Guns & Ammo Pro Gun Control Editorial - Update

[Bushmaster1911]

Its a disgrace to even include Col. Cooper in a thread about Dick (appropriately named) Metcalf and to compare the two is a disservice to Jeff Cooper. One of them was a decent and honorable man who lived his life helping others and providing a service to humanity. The other promoted himself and products for a price and sells out his ideals for what I'm sure he thought would gain a lot of press but have no real consequences. I'm glad he was mistaken on the last part.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Its a disgrace to even include Col. Cooper in a thread about Dick (appropriately named) Metcalf and to compare the two is a disservice to Jeff Cooper. One of them was a decent and honorable man who lived his life helping others and providing a service to humanity. The other promoted himself and products for a price and sells out his ideals for what I'm sure he thought would gain a lot of press but have no real consequences. I'm glad he was mistaken on the last part.

I am sorry to be disgraceful, but I was making a distinction between the two mentioned persons, hopefully pointing out the two opposite approaches the two seemed to have as far as "gun writing" is concerned. I agree with your comparison of the two. Metcalf was simply not playing in the same league.

Anyone remember the original Masters Tournament, which tested shooters in various disciplines, including "action" pistol, bullseye, etc.? Anyone know why it was moved from PASA Park? Or, what connection Metcalf had to PASA Park, the so-called Pike-Adams Sportsmans Alliance located in what was then Metcalf's home state of Illinois (I don't know if he still lives in Illinois).

Hmmm. Illinois. That could explain (not excuse) quite a bit about Metcalf's view of the 2nd Amendment.

 

[M29since14]

Now, now, Shawn. Not everyone in Illinois drinks the Chicago Kool-aid.

 

[mkk41]

Then there's Mike (self proclaimed Duke) Venturino...

I actually enjoy his articles. He doesn't profess to be any sort of combat handgun guru. His articles on collecting , shooting and reloading for older and classic guns are just the ticket for guys who shoot these things just for fun. I'd much rather read about shooting a Colt 1872 Open Top , S&W Schofield or Thompson SMG than another article about the latest Kimber , Glock or another plastic ,,, thing.

 

[woreout]

Has anyone heard if Metcalf is also out at "Shooting Times"?

I would guess so since they are both owned by the same company.

 

[Bushmaster1911]

Has anyone heard if Metcalf is also out at "Shooting Times"?

I would guess so since they are both owned by the same company.

I listened to his interview with Tom Gresham on GunTalk Radio Sunday. He stated the conversation with "I suddenly have a lot of free time on my hands", so I'm pretty sure he's out of work. The interview was odd, he didn't apologize and did about everything he could to justify the article as reasonable. Of course Tom disagreed and I do as well. I just can't understand how someone, otherwise fairly intelligent, can be around guns and 2A issues all his life and be so misguided on this issue. America has changed, many people are changing with it. I barely recognize my country anymore and can't recognize the strange values of many of my neighbors and even some friends anymore. I'm actually happy to be on the later half of my life span and thankful I lived my early years in an America that had a soul.

 

[Badkarma 1]

Shawn is definitely "shaking the tree" of famous and/or infamous gun writers of the past!
I do remember Phil Engledrum and his magazine Pistolero, the guy was absolutly heartless in his reviews and he called em like he saw em! Plus he had very little use for G&A and other gun rags of the time.

Phil is still with us, but he lost his son in Afganistan if I remember right and it took its toll oh Phil.
I miss reading the adventures of Elmer, the times on the River by Bill Jordan and especially Skeeter! One other guy I'll mention who's gone HOME Dean Grenell, there was a guy who could write!
As to Metcalf...I got nothing.
Dale

 

[ddixie884]

I wish we could trade Metcalf for Dean Grennell, straight across. I think Mr Grennell was a very good writer. Metcalf, obviosly thinks you need government permission to own a gun, especially a handgun. He is obviosly a product of his state of residence and I think he needs to get his living from Springfield, as well as his opinion on our gun rights. JMHO-YMMV..........................

 

[Mule Packer]

The car argument is my favorite. It is so easy to dismiss.

Good point...but there's actually a lot more to it. You see, there's a big difference between a right and a privilege.

