‘Recoil’ magazine hit the gun community like a Tsunami at SHOT Show 2012, promising to be everything that existing gun magazines weren’t. It delivered and quickly became the darling of the firearms enthusiast, offering a bi-monthly heaping of great photography and gun culture. But, when friends asked me about the magazine I referred to it as ‘Maxim for guns’. It was certainly successful but I wondered how long it would last. None of the staff were known as ‘gun guys’ and their approach didn’t seem sustainable. The focus seemed to be on consumer products and photography rather than substance. I also noticed a lot of automotive accessory advertising. The car magazine origins were later verified when I realized that they are published by Source Interlink Media. They are responsible for magazines like ‘Motor Trend’. Overall, cool magazine but not exactly a publication for pros.
But, as they were running a magazine in what I consider my business space I didn’t want to come out as publicly critical of them. In the end, it was their gig and I love the layout of the magazine. In fact, I was very supportive of them. When they first started out, if you googled “Recoil magazine” SSD’s coverage came up before they did.
However, something happened over the weekend. The much anticipated issue number 4 was released last week. It featured an article on the HK MP7A1. In the article Editor Jerry Tsai said (emphasis added by me) –
“Like we mentioned before, the MP7A1 is unavailable to civilians and for good reason. We all know that’s technology no civies should ever get to lay their hands on. This is a purpose-built weapon with no sporting applications to speak of. It is made to put down scumbags, and that’s it. Mike Cabrera of Heckler & Koch Law Enforcement Sales and veteran law enforcement officer with SWAT unit experience points out that this is a gun that you do not want in the wrong, slimy hands.”
Some might ask, what’s wrong with that? Well, that argument is exactly the argument that anti-gunners use to attempt to legislate away our Constitutionally granted gun rights. “No sporting purpose” Remember those words. You’ll see them again and again from the anti-gun crowd. For them to come from someone who makes a living in the firearms industry is like a slap in the face. Doesn’t he realize he legitimizes that notion by publishing it? The printed word has power. It will be used to support one agenda or another.
The controversy surrounding the article kicked off Friday evening on Recoil’s Facebook page. There were hundreds upon hundreds of posts discussing the issue and Jerry Tsai even weighed in with this lame “apology” on the thread the originated the controversy (go back to the earliest comments).
Hey guys, this is Jerry Tsai, Editor of RECOIL. I think I need to jump in here and clarify what I wrote in the MP7A1 article. It looks like I may not have stated my point clearly enough in that line that is quoted up above. Let’s be clear, neither RECOIL nor I are taking the stance on what should or should not be made available on the commercial market although I can see how what was written can be confused as such.
Because we don’t want anything to be taken out of context, let’s complete that quote and read the entire paragraph:
“Like we mentioned before, the MP7A1 is unavailable to civilians and for good reason. We all know that’s technology no civvies should ever get to lay their hands on. This is a purpose-built weapon with no sporting applications to speak of. It is made to put down scumbags, and that’s it. Mike Cabrera of Heckler & Koch Law Enforcement Sales and veteran law enforcement officer with SWAT unit experience points out that this is a gun that you do not want in the wrong, slimy hands. It comes with semi-automatic and full-auto firing modes only. Its overall size places it between a handgun and submachine gun. Its assault rifle capabilities and small size make this a serious weapon that should not be taken lightly.”
Let’ also review why this gun should not be taken lightly. In the article it was stated that the MP7A1 is a slightly larger than handgun sized machine-gun that can be accurately fired and penetrate Soviet style body armor at more than 300 yards. In the wrong hands, that’s a bad day for the good guys.
As readers of RECOIL, we all agree that we love bad-ass hardware, there’s no question about that. I believe that in a perfect world, all of us should have access to every kind of gadget that we desire. Believe me, being a civvie myself, I’d love to be able to get my hands on an MP7A1 of my own regardless of its stated purpose, but unfortunately the reality is that it isn’t available to us. As a fellow enthusiast, I know how frustrating it is to want something only to be denied it.
Its manufacturer has not made the gun available to the general public and when we asked if it would ever come to the commercial market, they replied that it is strictly a military and law enforcement weapon, adding that there are no sporting applications for it. Is it wrong that HK decided against selling a full-auto pocket sized machine gun that can penetrate armor from hundreds of yards away? It’s their decision to make and their decision they have to live with not mine nor anybody else’s.
I accepted their answer for what it was out of respect for those serving in uniform. I believe that we as gun enthusiasts should respect our brothers in law enforcement, agency work and the military and also keep them out of harms way. Like HK, I wouldn’t want to see one of these slip into the wrong hands either. Whether or not you agree with this is fine. I am compelled to explain a point that I was trying to make that may have not been clear.
Thanks for reading,
– JT, Editor, RECOIL
Doesn’t seem to help much does it?
