Zumbo Letter to CCRKBA (Promises to become gun banners' worst nightmare)

The High Road ^ | February 18, 2007 | Jim Zumbo

[Mini-14]

Mr. Alan Gottlieb, Chairman
Citizens Committee for the
Right to Keep and Bear Arms
12500 N.E. Tenth Place
Bellevue, WA 98005

Dear Alan:

They say that hindsight is always 20-20. In my case, hindsight has been a hard teacher, like the father teaching the son a lesson about life in the wood shed.

I was wrong when I recently suggested that wildlife agencies should ban semiautomatic firearms I erroneously called “assault rifles” for hunting. I insulted legions of my fellow gun owners in the process by calling them “terrorist rifles.” I can never apologize enough for having worn blinders when I should have been wearing bifocals.

But unlike those who would destroy the Second Amendment right to own a firearm – any firearm – I have learned from my embarrassing mistake. My error should not be used, as it has been in recent days by our common enemies, in an effort to dangerously erode our right to keep and bear arms.

I would hope instead to use this spotlight to address my hunting fraternity, many of whom shared my erroneous position. I am a hunter and like many others I had the wrong picture in mind. I associated these firearms with military action, and saw not hunting as I have known it, not the killing of a varmint, but the elimination of the entire colony. Nothing could be further from the truth, but I know from whence it comes. This ridiculous image, formed in the blink of an eye, exerts and unconscious effect on all decisions that follow. In seeking to protect our hunting rights by guarding how we are seen in the public eye, I lost sight of the larger picture; missed the forest for the trees.

My own lack of experience was no excuse for ignoring the fact that millions of Americans – people who would share a campfire or the shelter of their tent, and who have hurt nobody – own, hunt with and competitively shoot or collect the kinds of firearms I so easily dismissed.

I recently took a “crash course” on these firearms with Ted Nugent, to learn more about them and to educate myself. In the process, I learned about the very real threat that faces all American gun owners.

I’ve studied up on legislation now in Congress that would renew and dangerously expand a ban on many types of firearms. The bill, HR 1022 sponsored by New York Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, is written so broadly that it would outlaw numerous firearms and accessories, including a folding stock for a Ruger rifle. I understand that some of the language could ultimately take away my timeworn and cherished hunting rifles and shotguns as well as those of all American hunters.

The extremist supporters of HR 1022 don’t want to stop criminals. They want to invent new ones out of people like you and me with the simple stroke of a pen. They will do anything they can to make it impossible for more and more American citizens to legally own any firearm.

Realizing that what I wrote catered to this insidious attack on fellow gun owners has, one might say, “awakened a sleeping giant within me, and filled him with a terrible resolve.”

I made a mistake. But those who would use my remarks to further their despicable political agenda have made a bigger one. I hope to become their worst nightmare. I admit I was wrong. They insist they are right.

Enclosed, you will find a check that is intended to be used to fight and defeat HR 1022. I also hope it inspires other gun owners to “do as I do, not as I say.”

I’m putting my money where my mouth should have been, and where my heart and soul have always been. I know the Second Amendment isn’t about hunting and never has been. My blunder was in thinking that by working to protect precious hunting rights I was doing enough. I promise it will never happen again.

I don’t know what lies over the horizon for me. I am not ready for the rocking chair.

I’m going to devote every ounce of my energy to this battle. I will remind my fellow hunters that we are first, gun owners. Whether we like it or not, our former apathy and prejudices may place that which we love, hunting, in jeopardy. I will educate fellow outdoorsmen who mistakenly think like I talked, even if I have to visit every hunting camp and climb into every duck blind and deer stand in this country to get it done. I was wrong, and I’m going to make it right.

Sincerely,

[Osage Orange]

FReepers are here...and generally edumacated.

Dumbo Zumbo was maybe...just in his own little world. Fat Dumb and Happy???? I dunno.........

Well heck good Dr. there's been a time in my life...when I thought I was right...until the chorus told me I was full of watermelon seeds.....I didn't see the "light" until they spot-lighted me.

Just so you know....I find it amazing to find people that are sooooo out of touch with their "profession"....but it happens too often. Don't know why...but it does.

This FReeper ain't gonna cut him off at the knee's just yet......

P.S. BTW, most Doc's I know ( and I know one or three ) can spell skeptical. Poking fun here....I'm just an Okie Indian.

FRegards, as we are on the same team......

