Jim Zumbo Controversy
Jim Zumbo has made a tremendous mistake stating that no hunter should ever use an assault rifle to hunt with and listing the AR-15 as an assault rifle. More then likely he is going to pay for that comment with the loss of a career as one of the great hunting writers of all times! The domino's are already falling! I personally hope he makes it through this!
The following is posted on the Remington Arms web site:
Remington to Sever Sponsorship Ties with Jim Zumbo
Remington Arms
Madison, North Carolina
As a result of comments made by Mr. Jim Zumbo in recent postings on his blog site, Remington Arms Company, Inc., has severed all sponsorship ties with Mr. Zumbo effective immediately. While Mr. Zumbo is entitled to his opinions and has the constitutional right to freely express those opinions, these comments are solely his, and do not reflect the views of Remington.
"Remington has spent tens of millions of dollars defending our Second Amendment rights to privately own and possess firearms and we will continue to vigorously fight to protect these right," commented Tommy Millner, Remington�s CEO and President. "As hunters and shooters of all interest levels, we should strive to utilize this unfortunate occurrence to unite as a whole in support of our Second Amendment rights."
We regret having to terminate our long-standing relationship with Mr. Zumbo, who is a well-respected writer and life-long hunter
Outdoor Life Comments as well:
Due to the controversy surrounding Jim Zumbo’s recent postings, Outdoor Life has decided to discontinue the “Hunting With Zumbo” blog for the time being. Outdoor Life has always been, and will always be, a steadfast supporter of our Second Amendment rights, which do not make distinctions based on the looks of the firearms we choose to own, shoot and take hunting. Please direct any comments you have to OLletters@time4.com.
Jim's Apology:
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, 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 Sportsman'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.
Jim Zumbo
MY COMMENTS:
Jim Zumbo is probably finished as an outdoor writer because of this comment, even though he has apologized and the current article and apology were quickly removed by Outdoor Life. I hope that is not the case!
I have always been a really great fan of Mr. Zumbo, his writing, and especially his television show. His tremendous amount of conservation work, his empathy for the people he hunts around and with, and his respect for the animals he hunts has always impressed me. I am saddened by the controversy surrounding this very explosive issue because I looked forward to the opportunities to sit with my 3 kids and watch Jim Zumbo on television and share with them the stories that he brought from all around the world hunting in remote lands.
Jim Zumbo, you still have my respect, I am glad you apologized and I wish you the best and I hope this blows over quickly so I can show my kids the wonderful world you brought us.
While I personally will never choose to hunt with an assault rifle or an AR-15, I will not tell anyone in this world that they cannot hunt with one as long as they are accurate with that weapon. Whomever I do hunt with needs to be practiced and accurate with whatever they choose to hunt with. NUFF SAID!