Monday morning and they will begin to learn the lesson that is the title of this post. You can’t run from the internet. Once it’s out there, it’s out there, and, in this case, its everywhere. Almost in response, as if there is a “reset” button, Recoil has posted this new apology on their Facebook account –
I’d like to address the comments regarding what I wrote in the MP7A1 article in RECOIL issue 4. First and foremost, I’d like to apologize for any offense that I have caused with the article. With the benefit of hindsight, I now understand the outrage, and I am greatly saddened that it was initiated by my words. Especially since, I am an unwavering supporter of 2nd Amendment Rights. I’ve chosen to spend a significant part of both my personnel and professional life immersed in this enthusiasm, so to have my support of individuals’ rights called into doubt is extremely unfortunate. With that said, I retract what I wrote in the offending paragraph within this article. It should have had been presented with more clarity.
In the article, I stated some information that was passed on to me about why the gun is not available for civilian purchase. By no means did I intend to imply that civilians are not responsible, nor do we lack the judgment to own such weapons, if I believed anything approaching this, clearly I would lead a much different life. I also mentioned in the article that the gun had no sporting purpose. This again, was information passed on to me and reported in the article without the necessary additional context. I believe everything published in RECOIL up to this point (other than this story), demonstrates we clearly understand and completely agree that guns do not need to have a sporting purpose in order for them to be rightfully available to civilians. In retrospect, I should have presented this information in a clearer manner. Although I can understand the manufacturer’s stance on the subject, it doesn’t mean that I agree with it.
Again, I acknowledge the mistakes I made and for them I am truly sorry.
Sincerely,
Jerry Tsai
Editor
RECOIL
Sounds like a guy trying to keep his job, but, as I stated on Facebook, Jerry Tsai isn’t exactly a gun guy and lives in California. While there are many, many 2A supporters in California, the state’s status quo regarding gun legislation can certainly warp reality for anyone who grew up with those laws. Considering his fairly recent interest in firearms I think Jerry Tsai is a victim of this mentality.
Since the controversy hit Facebook, brand after brand has pledged to drop advertising from the magazine following the flap. I wonder how many companies will be willing to work with ‘Recoil’ after this lest they be branded as ‘traitors’ by the consumer base. And, I wonder how they will be received at SHOT Show. Last year, ‘Recoil’ was an up and coming sample issue. Now, it’s a PR disaster. The next issue will be important for the future of ‘Recoil’ but I think it’s the issue after that, that will determine the future. Can they move past this and is their sustainability there?
‘Recoil’ has to make some changes if it will survive. They absolutely need to bring in some writers who actually know guns. Ironically, Stickman had a story on Noveske in issue number 4. But who knows if anyone with any legitimacy will want to work with the magazine in the future. However, the real question is whether editor Jerry Tsai has to go. On one hand, he is damaged goods in this industry. Maybe his naivete will be enough to save him. On the other hand, it certainly seems that ‘Recoil’ was his vision. If he left, what would ‘Recoil’ become? And, would it be enough to satisfy the readership and industry?
No matter their chosen path ahead, ‘Recoil’ has to deal with the reality of what has transpired and remember that you can’t run from the internet.
Tags: Recoil
Tsai’s comment was just plain stupid and shows either a lack of understanding of the Second Amendment or immaturity or perhaps both.
I had purchased the first couple of issues of RECOIL at the newsstand. I enjoyed the quality photography and found some of the articles—like the flash suppressor/muzzle brake compendium– to be useful. I wasn’t quite sold on it but it was attractive “gun porn”…..and thus entertaining.
Tsai’s comments have definitely soured me on the publication. That being said, I accept his second apology. Other gun people have said and done stupid things (e.g. Bill Ruger and his support of limited capacity magazines) and gone to their grave without ever apologizing. Yet Ruger remains firmly entrenched in the gun industry. I believe in redemption and thus I’m willing to accept Tsai’s apology. That doesn’t mean I’ll be subscribing anytime soon.
BTW, I have fired the MP7A1. It is not impressive….especially when a cartridge case fails to eject and nobody has a .17 caliber cleaning rod around to push it out of the chamber. That being said, I’m sure many law-abiding civilians would love to own one (or at least a semi-auto version of it) and it is a shame that our current gun laws don’t allow it.
Apology not accepted; I ain’t buying it. Besides, it wasn’t that I thought he agreed with H&K about our unworthiness to own the weapon or our potential to use it for eeee-vil. It was his shameless sucking up to professional law enforcement, a profession that could do with a lot less sycophancy and a lot more skeptical scrutiny right now. In short, he can still kiss my ass.
Amen to that brotha !