To really analyze this, we need to talk a bit about Administrative law. Part of Administrative law (compared to statutory law or civil law), in essence, says that a federal, state, or local agency can issue a license or permit in order to allow individuals certain privileges.

For example, driving is a privilege, not a right. As a result, you need a license in order to drive legally.

Hunting is a privilege, not a right. As a result, you need a license in order to hunt legally.

Fishing is a privilege, not a right. So, you need a license in order to fish legally.

Even building a home wherever you want is a privilege, not a right. Because of this, you need a building permit in order to do so.

On the other hand, owning a firearm is a right and shouldn't require license or permit. Now, I'm sure someone will point out the fact that convicted felons can't own or possess firearms. That's because, as a convicted felon, you automatically lose rights.

Granted, this is a pretty simplistic explanation, but there are a heckuva lot of legislators that are currently forgetting the difference between rights and privileges.

 

[H Richard]

Shawn. (And all). Did Richard Metcalf put his foot into it? Yes he did. Did he do it on his own? NO he didn't. He was told to write a 2nd Amendment/Gun Control story (by the Editor that also resigned). He warned the Editor that it would be a "controversial" article. I think it has exceeded his expectations. When you speak about the history of Richard Metcalf, think about the 30+ years of excellent articles and TV footage he has produced. His contributions FAR FAR outweigh his misguided article.

In regard to the Masters International Shooting Championship, It was held at PASA PARK near Barry IL Continually up to and including this year. It was finally announced this fall that it will be discontinued. What happened to cause the Fiasco that took place at the 10th Masters, was in no part anything to do with Richard Metcalf. He was the owner of the farm that the PASA Park is located on, and one of the inventors of the match, along with Roy Jinks, Tommy Campbell, and quite a few other contributors. An individual (who shall remain nameless) had a company that did the PR and arranged for all the "contracts" of sponsors. This individual failed to get legal signatures on the contracts and several major sponsors reneged on paying for their sponsorships. One major national manufacturer finally paid off only when shown a video of them presenting a (oversize) check to the overall winner, but it took nearly a year and legal action. Metcalf was not even the match director.

An individual is judged by a lifetime of actions. You add up all Richards pluses and minuses and he will way over in the plus side.

I do not get this from hearsay, I am the first charter member of the PASA club. A lot of holes dug, posts planted, fence laid, shooting lines erected, paint applied during those formative years. And a staff member of every Masters ever produced.

Do you know that the PASA Park has also hosted numerous USPSA national and World events? Ever heard of the Single Stack Championship? It is also hosted at PASA Park.

I think there has been enough discussion on this topic, and a quote form another famous person: "He who is without sin cast the first stone".

 

[venomballistics]

I listened to his interview with Tom Gresham on GunTalk Radio Sunday. He stated the conversation with "I suddenly have a lot of free time on my hands", so I'm pretty sure he's out of work. The interview was odd, he didn't apologize and did about everything he could to justify the article as reasonable. Of course Tom disagreed and I do as well. I just can't understand how someone, otherwise fairly intelligent, can be around guns and 2A issues all his life and be so misguided on this issue. America has changed, many people are changing with it. I barely recognize my country anymore and can't recognize the strange values of many of my neighbors and even some friends anymore. I'm actually happy to be on the later half of my life span and thankful I lived my early years in an America that had a soul.

I can kinda see what happened.
He lived in a bubble atop an ivory tower holding to the post Nam era ideology that worked for him at the time.
As his career grew, so did his ivory tower, which in turn, grew the distance, over which he viewed America from.
He just does not see how sick and tired we are of fighting this battle. It renews its wrath with every act of domestic terror.
We, on the front lines of the 2A battle see how it's become far more polarized than it was 20 - 40 years ago.
We know that our adversaries would be quite pleased to see us all on a convoy, being transported to a concentration camp, as we do not fit into the vision of our opponents future.
It wasn't this way 25 years ago. It's changed since then. As a result of the stakes ratcheting ever higher, we've adopted a zero tolerance policy among those who misrepresent us.
We didn't have a choice in the matter. We'd be down to slingshots right now if we didn't sack the ivory towers of Zumbo and Metcalf.
Of course, it would seem that Metcalf's tower was quite high being built upon an enormous ego. this seems to be reflected in his unapologetic, and condescending apology. The dude is still falling, and just hasn't hit the ground yet

 

[finesse_r]

You can have a big bad dog for a long time, but once he turns and intentionally bites the hand that feeds and cares for him you have to put him down. He can no longer be trusted.

