A Regrettable Announcement

Over the weekend I submitted my resignation as a content contributor to and adviser for Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership. Here's why:

Last week I submitted my article on Mike Vanderboegh's BamaCarry speech to KeepAndBearArms.com Newslinks, another website SAF bought. It never appeared.

It's no secret there is hostility between Mike and Alan Gottlieb. And Mike was apparently told by some readers that Alan has forbidden articles by or about him to appear on any properties he controls.

Alan confirmed that was the reason for the piece being banned.

My Bama Carry piece is a chronicle of a legitimate event with valid information for the people who read my stuff -- and who turn to KABA for reliable information as well. It is not a "Gottlieb is a so-and-so" attack piece. Besides, KABA is not supposed to be a personal site. It is a site that purports to bring newsworthy and noteworthy information to gun owners. That information is being suppressed due to a personal directive turns it into a personal site for the top guy, and if the Vanderboegh blackout is in force at that SAF holding, it is in force at all SAF holdings. It also renders other topics and ideas vulnerable to directive-based censorship.

It's clear those are his sites and his rules. And he would rather maintain that control than to have my continued participation and support. That is all within his rights.

Writing under such imposed censorship is not acceptable to me, nor is it consistent with my stated conditions for affiliating with the new JPFO. That is within my rights.

Admittedly, each venue I write for has a different readership and interest mix, and I tailor my submissions accordingly, but that's based on my judgment as to how I can best spread concepts I believe merit wider consideration. In other words, I don't do what I do to place myself under organizational restraints, let alone personal ones -- I do this for me.

I regret the hell out of this, but his mandate leaves me no choice but to resign or renege on a commitment I made to readers, and most importantly to myself.

I don't expect this to alter the way I deal with Alan and his organizations here or at any of the other forums where my work appears -- meaning if I see something I think is comment-worthy -- pro or con -- I'll speak my mind. If SAF takes on another lawsuit I can get behind, I'll do so. If CCRKBA advances a political strategy I don't agree with, I'm sure I'll squawk. And I still hope the unique JPFO core message established by Aaron Zelman continues to be an influence, and I hope, despite the reasons compelling me to leave, that influence can spread and grow. Regardless of anything I said here, there are some good people working their hearts out to make that happen.