As a law enforcement officer (AND CARD HOLDING MEMBER OF OATHKEEPERS) and FORMER fan of Recoil. I too am disappointed in the statement by Recoil. This clearly showes the poison of the Californication mentality of the people of the state. I do however want the folks at Grey Ghost to know that most cops I know are strict supporters of your right to keep and bare arms and know that THE SECOND AMMENDMENT IS NOT ABOUT DUCK HUNTING!!! I do agree with you that there are those in our (the cop) community that are not totally on this page. But rest assured brother, those of us from the smaller communities in the fly-over country “cling(ing) to our guns and Bibles” with full knowledge of what it intalis for us.
Molon labe
David Spicer
Deputy Sheriff
I had exact same concerns as SSD from the very beginning. especially after reviewing the RECOIL articles written in an earlier issue about ‘certain’ tactical nylon MFG OEMs…. which they wrote are 100% U.S. Made…of highest quality etc etc etc… any novice can look at that particular OEM’s products and make the determination otherwise.
Well Written, SS. My open letter to Recoil went out yesterday:
“DEAR RECOIL MAGAZINE,
In reference to: “Like we mentioned before, the MP7A1 is unavailable to civilians and for good reason. We all know that’s technology no civvies should ever get to lay their hands on. This is a purpose-built weapon with no sporting applications to speak of…”
To say I disagree with your thoughts on the MP7 would be a gross understatement.
In fact, the ignorance of that statement is amazing to me. In case you didn’t notice, the only reason Glocks, M&Ps, and probably most of the guns that are paying for advertising space in your rag are built is to put down bad guys.
People may find “sporting purposes” for them… but gun games aren’t why they exist. If Wired or Maxim had said what you did, I wouldn’t care. You should’ve known better.
The vast majority of firearms that have been designed and built in the history of the tool have been built for defensive or offensive use. Regardless of the intended role, military, law enforcement or civilian, the overwhelming majority of firearms on shelves in gun shops and shown in the pages of your now incredibly disappointing magazine are designed for use by people against people. While the “shooting sports” label may be a banner that has hung over our industry for political and (sometimes) marketing reasons, your young magazine hasn’t exactly catered to the waterfowl or skeet crowds.
Personally, the MP7 is one of the few guns on the planet that I would rush out an pay H&K Retail Price for, if it were ever offered for civilian sale. I’ve had the pleasure of shooting them many times and training teams that use them. It is a great tool, but didn’t possess any magical power that made it reckless, dangerous or inappropriate for any responsible firearms owner to possess…. for whatever reason they desire.
I had high hopes for your publication. Now I expect people to stop reading it, advertisers to fade away and your writers to submit their work to other publications that actually understand the industry they are covering.
-Rob Pincus
-I.C.E. Training Company”
I understand A fair number of people rallying around the magazine that they felt addressed “them”…. I understand why a lot of younger shooters/gunowners liked Recoil more than G&A or American Handgunner. Not just chronologically young, but also those new to the community who didn’t grow up with guns. Even I get tired of reading the same old re-hashed articles and 1980’s approaches that too-often appear in many gun publications. BUT, now it is time for the next generation of gun owner to really think about the issues a little deeper than “Which guns will be featured in the next Playstation game?” or “What kind of hobbies does my favorite instructor have?”. The cool pics and gadget reviews are available all over the internet and, eventually, more and more people will be addressing the interests of this very important group of gun owners/enthusiasts.
As I have stated, I had very high hopes for Recoil magazine and liked the format. Unfortunately, I have dealt with large companies that made a fair amount of money from the gun industry and yet had no understanding of the firearms community. At some point, you have to decide that it is NOT “okay” just because they provide entertainment or a desired service and that there are bigger principles and foundations that must be supported.
At the end of the day, The editor apologizing for his position, doesn’t change his position. And, it is the position that some guns are “too dangerous” for civilians to have (and being wrong about those guns being “more dangerous” in the first place…) is the real problem.
-RJP
Rob,
You bring up some excellent points.
Eric
Rob, you are spot on sir.
It should be said again that if slimy handed civvies were bent on destruction of innocent people, there are certainly more effective ways of doing so for a fraction of the cost of this firearm.
“If somebody wants to kill people, you know, they don’t need a gun to do it,” he said. “You can strap explosives on your body; they do that all the time.” – Ice-T
Btw, it is my opinion that Seth Young was the first guy to call ‘Recoil’ out on this on Facebook.
I learned about it through a post of a link to Seth Young’s piece!
What a fud. Given the nature of the article, his condescending first apology, and then his politically correct new apology, RECOIL can burn in a flaming sack of crap.
This isn’t the 1990’s where the firearm community is short on news sources, quality advocates, and unity. I am astounded that in 2012 in America someone could be so ignorant and misguided to post an article detailing how us “civilians” couldn’t possible handle a weapon like the HK MP-7.
Of course, the elephant in the room is HK for their comments as well.
“Since the controversy hit Facebook, brand after brand has pledged to drop advertising from the magazine following the flap.”
What brands are removing their ads?
