Megistopoda
Member
Dear 2A Friends:
Here is my take, outlined in a letter to Sen. Levin:
___________________
23 March 2007
Senator Carl Levin
269 Russell Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Senator Levin:
Regarding your statements on “assault weapons”, read into the congressional record on 20 March 2007:
You stated that hunting expert Jim Zumbo opposes so-called “assault weapons” (which you know are only semi-automatic firearms). Jim once said that they have no place in hunting. Jim quickly reconsidered his remarks because he had made a mistake. Moreover, you were incorrect to say that the NRA’s reaction caused Jim’s sponsors to drop him…it was the scores of thousands of gun owners that contacted his sponsors.
Let’s consider the totality of Jim’s position. Zumbo has been around a while, and as you surely know, people can become “set in their ways” and often miss new developments. At the time Zumbo was cutting his hunting teeth, there were few semi-auto firearms used for hunting. That has completely changed, and Jim has only now become aware of the new development. Thanks in large part to the federal semi-auto ban legislation you supported in 1994 and co-sponsored in 2003, the law-abiding public has become hugely interested in semi-auto rifles built on the AR and AK platforms. Ownership has increased tremendously, as has their use in target shooting, hunting, and lawful defense. These developments were unknown to Jim until he made his statements.
Jim Zumbo has been educated – he’s learned about and used semi-automatic firearms, and fully realizes that they are hugely popular with a burgeoning ownership base, and that their use and ownership are wholly legitimate. Furthermore, Jim has become a staunch advocate of their promotion and lawful use. Quoting Jim: “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.” If you don’t believe he’s changed, please write Jim personally.
Given what transpired after “Zumbo’s Folly”, your statement to Congress was roundly dishonest, or at the very least, grossly misinformed. Moreover, it’s painfully hypocritical that your web page [about your statement to Congress] is entitled “A bit of truth about assault weapons.” A man of your stature, and in your position, must not only know the issues, but you must evaluate them objectively and report them honestly. It is you, Senator Levin, who owes Jim an apology for so grossly misrepresenting him (to Congress no less!), and owes Congress an apology for providing false information. You should retract your statement on assault weapons, or at the least, your mis-communication of Jim’s position.
In closing, I urge your party to cease pushing gun control legislation. How many times must you learn that it’s a loosing issue, and worse, a misguided and unconstitutional one? Let me be perfectly clear - law-abiding firearm owners will NOT tolerate infringements on our right to keep and bear arms. We stopped the MD semi-auto ban. We are stopping the IL semi-auto ban. We will certainly stop HR1022. And we are working to squarely place this issue in front of the US Supreme Court, when they’ll have no choice but to rule that the 2nd Amendment means what it says – “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Then, finally, we can all stop wasting our precious time and resources on both sides of illegal gun control legislation. Together, we face many important issues, ones that can be effectively addressed without violating the constitution of the United States. I’ll be waiting for you to explain why you provided Congress with mis-information regarding Jim Zumbo, and what you are going to do to rectify the problem.
Sincerely,
"Megistopoda", Ph.D.
My city, IL
Here is my take, outlined in a letter to Sen. Levin:
___________________
23 March 2007
Senator Carl Levin
269 Russell Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Senator Levin:
Regarding your statements on “assault weapons”, read into the congressional record on 20 March 2007:
You stated that hunting expert Jim Zumbo opposes so-called “assault weapons” (which you know are only semi-automatic firearms). Jim once said that they have no place in hunting. Jim quickly reconsidered his remarks because he had made a mistake. Moreover, you were incorrect to say that the NRA’s reaction caused Jim’s sponsors to drop him…it was the scores of thousands of gun owners that contacted his sponsors.
Let’s consider the totality of Jim’s position. Zumbo has been around a while, and as you surely know, people can become “set in their ways” and often miss new developments. At the time Zumbo was cutting his hunting teeth, there were few semi-auto firearms used for hunting. That has completely changed, and Jim has only now become aware of the new development. Thanks in large part to the federal semi-auto ban legislation you supported in 1994 and co-sponsored in 2003, the law-abiding public has become hugely interested in semi-auto rifles built on the AR and AK platforms. Ownership has increased tremendously, as has their use in target shooting, hunting, and lawful defense. These developments were unknown to Jim until he made his statements.
Jim Zumbo has been educated – he’s learned about and used semi-automatic firearms, and fully realizes that they are hugely popular with a burgeoning ownership base, and that their use and ownership are wholly legitimate. Furthermore, Jim has become a staunch advocate of their promotion and lawful use. Quoting Jim: “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.” If you don’t believe he’s changed, please write Jim personally.
Given what transpired after “Zumbo’s Folly”, your statement to Congress was roundly dishonest, or at the very least, grossly misinformed. Moreover, it’s painfully hypocritical that your web page [about your statement to Congress] is entitled “A bit of truth about assault weapons.” A man of your stature, and in your position, must not only know the issues, but you must evaluate them objectively and report them honestly. It is you, Senator Levin, who owes Jim an apology for so grossly misrepresenting him (to Congress no less!), and owes Congress an apology for providing false information. You should retract your statement on assault weapons, or at the least, your mis-communication of Jim’s position.
In closing, I urge your party to cease pushing gun control legislation. How many times must you learn that it’s a loosing issue, and worse, a misguided and unconstitutional one? Let me be perfectly clear - law-abiding firearm owners will NOT tolerate infringements on our right to keep and bear arms. We stopped the MD semi-auto ban. We are stopping the IL semi-auto ban. We will certainly stop HR1022. And we are working to squarely place this issue in front of the US Supreme Court, when they’ll have no choice but to rule that the 2nd Amendment means what it says – “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Then, finally, we can all stop wasting our precious time and resources on both sides of illegal gun control legislation. Together, we face many important issues, ones that can be effectively addressed without violating the constitution of the United States. I’ll be waiting for you to explain why you provided Congress with mis-information regarding Jim Zumbo, and what you are going to do to rectify the problem.
Sincerely,
"Megistopoda", Ph.D.
My city, IL
We have all thought this or that till someone told us the truth.