Jim Zumbo's anti-gun blog

[Rocky Raab]

Hard to believe what got into the man's brain, but he's come out against anybody being able to own AR-15 or other (his words) "terrorist guns."


Zumbo Blog

If you decide to send a comment to his sponsors, be rational and polite. Remember that none of them had a chance to approve his copy before he posted it, and this may have caught them by surprise. I simply asked them to re-evaluate their sponsorship and reminded them that my future buying decisions might be affected by their response.

[gd357]

Man oh man... I can't believe it. Truly a sad day. I suppose that Mr. Zumbo may not have thought his comments through, but that is still no excuse for selling out. As far as his aversion to using such rifles for hunting purposes, he's more than welcome to use whatever he wants. Just don't tell me what to use. The principles this country was founded upon such as tolerance, and understanding are gone just like common sense.

gd

[Rocky Raab]

Here's a list of direct email addys:

webmaster@outdoorlife.com
webmaster@remington.com
tommy.millner@remington.com
dawn.lorello@swarovski.com
sales@gerberblades.com
benglish@mossyoak.com
pstrickland@mossyoak.com
domain.admin@CABELAS.COM
corporate@cabelas.com
info@stoneypoint.com
hans@himtnjerky.com
kimberly@himtnjerky.com

If you write them, be polite; I doubt if any of them reviewed his words before they were posted. Simply ask them if they believe Zumbo represents their thoughts and interests any longer.

BTW, Remington has already come out and said they are immediately evaluating their relationship with Zumbo. I'd expect other sponsors to do the same.

What reputation Zumbo had in this industry is probably ruined forever. He may have published his last words unless he eats a lot of humble pie.

[gd357]

Rocky,

Thanks for the list! I'm in the middle of a letter to Outdoor Life as I write this. The others will get a copy as well.

gd

[skeet]

With friends like him we surely don't need enemies. No more of his articles for me

[FIJI]

I have a signed Zumbo book and elk poster (gifts) that I will happily offer to get the bonfire started !

[Classicvette63]

A couple things that I see. First, this guy has no clue as to what he is talking about. When he says that hunters would be better served with a a boltgun etc., because it is lighter than the ar-15 styles, wtf?I wish my Model 70 was as light as an ar-15.

Secondly, not really pertaining to his article but some of the comments posted in his blog, the .223 is not a deer round, period. I don't care if bullet maker X came out with a "deer" bullet for the .223, it ain't a deer round. Sure it can kill deer, so can a cb cap.

Third, as to the whole anti-gun movement, who cares? Really, who cares? They aren't going to change our minds just as we aren't going to change theirs. I like guns and have guns. If I want more guns, I will get more guns. The anti's can bluster all they want, they can't do a darn thing about it unless they want push to come to shove. Until they are ready to put their money where their mouth is, I really couldn't care less.

[Niteowl]

Looks to me that he has recanted his previous feelings on that other article...go to his web site and it is there in black and white,I guess if you raise enough stink....some can be persuaded

[skeet]

Now even the Brady Campaign has gotten ahold of the comments Zumbo made. People are really Pi$$ed

[fabsroman]

What a moron. I have watched his stupid show on a couple of occassions, but I can assure you that it will happen no more. Also, it the magazine at all related to the channel? If so, I might just cancel the entire thing because that channel is starting to get pretty boring.

[M.T. Pockets]

Wow...sometimes the most dangerous enemy can be the one you think is a friend.

The biggest ripple this will have is that he'll be quoted by the anti's forever in their attempts to ban or limit firearms ownership.

This is a wake up call for the rest of us.

I've never liked elitists. Zumbo just proved he is. I have a hard time believing that such an "expert" isn't aware of just how popular these types of rifles are. I thought I was the only guy that didn't have one. Most of my prairie dog hunting buddies have all switched over to them, one by one, from their bolt actions.

I don't care what anyone's reason is for owning one, if they want to hunt with it, more power to you. If you want to shoot pop cans as fast as you can from 200 yards, more power to you. If you want one for home defense, more power to you.

I see Zumbo is back peddling big time now, I think it's too late. He's going the way of Jimmy the Greek, Howard Cosell and Dan Rather. He's lost all credibility with the gun crowd and has a big of a chance to make it back as Michael Richards has hosting the next NAACP meeting.

[Rocky Raab]

If I may make suggestion...

To those who now subscribe to OL, do NOT shred or toss your renewal statements. To those who don't subscribe, go to the nearest magazine rack at your grocery and get a subscription card from an OL.

Now, send it in. But instead of checking the subscribe box, just write across it in black marker, "Not only NO, but Zumbo!" Let OL pay for the postage to get your message.

That goes for any Time-Warner product. Flood them.

[Tennessee Elkman]

See his reply he posted yesterday. Sounds like he's running for his life... and his job. He's taking some serious heat right now and his job(s) are on the line. Personally, I think he's toast.

[Tennessee Elkman]

Rocky,
I certainly don't proclaim your writing skills or writing savvy, but I respectfully request you take into consideration two things about the OL magazine.
First, the freedom of speech amendment comes into play here and I really think that an important part of the writing.
Secondly, the editor of OL, John Snow, has stated "His position that AR- and AK-style rifles don’t have a place among our “sporting arms” is not one that I personally, or Outdoor Life as a magazine, happens to share."
By blasting our displeasure with Outdoor Life by canceling subscriptions or have them pay for postage of subscription cards over one morons opinion is like throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Let's write letters and emails to his sponsors, let's slam him with thousands of blogs, but I'm not stopping shopping at Cabela's simply because of one idiots' opinion. Just because Swarovski gives him free binoculars does that mean I need to throw mine away or sell them on ebay?
One fools opinion is just that and he's back pedaling faster than he can keep up with the blogs. And I truly believe that this might be the straw that breaks the camels back because I've never like most of his opinions and this isn't the first time hes' done something stupid but it might be the last....

[Rocky Raab]

(I think you meant "defame" instead of "proclaim.")

The First Amendment guarantees free speech. It does not grant immunity from the results of said speech. If John Snow and the magazine disagree with Zumbo's original position, why did they allow it out? THEY have free speech, too - and that means they do NOT have to print whatever drops into the editor's inbox. A good editor pays serious attention to what any published bit will mean to his magazine, be that a libel suit, defamation of character, liability claims - or loss of advertising and subscription income.

They let Zumbo pour gasoline on the fire; they'll have to expect heat and ashes.