Silencer Co
Panteao Productions
ITS Tactical
There are several other companies that have yet to make official statements…
Haley Strategic Partners did it 5 minutes ago, they’re dropping too:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/HaleyStrategic/posts/407865432613546
Add DSG Arms to the list
Add Miision First Tactical
http://www.silencerco.com/blog/?p=442
You can add Magpul to that list too
Wow
Trango,
I know ITS tactical said it was removing their ads from RECOIL, and a few others I can’t think of off hand. But ITS for sure.
I posted this on their wall. I enjoyed the magazine for what it was. It was as Eric says maxim with guns. The photography was top notch and it gave me a little bit of insight into some items I may want. The DIY articles while nothing new were a fun read and a good project for someone to pass the time with. My post on their wall is as follows.
Recoil you were on the right track. Your first 3 magazines were very well written, photographed, and put together. However in your latest issue you have inserted your foot firmly in your mouth and bit the hands that feed you.
I was interested in writing an article for you up until this point. As your magazine seemed like something I would want to get behind.
I come from Canada a place with ass backwards laws where normal .22lr mags are unrestricted however if they are advertised to work with a pistol the magazine capacity is made to be 10. Where the AR is restricted to range use only but a VZ-58, XCR, ACR etc are all able to be brought into nature if the barrel is over 18″. I would never ever ever make a statement like you made. A gun is a tool nothing more nothing less. Its like saying pencils cause spelling mistakes. Should we restrict militaristic knives because they can stab people?
I feel sorry for those people who tried to support your magazine by purchasing advertisement space. These are people who likely also spend money on fighting for the freedoms related to gun rights of your readership. With comments like you posted you just walked into there living room and shit on their carpets.
To the readers who have spent good money on this magazine I feel sorry for the slap in the face Recoil just gave you. To even insinuate that any gun should not be owned by civilians because it could be misused is an insult.
You have lost me as a fan and supporter Recoil. Now I need to find a new magazine to buy.
I also didn’t like the fact that the editor was also the author in 5 other articles in the mag. Several articles written by “recoil staff” whom/whatever that means. I lost count of how many photos of the editor were in the magazine. I’m all for the maxim like layout of the gun mag but I definitely don’t trust jerry tsai, the distributor, or “recoil staff”. I don’t like reading a potentially biased magazine, influenced by corporate perks, with a serious lack of professional guest writers. Who the hell is jerry tsai anyways?get some serious pros, keep the look.
Yes, it has definitely been an “insider” mag…. through this debacle, it will either evolve or perish.
NOTE: I posted this on ITS as well and I thought it would add to the discussion here
Ok what about to say is counter to everything on this threat and I am sure I will get yelled at for it but what the hell hear goes.
I am going to be honest with you but I think that the shooting community has over reacted in this circumstance. In fact I would go so far as to say that the entire community is completely over reacting to this situation. I mean I just saw that another company is giving a discount on its products to people who post pictures of RECOIL with a bullet through it. WTH?!?!
I can completely understand why people will take exception to what the editor wrote in their most recent issue of the magazine; it was poorly worded and made a horrible point. There is no “sporting use” restriction on the 2nd amendment, if there was we wouldn’t have concealed carry laws in this country. Would I like to see a civilian MP-7 oh you bet yea, I would also love a Civilian MP-5 as well, but I know that not going to happen either. Frankly they are not any more or less lethal then an M-4, and the point that was made about not letting them fall into the wrong hands is stupid. I have spoken to some HK reps and gotten the same dumb responses from them. I just surged my shoulders and thought to myself, “well sucks you are going to lose a sales because now I am just going to go buy that SIG I want instead.” Honestly I have never lost any sleep over it.
But I am going to say this again I think people are WAY over reacting to what was said by the editor of RECOIL! This is the new kid on the block and while they put their foot collective mouths I honestly can’t understand throwing the baby out with the bath water in this case. Do they need to be slapped for what they said…yes most defiantly. But this I can’t believe what everyone is saying that they should be burned at the stake and banished for all time for what one person said in one paragraph. Is this really what the community is all about? Frankly the fact that people want absolute devotion to a certain dogma is wrong headed; we should always have room for different points view in the pro-gun community. We need to be able to have an intelligent conversation about what should and shouldn’t be allowed in your regular civilian’s hands. There is a reason why we don’t let just any Joe buy a fully automatic firearm without some serious background checks. I am all for have background checks while also giving firearm enthusiasts the most access the widest array of weapons they can. More good people with guns, and less crazy people with guns the better. It is why I have become such a proponent of concealed carry. However if someone takes a position that this gun or that shouldn’t be in the hands of civilians then that is there opinion no matter how wrong headed it may or may not be. We should have intelligent conversation not people standing up and screaming a pox upon your house and you shall be thrown out of the church of the gun! Come on I know the shooting community is smarter than this, this is a tempest in a teapot and people need to calm down.
