Outdoor Life & Zumbo "part ways"

[PA Rifleman]

Outdoor Life And Jim Zumbo Part Ways

By Todd. W. Smith
Editor-in-Chief

Outdoor Life magazine Editor-in-Chief Todd Smith released the following statement today regarding writer Jim Zumbo:

February 2007

In light of comments made by Jim Zumbo in his February 16, 2007 blog posting on the magazine’s website, Mr. Zumbo has offered to terminate his association with Outdoor Life, and the magazine has accepted his offer. Accordingly, he will no longer be contributing to the magazine in print or online. His final column with Outdoor Life will appear in the April 2007 issue, which has already gone to press.

We respect Mr. Zumbo's First Amendment right to free speech, and we acknowledge his subsequent apology and admission of error. However, Outdoor Life has always been, and will always be, a steadfast supporter of all aspects of the shooting sports and our Second Amendment rights, which do not make distinctions based on the appearance of the firearms we choose to own, shoot or hunt with.

We regret this turn of events, as Mr. Zumbo has been a good friend to this magazine and lifelong advocate for hunters and hunting rights.

We appreciate the comments we've received from our loyal readers about this matter and encourage them to continue to correspond with us. Please direct any additional comments to OLletters@time4.com.

(source)

[PA Rifleman]

He sounds a little more sincere.

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

(source)

[Frenchy]

I believe he did not realize just how many people he was or had listening to him. Of those, he probably did not know many are auto/semi-auto fans.

[GRoPA]

All he is saying is that he found out they are O.K. for hunting. He says nothing about owning one for fun. It sounds to me like you are still a terrorist if you don't hunt with your AR.

[Emptymag]

I kinda' got that impression as well...

I was totally unaware that they were being used for legitimate hunting purposes.

The wording at the end of that sentence SMACKS of anti-gun terminology.

I will continue to stand as firm on pro hunting as I’ve ever done.

I don't recall anyone questioning his stance on hunting.

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.

I guess he'll tell people that they CAN hunt with rifles that are scary looking, just don't buy them to shoot at targets.


I think his letter was well-written and I don't think he's a bad person... I just don't understand how he can't see the forest for the trees.
NONE of this firestorm had anything to do with HUNTING. It was about the second amendment.
Read that letter again. NO mention of the second amendment in it.

Mr. Zumbo, THERE is the problem.

[ChamberedRound]

Originally Posted by Emptymag

I kinda' got that impression as well...



The wording at the end of that sentence SMACKS of anti-gun terminology.




I don't recall anyone questioning his stance on hunting.




I guess he'll tell people that they CAN hunt with rifles that are scary looking, just don't buy them to shoot at targets.


I think his letter was well-written and I don't think he's a bad person... I just don't understand how he can't see the forest for the trees.
NONE of this firestorm had anything to do with HUNTING. It was about the second amendment.
Read that letter again. NO mention of the second amendment in it.

Mr. Zumbo, THERE is the problem.

+1, Great post, 100% in agreement. The issue was/is that he believes hunting is the only legitimate use of a firearm. God forbid he mentioned that a "black" rifle, just like any other rifle, can be used as a tool in a competition, or for self-defense (shudder the thought).

I hope that someday Mr. Zumbo comes to understand the REAL issue here, and why so many felt the need to disassociate themselves and their organizations from him.

[billamj]

My thoughts on the matter are better reflected in this post I made in another thread.

[crazyyankee]

Well all I can say is that he is mistaken if he thinks we are doing back flips or dancing in the streets, because he got fired. Of the gun owners I know, most just shake their heads. They hold no personal vindetta or ill will toward him. They are just upset that he gave the anti's more ammo, that we know we will see for years to come.

It is just a shame he didn't think before he wrote those words.

Now it is time combat/fight and fix the damage he has done.

[Little Joe]

After reading the whole letter "legitimate hunting purposes" stuck out like it was in 3' high neon letters. Emptymag broke down his letter excellently, so I don't have to, but it seems that after two apologies, I still have a problem with Mr. Zumbo's stance on "black" rifles and his apparent view that only hunting is a legitimate use of firearms.

-Joe-