OnStand : The Sportsman's Watchdog

Jim Zumbo, “famed” hunter, outdoorsman and outdoor writer had blogged last week on Outdoor Life a mindless rant about how “assault rifles” should be banned, that nobody uses them for legal hunting and they are nothing more than “terrorist rifles”.

First and foremost I always considered Zumbo an elitist who did nothing but go on “canned” hunts provided by companies like Cabela’s, Outdoor Life, etc. In my opinion he is not a REAL outdoorsman. He has proven he is NOT pro 2nd Amendment as well, just pro “hunting gun” which is a very dangerous thing to be.

Secondly, I never could stand his pompous writings or TV shows. How smug does a guy have a right to be when you have a huge entourage doing everything for you when you are “hunting”?

Third, if he had bothered to do any research at all he would see that hundreds of thousands of people use these “terrorist rifles” for legal sport shooting AND HUNTING!

He had a blog on Outdoor Life’s website, articles in many outdoors magazines, a hunting show on Outdoor Network. Sponsorship from Gerber Knives, Cabela’s, Hi Mountain Seasonings, Mossy Oak, Remington and others. He had his endorsement on many outdoor related products. He had a whole nation of pro second amendment folks fooled.

Literally millions of pro 2nd Amendment folks moved on this. Emails were sent, phone calls made, web forums and blogs were on fire.

WE ALL NEED TO REACT THIS WAY TO POLITICIANS WHO ARE ANTI-SECOND AMENDMENT, AS WELL!!!!

I was amazed to see the reaction from the corporate world.

Hi Mountain Seasonings, a small privately owned company in Wyoming that makes jerky and sausage seasonings was first to act. On Sunday night, mere hours after Zumbo’s blog they announced that they were severing all ties with him. They were sponsors of his TV show and used his image and likeness in their marketing. KUDOS to them!!! My new supplier of all things jerky!

Remington followed suit. Tommy Millner (Remington’s CEO) was personally responding to emails via his Blackberry even though he was in Europe! Even with Monday being a Federal holiday and his legal staff unavailable, he ordered that all ties with Zumbo were to be severed immediately. Mr. Millner wasn’t concerned about any legal or contractual BS, JUST CUT THE TIES. Now that is a company I can (and do) stand behind!

Mossy Oak didn’t respond to any emails but did immediately post a notice on their website stating that they, too, had severed all ties with Zumbo.

Outdoor Life had Zumbo post a retraction. At best it was lame. It said things like “I’d been hunting all day, I was tired, the wind was blowing 60MPH”. And “I fly a flag in my front yard, I am a member of the NRA, I took some military people on a (canned) hunt with me, I plan on hunting with Ted Nugent using AR-15’s” blah blah blah.

His final words were “I am sorry I stuck my foot in my mouth”. How lame. He never apologized for calling us and our guns “terrorists”. He never apologized for not standing up for our 2nd amendment rights. The Brady camp is eating this up. His retraction caused even more outrage. Outdoor Life finally posted a notice that they, too, were severing ties with him. Too little, too late, in my opinion. I’m not a subscriber, nor had I ever intended to be. They cemented that decision entirely. Thumbs down to these folks.

Cabela’s took a few days to “investigate legal and contractual issues”, then cut him loose entirely. They were also sponsors of his show, and did some other marketing with him and provided many of his canned hunts. No surprise there. Cabela’s is all about the bottom line. Sure their stores are awesome and I love the neweset one here in Nebraska. Sure they have a really great Fall Magazine always with plenty of time before Christmas. But I usually don’t buy anything from them anyway… they are way overpriced in my opinion. Would have been nice if they reacted the same as Remington did. I’ll still go to their stores and look at the cool taxidermy work. I’ll spend my dollars elsewhere unless they have an incredible sale on something I want or need.

Gerber Knives was a little slow to react. They did end up posting a statement that they severed all sponsorship ties with him. They have great products and I have always been a fan. I will continue to support them.

So… Mega-kudos to Remington, Hi Mountain, and Mossy Oak. No mucking about, no backpedaling, no compromises, no weasel words or weasel actions. Just respect for gun owners and the right to keep and bear arms.

Next time you buy a gun or ammo you know for sure that at least one firearms maker really means it when they say they support the Second Amendment – Remington.

Next time you buy jerky seasonings and supplies, Hi Mountain’s the place to go. You’ll know your freedom won’t be abused. I hear their stuff is delicious, besides. I’m looking forward to trying it myself.

You now know whose brand of camo you can trust – and a visit to Mossy Oak’s web site is a pleasure all by itself.

Please note that it will take some time for Hi Mountain’s products to cycle through the retail markets. Please DO NOT avoid their products with Zumbo’s endorsement. We don’t want to inadvertently cause this great little company any harm!

Outdoor Life… sorry but as I said earlier, too little too late.

Now, I challenge all of you believers in the Constitution of the United States of America and it’s second amendment. I challenge each and every one of you to react the same to any of the moron politicians that try to pass new, useless gun laws. Have a few gun laws THAT PUNISH CRIMINALS and not law abiding citizens!

Email them when you read about new BS “Assault weapons bans” or ridiculous handgun laws. I ask that you pass this on to everyone you know who is a gun owner. I ask that you also pass this on to people who want to do away with guns.

Respond as vigorously to any other moronic writers that don’t care about your rights. Let them know that we are a legion, we have a voice, and we will not tolerate this garbage be it from a writer or a lawmaker.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Some repetitious passages were edited out simply in consideration of length.)