“we should always have room for different points view in the pro-gun community.”
Yes, but the stance that people should only own guns that have a “sporting purpose” or that guns which can penetrate soft body armor automatically pose a threat to cops and shouldn’t be owned by civilians is NOT a Pro-Gun Point of View.
-RJP
I agree with Rob Pincus but also believe there is some over reaction.
This is a great opportunity to explain to those who think they are being more “reasonable” are actually becoming tools of the anti-gun types. There’s a war going on for Americans attitudes. Pro-gun advocates can’t fall for their strategy of portraying anti-gunners as non=thinking fanatics.
The explanation on why the editor’s comments are wrong can be just as powerful and helful to us the pro-gun side as his idiotic comments.
Don’t get me wrong. Recoil deserves everything they are getting and the market will decide if they survive it or not but if we as pro-gunners don’t allow people to change their minds and join our side we’re making it tougher than it needs to be to be pro-gun.
Majrod,
A very good point.
The second amendment community needs to have articulate intelligent reasons for its positions. “why do you own a gun?” “Because i like to hunt and there are bad people in the world”
“Why do you need a carry a concealed weapon”..”to stop crazy people from harming me and the people that I love around me”
These are simple arguments that even tree hugging Californians can understand. If the question is why do you need 100 round mag the response cant be..because i like it. The response needs to be..there is no difference between one 100 round mag and three 30 round mag. the only real physical limitation is the rounds per minute that the gun can shoot. I think that the MP-7 is a great option if you are looking for a PDW, and that is why i think it should be legal firearm. not because i want it but because it can be used by good people for the defense of themselves and others.
You are clearly not a cop or you wouldn’t even think that, let alone say it. I am happy that HK takes its responsibilities to peace officers seriously enough to keep this lethal technology in restricted hands.
Protecting police does not equate with being anti-gun. It does, however, equate with being ant-active shooter, anti-nut job, and anti-terrorist.
My $0.02 to spend as I wish as I earned it protecting and serving.
Really Glenno??? Where are you an officer at? The reason I ask is because I am a Police Officer in California, where firearms such as you speak are beyond restricted. And guess what, the shit bags still get them, while ordinary citizens and law enforcement (without a letter form your most likely liberal Chief or Sheriff) can not own them.
Restricting access to firearms only restricts the law abiding citizens from obtaining them, you know the same law abiding citizens of which we have sworn to protect and protect their constitutional rights.
Good point.
This is the most reasoned case so far. This is gross overreaction. As an outside observer from a country with very restrictive gun control yet I personally am pro guns this reaction in itself panders to the anti-gun lobby far more than one paragraph by this writer has. This whole pro-gun community backlashcomes off as inflexible, unreasonable and intolerant of any difference of opinion. Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press it seems is not as important as 2A. The guy wrote a paragraph of salacious editorial designed to hype up the weapon – it was flippant gun porn and not political dogma. It was best left ignored or taken with a grain of salt but this reaction is the real shock outcome. Last time I saw this level of dogmatic fanaticism it was piloting a plane into some buildings.
Plenty of better mags to read. This flap does little to discourage me as I only flipped through copies at the local B&N and never bought a single issue. I think the MAXIM reference is an excellent comparison and I have about as much use for RECOIL as I do for MAXIM. Browse and move on. I don’t care if it withers and dies.
RECOIL=meh
HK has alot of weapons they wont sell to american civilians…like the 416…thats why i buy LWRC…..American made….as good or better than HK….i just got the LWRC PSD…8 INCH BARREL…the comment Recoil made isnt just stupid…its just plain silly…..
Regardless if you agree or disagree with the article, the gun-community is flexing their “muscle”….
Someone on Canadian Gun Nutz posted that this would be like the editor of a BBQ magazine writing meat is murder. The fallout over this is going to be quite astronomical. I wonder what advertisers will remain once the dust settles.
Thats oversimplification – This is more akin to a BBQ Magazine saying human meat is murder.
Eric the editor of SS is my favorite reading material and have always agreed with him 100% on all his points. With that being said I open SS before my own email every morning. He seems to nail it!! My exact thinking!! Just like when he say Californians can have a fogged conception on guns because all the BS anti gun laws. Or not having true Gun heads leading up the magazine. Brilliant and kudos Eric!!! I like the lay out of the magazine as well as the quality layout. But that will only last so long if they don’t change Editors as well as try to get other know people to write articles and we all know who we would love to hear from.( I don’t need to name them) I would vote Eric as new Editor but that would only take away from my favorite daily read and that would throw my daily routine off. I also feel if it was Tsai’s idea and vision then he should keep to his visions and ideas and leave the writing to a long lived 3 generation gun guru! Not a guy that just bought his first AR a few years ago and got the bug and just wanted to show off to all his forum friends. I see it way to often hear in CA and on a web site (CalGuns) that is unfortunately plagued by new gun owners that always think they know more than the other guy. I will bet you anything Tsai was one of those living on Calguns waiting to rip on the next guy.
