Where in this "As hunters, we don't need to be lumped into the group of people who terrorize the world with them. . . . I'll go so far as to call them 'terrorist' rifles." does he "call gun owners Terrorists? I'm sorry, but I ain't buying this bullchit. When a remark from someone who has been hunting for over 40 years, gets lambasted, and those lambasting cannot even get his comments right. This pisses me off more than anything. Solidarity among gun owners is the goal. Taking a comment like this and "running with it", only creates an unnecessary rift.
The rift was already there. Zumbo just clarified the (Elmer) Fudd perspective. When he made the statement, and reinforced by his half assed apology, it was obvious that Zumbo wouldn't know the RTKBA if it bit him in the ass.
The problem, of course -- nuances aside -- is that, as expected, the people "running with it" are the Brady folk. They jumped on this immediately. So perhaps you should write a letter to them asking them to clarify Zumbo's position, since oddly they seem to be doing a poor job of it.
In fact, his language is right out of the worst the Brady campaign has to offer. At this time, with a very real ban bill coming across the line in IL and a federal ban far more restrictive than the past one submitted in Washington, the damage he has caused is significant. Not crucial perhaps, but another firearm "authority" that supports their primary spin that hunting is what the 2nd is all about, and if it's not a hunting rifle then it has no purpose. And, the word association of "terrorist" and "ban" speak to deeper beliefs and play well to those wanting to piss all over the 2nd.
Maybe I'm a bit sensitive because I hear the anti gun politicians in my state use that same Zumboesque language over and over again with each assault on my rights. I have to actively fight on the phone, mail and letters to the editor on a quarterly basis while the Fudds sit on their tulips smug in the false belief that if theyr take my gun their centerfire sniper assassin rifles will be safe. Since the crime statistics do not back up a position against semi autos, the ONLY reason for the AR ban efforts is because they think it's the easiest target today. They are used in about 1-2 percent of all crime. That's it. Even if bans worked, were talking a "margin of error" cure to firearm criminal activity. If anyone thinks it will stop with semi autos, guess again.
Maybe when these "traditionalists" are restricted to an over/under shotgun with $50 per box ammo and a $500 registration fee, or a black powder muzzle loader or bow for hunting they will get the picture. And it's not like hunting is all that politically correct these days, or like hunters make up the significant firearm ownership base or are at the forefront of the RTKBA fight.
The one good thing is that this brought the debate out in the open. If Zumbo can be reformed, and is believable in the process (and not just waffling to get his endorsements back) then it could do some good. Perhaps he can open the eyes of other Fudds that there is actually a big picture. But, he will never undo the broader public damage he has created.
Charon
