought about all the ‘changes’ that leaves us where and Mr. Zumbo is now. He now knows and I believe he will make it a obsession to discover, explore, and use his writing abilities and persona to bring us together, reunited even stronger than before. We need to utilize Mr. Zumbo not exile him to obscurity.

This is the opportune time to show, that an opinion and thinking can be reflected on and changed to support the Constitution guarantees. Taking sides, with unknown people trying to grab 15 lines of fame and pseudo power, with yet another anti Zumbo opinion which may be contrarily used by others to build their case based on the craziness of their non-thinking criticisms used. I feel if people wise up instead of jumping on the condemn Jim Zumbo band wagon, we will see this for what it is and wonder who is orchestrating it—OL, NRA, Brady or are we our own worst enemy by our reactions. Sometimes the most popular thing to do, is not the wisest.

I make absolutely zero apologies for the NRA’s position on any firearms issue. I joined that Organization while still a police officer, and applaud the fact that the NRA recognizes that the gun-banners view any capitulation to their schemes as weakness. Make no mistake about it, the Gun-ban lobby will eventually come after your particular firearm, in the name of preventing the actions of some criminal or “nut job.” As a matter of fact, the Gun-ban lobby views any person who chooses to own any firearm as a “nut job.” John Lee Malvo and John Allen Muhammad, the Beltway Snipers, took out their victims a single shot at a time. Does the fact that they didn’t “empty four AK mags” into their victims make them any less dead? Any freedom can be abused, and the solution is to remove from Society those who demonstrate that they are incapable of peacefully living in a free society, not to eliminate the freedom itself. You will never thwart the ultimate agenda of the gun banners by bashing the NRA in the hope of currying favor with the Anti-gun Lobby.

Jim,

What I am stating is that the gun-banners have all of us in their sights, and their proposals to further infringe on firearms ownership in the name of “safety” always has a hidden agenda. I personally do not choose to hunt, but I will defend to the bitter end your right to do so. I would hope that you would do the same regarding gun rights for all law-abiding citizens. The weapons that are commonly referred to as “assault rifles” are in fact not true assault rifles. The name has been applied by the media and the gun-banners, and they have been successful in getting semi-automatic firearms lumped into the same category as fully-automatic weapons in the minds of those who don’t know any better. I am not telling you anything that you don’t already know. As to your question about demanding the right to own hyper velocity rail guns or “metal storm” rifles, let me state that an AK knock-off or an AR-15 is not by any stretch of the imagination in the same class as such weapons. The semiautomatic rifles that many of you refer to as “assault weapons” fire one round with every pull of the trigger, and are often less powerful than many standard bolt-action hunting rifles. I don’t deny that most of them accept high-capacity magazines. Common sense must apply. The problem is determining who defines “common sense.” By the way, since you have chosen to escalate the rhetoric, I don’t support private ownership of nuclear weapons, either. Again, as you already know, true assault rifles cannot be legally possessed without going through an extensive Government screening process, including a thorough background check, fingerprinting and purchase of a rather expensive license. If you don’t like semiautomatic weapons, don’t own one; just don’t buy into the fantasy that when the gun-banners have successfully divided the firearms owners of America, and are successful in reinstating the “assault weapons” ban, that their unhealty appetite for eliminating private ownership of firearms is going to be satisfied. There are presently an estimated 10,000 – 20,000 gun control laws on the books. Have any of these satisfied those who constantly seek to further infringe on the Second Amendment? Think what you want, but I don’t believe for a moment that there are very few absolutist “gun banners” on the other side who want to eliminate gun ownership entirely, and I don’t want to live in a Country where I have to ask some predator who violates the sanctity of my home if he minds waiting until I drive down to the local armory to retrieve my single-shot twelve-gauge so that I can defend myself and my family.

Jim, I have no desire to get into a “flame-war” with you or anyone else about this issue. I respect your opinion, and vigorously defend your right to disagree with me or anyone else whose ideas run counter to your own. I do not fear debate conducted in good faith, as is the case of that in which we are engaging, but I will not stand idly by while the liberty that we Americans enjoy from the blood of a multitude of patriots who have gone before us is rationed, redefined as “privilege” or eliminated. “Live Free or Die,” is not just a slogan to me. It is a part of my DNA. Our Constitution is not the plaything of would-be tyrants. The Founding Fathers recognized that for a Representative Republic like ours to thrive, the people themselves must be possessed of self-discipline. I think that we can agree that sadly, much of that is gone in our present Society, which opens the door for tyranny, not just in the arena of firearms ownership, but all liberty. I sincerely hope that hunting will always be there for you and your family with whatever weapon you reasonably choose with which to hunt. For as long as I draw breath, you have my vow that I will do all that I can to defend your right to do so.

Best regards,

Mike Glaser
Cincinnati, OH

Anyone can figure out that China and India together growing at 10% plus will put a real squeeze on the “American Way” pretty soon now regardless of other issues. The world can’t support 3 billion American lifestyles.