CalGuns is a great resource and they have done a great deal to push for our 2A rights here in this f***** up state. Its not without its share of trolls but it is an invaluable resource IMHO. if you want insight from actual vetted SME’s there are other places including SSD that you can frequent and get all the candy you need.
From the start Recoil’s target is to be the Maxim for guns….so there is no what so ever hidden agenda that Recoil is anything but….
I met Jerry a couple of times, once at an USPSA match, where I saw him shoot, and second time I was introduced to him at SHOT 2012. He did not impress me to be a competent shooter at the USPSA match but he came of to me as a very NICE person at SHOT. Recoil was Jerry’s brainchild, and he truly love guns and he wanted ever so much to be a part of the scene and contribute to it. Recoil was his way of bring the gun culture to the public, a new look, a different spin. more pictures, less talk.
Jerry is from California, and he is new to the gun scene. there is no excuse for what he said, but again, he do NOT understand the struggle that we have faced over the past 30 or so years(I started in 1984). he does not understand the 86 NFA, 89 AWB, 94 AWB and all the gun control act that came after. He had no idea of the pain and struggle of seeing your rights slowly removed from you. Along with some recent victories against the gun grabbers, this 2A issue remains to be a very sensitive subject to us. But like many Californians, they like guns, like to shoot and like to own the cool toys, but they also listen to NPR, thinks FOX news are stupid and believe most of the conservatives are hicks. this is all together a different world of thoughts here.
I believe Jerry wanted to feature just how cool it was to shoot and write an article on a platform unavailable to the general public and he drove home that point of look at me guys with the now famous statement. but in my honest opinion, he had no idea the storm that was looming in the horizon. he started life(gun life) with ten round magazines and bullet button. it was just a way it is.
The damage has been done and what Recoil does next will cement their fate within this industry.
Chen Lee (SMGLee)
Very unfortunate. It was a high quality magazine that was better than most of the “Top 10 Assault Rifles” covers one sees at 7-11 magazine bins.
In looking over the previous issue, there’s a picture of a guy, whom I assume is Jerry Tsai with a AKSU-74, which is almost as compact as the MP7 in question. I wonder if he knows that it’s ballistics are even better than the MP7, particularly with cheap 7N6 surplus ammo?
I’m going to go against the grain here.
Let me start with what was said in the article is flat out dumb. It should not have been written, much less even published. That said, mistakes do happen and stuff slips in between the cracks. There are a plethora of reasons one could come up with, but we will most likely never know. The bottom line is that he manned up to his mistake.
It seems to me that a lot of people have been blindly jumping on the bandwagon to this extreme over-reaction. Derek McDonald summed it up very well in a response on Recoil’s FB page:
“Lighten up people. I don’t know the guy but he shoots an AR in California, puts out articles that keep us informed about gear and guns, and has done more good overall than harm. He might be guilty of sloppy editing, lazy journalism, or a lapse of judgement — but he’s not trying to take our rights away, and who among hasn’t screwed up before? This witch hunt mentality is disheartening, do you really want him and the other shooters at Recoil to lose their jobs, seriously? We need mags like Recoil that speak to the current generation, we need more shooters and less infighting. Eating our own is not helping the cause. Mr. Editor, you screwed up, you apologized. Don’t make the same mistake again. Now go work harder to promote shooting and our right to bear arms.”
QUOTE Jerry is from California, and he is new to the gun scene. there is no excuse for what he said, but again, he do NOT understand the struggle that we have faced over the past 30 or so years(I started in 1984). he does not understand the 86 NFA, 89 AWB, 94 AWB and all the gun control act that came after. UNQUOTE
I’m willing to cut the guy some slack but truth be told maybe he’s not the right guy to be editing the magazine. If he is that young and naive maybe he should stick to art direction, marketing, photography and other areas of the magazine that have nothing to do with writing or editorial content. Being an editor connotes a certain level of experience and maturity which Mr. Tsai is obviously lacking by having stepped on his own dick and committed the cardinal sin of pissing off his audience.
Hopefully this will be a huge wake up call to him and his financial backers. I hope he learns from the experience and commits himself to doing his 2A historical research….and hopefully not by Googling it as this new generation is prone to do about everything.
Paul,
A lot of folks are coming to that same conclusion. He’d be a great art or creative director but he needs to stay the hell away from a typewriter.
-Eric
What’s a “typewriter”? 😉
Haji, It’s the thing you give to a million monkeys to bang out a 5 act play that becomes required but dreaded reading in high school.