[pandemoniumreigns]

I know what your saying mich.. I just don't understand how someone who is a rifle or hunting expert of some sort is so completly lost on the 2nd and must be "brought to the light" by someone like Nugent...

[Lurker]

I'm willing to give the man a chance.

Let us see if he does indeed redeem himself.

L

[MarkL]

I, for one, am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, and accept his apology whole-heartedly. There are a lot of people in all walks of life who don't see "the big picture." I've simply known too many people who say, "You don't need such and such."

I wish him luck, and welcome him back into "the fold."

Mark

[ansel12]

"He has made a real apology, and taken the first step toward fulfilling it.

I have taken the first step to forgiving him.

I just hope he can reach out to all those hunters and remind them to VOTE."






We may have just picked up a very influential convert out of this. (a prominent, influential, writer no less.)

[michigander]

I just don't understand ...

I don't either.
You've, no doubt, seen the Rudy threads here and many folks on both sides of the debate don't understand how ... blah, blah, blah, ... for weeks on end now.
Yet there it is and both sides feel they're right. I can see that as the same type of thing.

by someone like Nugent...

You have a 2nd. Am. problem with Ted?

[Publius6961]

Apology accepted.

Now, if politicians could figure out how that works...

[Oztrich Boy]

Rehab with the Nuge!

[Who is John Galt?]

Well alrighty then. He goofed, he admitted it, and now promises to be a strong advocate for gun rights. More power to him!!!

You're 100% correct! Amen, Compadre!!!

[nvcdl]

Good for Zumbo. I think this incident will in end be very helpful - the outdoor writing fraternity has sat on the sidelines or worse endorsed the same anti-black rifle mentality.

[Doohickey]

You can say that again. Oh wait! You did, twice!

[Who is John Galt?]

"I don’t know what lies over the horizon for me... I was wrong, and I’m going to make it right."

Mr. Zumbo may have just done something that will result in the redefinition of the verb 'zumbo' - let's see what happens...

;>)

[Publius6961]

And this guy is some kind of expert???
What am I missing here?

Just a gentle reminder that nobody knows everything about anything...

Guns, "gobal warming"; anything...

[majormaturity]

Mr. Zumbo: When I first heard your words that got you into so much trouble, I felt betrayed and confused. However, I now believe you understand what motivates so many of us. Many of us are hunters and freedom lovers, and I suppose we have both kinds of guns - those that we hunt with, and those we keep in case our freedoms come under challenge by a wayword government or some state bent upon enslaving us. Whether someone uses a "military" rifle (if there is exclusively such a thing) for hunting or a hunting rifle (if there is exclusively such a thing) for furthering freedom, the point is to respect whatever choice someone makes to use the rifle of their choice for the purpose they intend. Let us not forget that most of the rifles used in the Revolutionary War were originally used to put game on the table for the family. Damn good thing those guys knew how to shoot their "hunting" rifles, or we would still be serving the King of England. I applaud your ability to listen to those you spoke to for so many years and encourage you to remain true to your promise to be an even greater advocate for personal freedom and the right to choose to use whatever firearm you want for the purpose intended. I understand that many regard certain rifles as being more appropriate for hunting than others, but one man's ceiling is another man's floor. I ask all Freepers to give this man a chance to prove his convictions and welcome him back. Remember the parable of the shepherd who finds his lost sheep.

[Gator113]

Every man has been in rooms that he would not wanted to had died in. Zumbo just saw what it looks like in one of his.

That was a seemingly heartfelt and sincere apology. I will accept it for now, but he now caries a thousand times the responsibility on his shoulders, than he ever could have thought he had.

If Zumbo is quick, with absolute diligence and successful on this subject, he may earn back his integrity, if not, it's gone forever.

I wish him well........

[mylife]

Thank you Mr Zumbo. Apology accepted

[Inyo-Mono]

There are a lot of people in all walks of life who don't see "the big picture." I've simply known too many people who say, "You don't need such and such."

I agree. I know many hunters who don't understand why I like to shoot paper with hand guns and feel that hand guns are a totally seperate "thing" from their hunting rifles and shotguns and have little or no interest in joining the NRA or other gun rights organizations to protect all of our rights.

[WLR]

Mom,
You said it best. we all make mistakes and our only saving grace is we are forgiven:)

Pretty big man not to just continue with the BS.

I will join you and "Trust but Verify"

W

[mylife]

Ping

[michigander]

Remember the parable of the shepherd who finds his lost sheep.

:-)
posted 02-23-2007 04:46 PM