Jim Zumbo Dixie Chick'd

I am not a hunter. But I respect their right to hunt. And to express their views about hunting. That seems to be what sets me apart from the "mainstream" of the gun culture in this country.

Jim Zumbo has been a lifelong hunter and a spokesperson for this sport. Recently he decided to express his opinion about assault rifles. On his blog (on Outdoor Magazine's website but here is a link since that site has been removed) he wrote:

I call them “assault” rifles, which may upset some people. Excuse me, maybe I’m a traditionalist, but I see no place for these weapons among our hunting fraternity. I’ll go so far as to call them “terrorist” rifles. They tell me that some companies are producing assault rifles that are “tackdrivers.”

Sorry, folks, in my humble opinion, these things have no place in hunting. We don’t need to be lumped into the group of people who terrorize the world with them, which is an obvious concern. I’ve always been comfortable with the statement that hunters don’t use assault rifles. We’ve always been proud of our “sporting firearms.”

Because of his comments, reports the Washington Post, Jim Zumbo has been attacked by the hunting community, he has lost his job as a writer for Outdoor Magazine, Remington has canceled their business relationship with him, the Outdoor Channel has canceled his show... and the NRA has severed its ties to him.

What happened to an America in which we are willing to accept differences of opinion, embrace diversity, defend each other's right to free speech?

This week my wife and I watched "Shut Up and Sing" - the documentary on how the Dixie Chicks were treated by the country music industry when Nicole, their lead singer, said on a stage in London that she "...was ashamed that our President is from Texas." The personal attacks included death threats. Worth watching, by the way, if you want to see an ugly side of America.

I am personally very disturbed by this lack of tolerance. I believe it is the greatest threat to our way of life -- not "terrorism."