It’s what I use to write SSD
I would think he either meant what he said or he was kissing up to the H&K “mystique” marketing rep in order to keep getting access to their products for future articles. H&K knows they can’t legally sell a full auto MP7 to civilians. I would think a guy writing for a gun magazine would know this as well. Pretending the reason they won’t sell it is because it’s some sort of extra lethal death ray is ridiculous and doesn’t do them any favors with potential customers for their other products. They’re free to take that marketing stance and I’m free not to buy their products.
A semi auto version of the MP7 wouldn’t do anything that the five seven pistol or PS90 doesn’t already do so why pretend? How often do they fall into “slimy hands?” H&K won’t sell a semi auto version because they know there isn’t much of a market for an expensive novelty gun that’s not concealable as a pistol, would only make sense as an SBR, and shoots expensive proprietary ammo.
agreed.
Relevant points, put in a considered manner.
Simple enough… Tsai is not a Second Amendment guy or doesn’t know what it actually stands for. This is only made obvious when in each posting he goes back to the statement that the MP7A1 has no “Sporting Purpose.” I’m sure somehow in his mind the Founding Fathers were just pissed that the Brits had jacked the price of tea up and were going to “endanger their hunting right” but Tsai should do some more reading of history before writing for another periodical… of any type.
We also need to remember, even as members of the LEAF communities, that there is a reason why we do what we do. We ensure the rights, in addition to the safety, of all law abiding citizens. They put tremendous faith in each of us and it should be repaid in turn.
Stating that “Tsai is not a Second Amendment guy” is more than a bit of a leap. Unless you know him personally and know for fact how he feels about the 2nd Amendment, you’re purely speculating that he “is not a Second Amendment guy.” The guy screwed up, but putting words in his mouth isn’t an effective argument against his screw up.
Nobody had to put any words in his mouth. He wrote what he wrote and then stood by it, all the ay up until he said they weren’t his even though he wrote them.
Jerry is most likely the kind of person that can appreciate firearms as the objects they are because they are “cool,” but he seriously lacks an understanding of the fundamental belief system that is ingrained within the gun culture. These type of people lack the basic knowledge of why it is so important for Americans to own guns but merely are attracted to them because they are cool “gear” or “kit.” Newsflash Jerry, gun ownership is not a hobby. For your core demographic it is a way of life.
You might want to study up on your audience before you make an ass of yourself. Oops, too late.
The guy missed the *entire* point, and still – judging by his terminology – misses it.
Cops ARE civilians.
That’s not an insult, it’s not derisive, it’s just a fact.
Far as “sporting purpose” goes, I am at a loss as to find the portion of the constitution detailing sport as the point behind the second amendment. Furthermore, fully automatic weaponry has precisely as much place in the LE community as it does in the hands of duck hunters. When do they need to suppress, again?
Re: Suppressing – Protective services… outside of that, not sure.
Not sure who local LE would be protecting that gives them righteous authority to suppress via auto fire. 4 guys, 6 guys, whatever your team winds up with on the operational end of things can quite easily move a principle AND keep an assailant’s head down via (inherently more accurate) semi-auto fire. Even easier if they have marksmen covering the venue.
Auto-fire with an agency like the Secret Service, under certain conditions? Sure, I can see that under those conditions, but their training differs *slightly* from the average in LE.
In the overall sense, I think that Mr. Tsai wasn’t necessarily trying to be offensive. I think that he has taken the ACLU view of our right to keep and bear (ROL) arms, which is in large part what we’re inundated with by the uneducated media monkeys we deal with. It’s not his fault if that’s all he’s been exposed to, though I do hope that he and his editorial fellows learn a bit from this experience.
Sorry, you mentioned LE without narrowing to locals. Noted on the local side though… they don’t hold the same COG importance as State and Federal of whom I was placing more emphasis on. Not even sure how many local LE’s do any thorough PS these days.
If he really is that new to the “community”, I’m betting he was just blown away at the backlash to this. Sadly, new or not, from California or not ,there is still a common sense thing here he seems to be lacking. The guy pulled a Zumbo, and is getting an eye-opener right now.
I’m thinking if he really wants this magazine to survive, he’ll need to step out of the way, and whomever takes the helm will need to convince us they really are true to the cause. Not going to be an easy task judging by the hornets nest that is tearing them up right now.
I second that. They need to pull from the MIL community for the next hire/replacement. There are enough great men and women who have served our country that could add a WHOLE lot of credibility to that publication and possibly turn that ship around.
I read the article first, then his second apology. It still didn’t do anything in the way of restoring confidence in the magazine, or the guy writing it. Now I come here and find the original apology- and it only makes things worse. I saw on FB where BCM was pulling their advertising; good on them! All gun rags suck, some more than others. If it weren’t for Pat Rogers articles in SWAT mag, then I wouldn’t read any.
I’m tired of people confusing what the second amendment is about. If there is any gun that we civies should be able to have its this one. The second amendment is about protection from the government not sporting. As good as Regan was he started this control of weapons. The is the first era in american hist where civilians cant get their hands on the same small arms as Uncle Sam, and thats scary.