Wow, it is amazing how many people have missed the point of the second amendment. Under the second amendment ALL ARMS are included that means semi-automatic and automatic weapons, tanks, rockets, howitzers and even nuclear weapons (don’t really know why you would want one). The purpose of the second amendment is to put the people on equal fighting ground with the government should they need to overthrow the government. The government serves at the pleasure of the people, the people do not serve the government. As soon as you say that any restriction is acceptable you will soon find yourself in the situation we are in today where the second amendment has been eroded beyond the point of recognition. If you truly understand the meaning and intent of the second amendment you would see that there can be NO restriction, that means zero laws tell you what you can and can’t possess.

The problem with so many of you is that you see the weapon as the cause of crime. Yes, that means all of you say “oh but “assault weapons” aren’t full auto we have restrictions on those.” You are saying that full auto should be restricted because it somehow represents more of threat to the safety of the people than a semi-auto which you freely admit utilize the same cartridges. The problem is no the weapon, but the person. Allowing for any restriction is what has gotten the second amendment eroded and will get it destroyed. Oh, and hunting is not right owning weapons of all types is.

I rarely hear the fact that when the second amendment was drafted it gave the people of that time the right to keep and bear firearms which were EXACTLY THE SAME as the army of their time used.

Darn right black rifles are okay for us to have, even the automatics shouldn’t need special paperwork as far as I’m concerned.

Too many of us base our knowledge on what we read in OL, Field and Stream, and other sporting magazines. Go to the source. read the Federalist Papers and historical debates and words of Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson and the other patriots of the American Revolution.

Wayne Nix
Life Member NRA
Life Member North American Hunting Club

With this occurrence I can really only conclude one of two things. One, Zumbo had free rein with this blog or two, Outdoor Life saw what he put up, went with it and retreated only after the fallout began

It is interesting to me to see the reactions against Zumbo still. It isn’t about hunting, or the outdoors, or “our freedoms”. The last argument fascinates me, for the people who usually bring that up are often spew out the most thoughtless propaganda, whether blind,flag waving patriotism, or the delusion of home defense. With hunting, anything beyond a pump or bolt action is pointless, and those who rattle off multiple shots drive me from the woods in fear. If you cannot kill with one shot, don’t shoot.As far as fear of the government, I don’t know how anyone expects a bunch of hoot owls from the local bar are going to take on organized troops with training, equipment and modern communications. It would be like shooting domesticated turkeys ( I am a veteran.) IN short, the reaction against Zumbo is that of blind idealogues, the equivalent of the Taliban, the right wing Christian nutballs of this land, or the Nazi’s. These true believers cannot stand anyone questioning their beliefs, no matter how lunatic, and somehow equate them with gospel. Here is the deal. IN a very short time, the vast majority of people will not have hunted or own a gun. They will not understand, nor will they care about your or my history of deer hunting. And anyone can spend any amount they want, but they will outnumber hunters by 50:1. They, and others with common sense, are going to ask the legitimate question, and it is legitimate, of why anyone, other then a nutball, needs an assault rifle. And, drawing a line and blindly ranting and raving about rights and interpretations will not suffice. They will have the numbers. They will be able to pass anything they wish, including a constitutional amendment. Now you all can foam at the mouth, bu this can and might happen. Until you acknowledge the difference between an MP-5 and a 76 sport pump, you are living in the delusion that this about the outdoors and sportsmanship.If you cannot see the difference, then what you like is the gun, and as someone trained to use them, that frightens me. Why? Because you see the gun as important, and not what you are doing with it. I also hunt bow and blackpowder, and frankly I do not care what tool I have as long as I still get to be outdoors and hunt. Sitting around and massaging and oiling my guns is not why I do this. A gun is a tool, and that is all. It will not stop me from dieing, nor will it stop an oppressive government or corporations, something people always seem to ignore. THose things require thought and organizing. This is why I do not associate with my old sportsmen’s group, because people didn’t that nature was this is about, but instead saw guns and atv’s as some sort of means to life. I am done venting…for now. Think clearly..and think.

This guy from the “pensi”, is persistant as a tick, and sounds like he’s from India or Pakistan…too bad he stepped in on an old post, so here’s something for him to consider…..(if he comes back)

FINALLY, SOMEONE HAS CLEARED THIS UP.

For centuries, Hindu women have worn a dot on their foreheads. Most of us have naively thought this was connected with tradition or religion, but the Indian Embassy in Washington , D.C. has recently revealed the true story.

When a Hindu woman gets married, she brings a dowry into the union. On her wedding night, the husband scratches off the dot to see whether he has won a convenience store, a gas station, a donut shop or a motel in the United States.

If nothing is there, he must take a job in India answering telephones giving us technical advice in unintelligible english.

Flattery will get you anywhere, but, did he really see it?

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