Posted on 03/05/2007 3:25:49 PM PST by 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,
Thats an understatement! When I see guys shooting 1919's I have a calculater running in my head ( hey that guy just shot $150 bucks of ammo in a minute) When I see some one shooting off a Ma Duece in full auto at $4 a round I think (what the hell does this guy do for a living? Im in the wrong business!)
Sometimes, one's worst enemies can become one's strongest allies, once they realize the folly of their ways. It is too early to say with certainty that such a thing has happened to Mr. Zumbo, but it seems likely.
It is important to chastise people who make mistakes enough to ensure that their mistakes are, indeed, mistakes (i.e. that they don't get more benefit from the mistake than they would have gotten from doing the right thing) but punishing people too far beyond that would seem counterproductive.
I prefer the following parable (also in Luke 15).
My hope is that most conservatives believe in the practice of allowing one to atone for his misdeeds. Zumbo's apology has, indeed, thrown down a challenge that Zumbo himself must meet publicly, or he will be forever humiliated and ridiculed beyond redemption. Let's give him a chance.
By way of analogy.... remember, the staunchest and most public pro-life advocates are the ones who used to be ensconced deep within the abortion industry. Let's see if Zumbo is made of the same stuff. As they said in medieval times, let's give him a chance to "show his quality."
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Let's not be like the elder son, guys!
In all honesty, I am sure that his situation fits that of many American gun owners who are blissfully ignorant of the efforts of the enemies of freedom that are trying to deprive us of our rights.
at least he finally gets it
Bang!
For me, these three sentences tell me that his head is on straight.
"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."
I think it is time to say, "Okay, let's see if you can keep your head on straight".
"He had a "come to Jesus" meeting with The Nuge."
HE HAS SEEN THE LIGHT!
LOL!
Ah, he went and got rehab'd at Uncle Ted's farm for wayward journalists.
Lol!
"Thats an understatement! When I see guys shooting 1919's I have a calculater running in my head ( hey that guy just shot $150 bucks of ammo in a minute) When I see some one shooting off a Ma Duece in full auto at $4 a round I think (what the hell does this guy do for a living? Im in the wrong business!)"
There is a fella that shoots at a local range that attends the Kentucky Machine Gun Shoot every year. He has told me he saves all year to go. It runs him about $5K in ammo for a few days, thought he was just pulling my leg...guess not.
I think he's finally sincere. Hope things work out for him. He could be a voice for good, since as he said his former attitude is VERY common among hunter. (nothing like a little arclight to get your attention)
If he wanted an education on guns and 2nd amendment rights, Ted Nugent was the right one to go to. That is one thing that makes his apology ring true.
He has done damage --- even the New York Times has editorialized on this situation --- and he is willing to make amends to the best of his ability.
That willingness is the single best way to assuage the inevitable misuse of his original mistaken blog efforts by the HCI types. Whenever they write more garbage about taking guns from Americans and quote Mr. Zumbo, Mr. Zumbo can write back explaining how he was wrong with far more effect than anyone else could.
I hope he writes the New York Times immediately. If they won't publish this, I would guess that the Wall Street Journal or IBD would.
Show me Zumbo
Powder..Patch..Ball FIRE!
Go Zumbo! I'll be watching.
We'll see how he does. His actions will speak far louder than these words.
Hey Dr.
Zumbo is not a firearms expert. He is a hunting expert.
Actually, he is a guy who was able to make a living by writing about what he loved and worked that into being able to make big bucks promoting "guns for hunting" for some major manufactures.
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