It's over. Let's get over it. The auto industry was taken over by businessmen overseas who built what we wanted. Cars, pulpwood and guns are commodities and the only way to get more for them is to add value to the commodity. On the evidence, that's not going to happen with any Winchester or Olin.
Not to knock any of our gun writer members because I value their contributions to this board, I believe I've read more cogent and reasoned analysis here of the good and bad of the sporting firearms industry than anything published in our magazines for the past 60 years. Why we haven't read it is part of our problem.
Which takes us back to Jim Zumbo. His opinion should not have been more offensive than the many and varied strongly held opinions here about steel shot, .410s as a bore solely for experts, the NRA, RBLs, overseas makers, etc. His firing chilled any notions of columns of integrity and vitality.
Writing letters doesn't cut it. We have no tribunes, no voice. Walt Whitman said to have great poets requires great audiences. To have good leaders requires great followers, people who understand and contribute to a cause. We neutered ourselves by making censor-gods of advertizers and sponsors.
That's why I say a prayer every day for every member of this board. A prayer is a wish. I wish for a place of cut-and-thrust of debate that strengthens critical judgement about our interests without a covering dead hand from our sponsors. So that's my sermon for today. Bless all of you.
