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The top editor of Guns & Ammo became the second employee of the venerable firearms magazine to lose his job after a column advocating gun control backfired, prompting rifle-toting readers to unload on the publication.
In a statement posted Wednesday on the InterMedia Outdoors-owned magazineās homepage, Jim Bequette apologized to āeach and every readerā of the magazine for Dick Metcalfās column that appeared in its December issue, which generated āunprecedentedā controversy and left readers āhopping madā in regards to the magazineās commitment to the Second Amendment.
āLet me be clear: Our commitment to the Second Amendment is unwavering,ā Bequette wrote. āIt has been so since the beginning. Historically, our tradition in supporting the Second Amendment has been unflinching. No strings attached.ā
"I understand what you believe in when it comes to gun rights, and I believe the same thing."
- Jim Bequette, former editor of Guns & Ammo magazine
But by publishing Metcalfās column, Bequette said he was āuntrueā to the magazineās tradition. He reiterated that Metcalfās views did not represent his or that of the magazine before later acknowledging he would step down as editor earlier than originally planned.
āIt is very clear to me that they donāt reflect the views of our readership either,ā Bequetteās response continued. ā ā¦ I once again offer my personal apology. I understand what our valued readers want. I understand what you believe in when it comes to gun rights, and I believe the same thing.ā
Metcalf, meanwhile, a longtime writer on firearms and U.S. gun culture, saw his association with the magazine terminated. Attempts to reach him Friday at his home in Barry, Ill., were unsuccessful.
In his column entitled āLetās Talk Limits: Do certain firearm regulations really constitute infringement?,ā Metcalf wrote that āway too manyā gun owners believe that any regulation of the right to bear arms is an infringement prohibited by the Second Amendment.
āThe fact is, all constitutional rights are regulated, always have been, and need to be,ā Metcalf wrote. āFreedom of speech is regulated. You cannot falsely and deliberating shout, āFire!ā in a crowded theater. Freedom of religion is regulated. A church cannot practice human sacrifice. Freedom of assembly is regulated.ā
Metcalf continued: āThe question is, when does regulation become infringement?ā
The firestorm that following was intense and swift, with some readers indicating they would immediately end their subscription to the magazine.
āSo a writer takes a moderate, rational stance and you fire him? Predictably gutless response from a magazine that sells fear,ā one message posted on the magazineās Twitter page read.
Other posts on the Twitter feed claimed the ādamage is doneā despite Bequetteās apology and accused the magazine of betraying its core readers. At least one Twitter user also accused the magazine of backtracking when money āis on the line.ā
In a statement posted Wednesday on the InterMedia Outdoors-owned magazineās homepage, Jim Bequette apologized to āeach and every readerā of the magazine for Dick Metcalfās column that appeared in its December issue, which generated āunprecedentedā controversy and left readers āhopping madā in regards to the magazineās commitment to the Second Amendment.
āLet me be clear: Our commitment to the Second Amendment is unwavering,ā Bequette wrote. āIt has been so since the beginning. Historically, our tradition in supporting the Second Amendment has been unflinching. No strings attached.ā
"I understand what you believe in when it comes to gun rights, and I believe the same thing."
- Jim Bequette, former editor of Guns & Ammo magazine
But by publishing Metcalfās column, Bequette said he was āuntrueā to the magazineās tradition. He reiterated that Metcalfās views did not represent his or that of the magazine before later acknowledging he would step down as editor earlier than originally planned.
āIt is very clear to me that they donāt reflect the views of our readership either,ā Bequetteās response continued. ā ā¦ I once again offer my personal apology. I understand what our valued readers want. I understand what you believe in when it comes to gun rights, and I believe the same thing.ā
Metcalf, meanwhile, a longtime writer on firearms and U.S. gun culture, saw his association with the magazine terminated. Attempts to reach him Friday at his home in Barry, Ill., were unsuccessful.
In his column entitled āLetās Talk Limits: Do certain firearm regulations really constitute infringement?,ā Metcalf wrote that āway too manyā gun owners believe that any regulation of the right to bear arms is an infringement prohibited by the Second Amendment.
āThe fact is, all constitutional rights are regulated, always have been, and need to be,ā Metcalf wrote. āFreedom of speech is regulated. You cannot falsely and deliberating shout, āFire!ā in a crowded theater. Freedom of religion is regulated. A church cannot practice human sacrifice. Freedom of assembly is regulated.ā
Metcalf continued: āThe question is, when does regulation become infringement?ā
The firestorm that following was intense and swift, with some readers indicating they would immediately end their subscription to the magazine.
āSo a writer takes a moderate, rational stance and you fire him? Predictably gutless response from a magazine that sells fear,ā one message posted on the magazineās Twitter page read.
Other posts on the Twitter feed claimed the ādamage is doneā despite Bequetteās apology and accused the magazine of betraying its core readers. At least one Twitter user also accused the magazine of backtracking when money āis on the line.ā