I got the word tonight on my way to a softball game that Jerry Tsai has stepped down as RECOIL magazine’s editor. I’d say the magazine and brand still have some rebuilding work to do.
Rob Pincus followed up with me via Twitter tonight and granted permission for me to simply copy and paste his thoughts regarding the resignation of Jerry Tsai. He said it as well or better than I could, so I’ll let the master speak:
“The announcement that Jerry Tsai, former Editor of Recoil Magazine, has stepped down certainly opens the door for them to rebuild their advertising base. But, the question still remains, will the change in leadership bring a strong message to young gun owners that the fundamental reason to own a firearm is personal, home and (in the worst case) National Defense? Let’s hope so.
Keep in mind that this week’s conversations, and the many that will be had about Recoil Magazine in the near and (possibly) far future, really revolved not around one man, but around large issues that affect each and every gun owner. The issue is “Why is it okay that we owns firearms?”.
At the end of the day, there really should not be any reason that someone claims, short of the intent to harm another human being outside of defensive action, that anyone should consider wrong. There are many types of guns that we, as individuals, may not like. There are many reasons for owning guns that we, as individuals, may not want to list as our own. Fundamentally, I believe that defense is the primary best reason for firearms to exist and to be owned. I firmly believe that a constitutional interpretation of the right to own firearms is based on defense.
The reason I was personally so invested in the discussion this week was not to see one man replaced. It was to ensure that any voice of leadership in this industry at least agrees that our RKBA should not be legally restricted and that there is no absolutely such thing as a reasonable restriction to the rights of responsible, sane and law abiding person to own firearms.
Certainly, we may not always agree on the best choices for defense, the best ways to exercise our rights or even, believe it or not, the best caliber for any given purpose… but, on the issue of Zero Tolerance for Restrictions, we must be united.
I wish Recoil Magazine, and Jerry Tsai, good luck in rebuilding so long as they do so with a stronger sense of the importance of instilling these principles in the young, enthusiastic gun owners that they reaching… and anyone else who is listening.
-Rob Pincus
-I.C.E. Training Company”
-I.C.E. Training Company”
If you’re in the dark, read my previous posts here and here. Below is a copy of Jerry Tsai’s resignation notice via the RECOIL Facebook page. THIS is what I call an apology. Not those earlier excuses for covering tail.
That said I do really feel bad for Jerry. I’ve heard from people close to him that he’s a nice guy and it’s very unfortunate things went this way. It is my prediction that in order for RECOIL magazine to full recover from this charade they will need to bring some actual and unapologetic “gun guys (or girls)” in to set the tone. Just being an “enthusiast” has proven to be a deal breaker.
It is with deep sorrow that I announce I am stepping down as editor of Recoil, effective immediately.It is very difficult for me to walk away from something I helped create, something that I loved doing, and something I firmly believed would appeal to a fresh new generation of gun enthusiasts, but I accept that the comments in my story in the current issue have made my position as editor of Recoil untenable.
With that said, Recoil is bigger than any one person, and if my departure will allow Recoil to continue to grow and engage gun enthusiasts, then stepping down as editor is clearly the right thing for me to do.I accept I made mistakes, and I apologize unreservedly for calling Recoil’s support for Second Amendment rights into question.
While I understand the passions aroused over this incident, the deeply hurtful words from some of my fellow gun enthusiasts have been painful to endure. I hope now we can all move on.
Finally, I would like to thank all those who have supported me over the past few days. These are the people who know me to be at heart a passionate gun enthusiast whose dream was to make something bold and new in firearms media.
Jerry Tsai
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