This man has a position of trust and he violated that trust. He can no longer be trusted. Men who have our trust are the ones that can do us the most harm. For whatever reason he sold out to the dark side, he did sell out.

It was not just a mistake, like using the wrong word or a typo, or forgetting something. It was a deliberate, well thought out, premeditated attack by a trusted insider.

Treason is the word that comes to my mind.

 

[dcxplant]

Do editors actually read the articles their contributors write anymore? Or factcheck??

Too many magazines let any old bloke submit an article (self edited and illustrated too) and then don't bother to, you know, EDIT.

But, hey, they are paying these people next to nothing compared to a professional writer, so corporate is happy.

 

[Texas Star]

I've always taken Col. Cooper , Ken Hackathorn and all the other so-called "combat gurus" with a grain of salt. I mean just how many life threatening situations and/or actual gunfights has he been in on his Gunsite ranch? Granted , he was in combat while in the military and I'll respect that. But that was what, WWII? Korea?
Other than that , how many real world street encounters have they had?

They're only out to sell their philosophy articles in magazines.

I can't find his letter at the moment, but Jeff Cooper told me about three incidents in which he killed people with handguns.

One was a Japanese who was standing on a log when shot with a Colt SAA .45. The bullet flipped him backwards so violently that Jeff didn't have time to fire the second shot that he'd intended.

Another was a commie guerilla who stood up and pointed a Sten gun at Cooper and other men in a Jeep in a country where he was an advisor or liason officer. Cooper killed him quickly with a .45 auto. The other was also killed with a .45 auto, but I don't recall the circumstances. He also hunted with handguns.

I think that letter dates from the 1970's. If he later shot anyone else, I didn't hear about it. Most gun writers have never shot anyone. Chas. Askins was a notable exception, but he also shot a few people who weren't shooting at him and may have been unarmed. My favorite among Askins's kills was a Viet guerilla who tried to ambush him in the jungle where he was scouting for game before the Viet Nam war turned hot for Americans. Charlie let him have it with a S&W M-29. It proved more than adequate.

The training that Cooper provided enhanced most students' ability to use handguns effectively. It was a quantum leap forward in that regard.

 

[Mickey D]

I actually enjoy his articles. He doesn't profess to be any sort of combat handgun guru. His articles on collecting , shooting and reloading for older and classic guns are just the ticket for guys who shoot these things just for fun. I'd much rather read about shooting a Colt 1872 Open Top , S&W Schofield or Thompson SMG than another article about the latest Kimber , Glock or another plastic ,,, thing.

Some of his articles are ok. Just needs to drop the moniker.

 

[ddixie884]

I met Col Cooper once, I was very impressed. I was in the company of two men I had a lot of respect for. They were very deferential of the man. So was I.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Bitter dissects Metcalf's apology: Dick Metcalf Response to His Firing from Guns & Ammo | Shall Not Be Questioned

On a side note, I haven't picked up a G&A in years. Not that it was ever intellectually stimulating (in my lifetime), but the last time I opened one, I was surprised to find it was an ED brochure disguised as a gun magazine.

I haven't read Guns & Ammo since Jeff Cooper passed away...

 

[jaykellogg]

All I read is "The American Rifleman".

Buying a gun magazine and writing anti gun articles or even progressive articles seems like a money losing proposition. Not only will subscriptions drop, but it damages the credibility of the magazine and makes it hard to sell later.

 

[arjay]

I read a number of them for a few years in the eighties.Some of the older writers were enjoyable.

 

[cmort666]

The Guns & Ammo Annuals used to be full of extremely useful information.

I used to by the monthly on a regular basis. I rarely do so now.

I was a religious reader of Small Arms Review until it went all electronic. I have a subscription to the web site.

Mostly I read Combat Handguns now. The "I Was There" feature is worth the price by itself.