Wow, the fourth issue from a group of young kids who were never expected to publish more than a single issue “special” and they messed up. So what! Got over it, move on. We as a community and an industry are better off with them, then without them. They messed up, who hasn’t? They’re sorry, this experience will help the magazine get better, let that happen. I don’t think throwing the baby out with the bathwater is the answer is the solution to this. Personally, I’d rather see Recoil, and Jerry Tsai learn from this, move on, and get better. Adding readers, and by extension consumers to this community benefits us all and a successful Recoil helps all of us.
Full disclosure, I’m a Journalism student but my opinion is that the guy made a rookie mistake. Let’s say this is his job, and maybe a hobby, but not a passion, during his interview of the H&K employee he asks about the possibility of this gun hitting the civvie market. The H&K employee says “None, and this is why we don’t believe it should…” Not thinking that it may upset people he makes the comments an emphasis in the article (ie: this gun is so badass that you can’t have it) and even worse paraphrases H&K’s words when he should have directly quoted them, thus making it H&K’s opinion and not his own. Sucks, because SSD is right, it could very well be used by extreme anti-gun activists.
This journalist will have to suffer the consequences because he may not have understood the murkiness of the 2nd Amendment debate. Whichever side you are on, you have to admit that the debate is a tricky and touchy subject with many facets. He’ll likely pay for his mistake with his job if he truly wants the magazine to succeed.
Lastly, I haven’t heard any kickback against H&K regarding this. Those seemed to be their words explaining why it wouldn’t be sold to the public and their statement that there is no sporting purpose for the MP7a1 seems a tad hypocritical since it’s uses don’t entirely differ from that of one of their civilian purchasable pistols. A semi-automatic MP7 available to civilians would be used in the same manner as their handguns, either as a possible home defender and target shooter that may in uncommon circumstances take a life either justly or unjustly: a risk taken by all firearms.
Ken, the minute you think what was said was okay, and it’s just another opinion, we as gun owners has lOst the fight for our rights.
Your “so what” is not better than Brady telling us that we should own a M4.
I agree we should give Recoil another chance, but what they decide to do will weight heavily on those in the industry!
I’d surmise that 99% of those calling for Jerry Tsai’s head and the closure of Recoil are not even readers. I’m interested in seeing the firearms community’s reaction to the next media eff-up, now that the “no room for error” standard has been set. Are we going to be so quick to get the torch when it is Larry Vickers or Chris Costa who steps on his proverbial crank, or is it just easier to slam some Asian kid right out of college because in the grand scheme of things he just doesn’t matter. Personally, I find this entire matter overblown. Tsai eff’ed up, he’s sorry, let’s move on and get more mags like Recoil out there, spreading the positive word on firearms ownership, not close down the brand new upstart because they made in error in the one of the four issues they’ve published.
We as a firearms community need to ask ourselves this, when Tsai loses his job and Recoil is shuttered just how much better off is the 2A and the firearms community as a whole?
A guy with Tsai’s limited experience shouldn’t be the Editor and main writer for a major gun magazine. In the end, that is what led to this debacle in the first place.
EXACTLY !
so much for the American entrepreneurial spirit. I’m kind of glad a lot of people had the balls to go start something they loved despite not swimming in experience in the field. Kid went out and did it, was successful initially but wasn’t a known commodity in the community so I think I’m hearing people who are celebrating his fall from grace because they begruded his early success. I certainly hope that’s not the case but if he was the one that went out and did it then he had every right to be the Editor and main writer of the mag he founded. That doesn’t make it a wise decision but he took the risk so the mistake was his to make.
I’ve been involved in the firearms publishing field for more than thirty years, and it’s inconceivable to me that what Jerry Tsai wrote made it through the editorial process.
There are statements in that paragraph that should have set off alarm bells all over the magazine. No one produces a magazine alone. “Recoil” lists four names on its editorial staff, so I’m assuming at least two and maybe four of them edited the raw copy before it went to the art department for layout, two to four then proofed it in layout form, and two to four saw it again in final proofs before it went to the printer. Standard stuff. That it still made it into the final magazine says either that Jerry Tsai was very determined to see it print as he wrote it or that nobody at the magazine knows what they’re doing. This is not the fault of Jerry Tsai alone; it’s on the entire editorial staff.
I’m intrigued…. Costa Ludus cut their relation with Recoil like HSP, SilencerCo, ITS and others?
Apparently not, I find it interesting which companies, and which advertiser’s have kept silent on this issue and not jumped on the “get a torch” bandwagon.
I’d say we haven’t heard from several because they have contractual obligations with the magazine and that their lawyers are looking this over. I know I was consulted by a couple of companies yesterday that are gathering information to help them decide on which way to go.
Thanks for the update SSD, I was thinking that some companie’s lawyers are probably squeezing their heads about this situation.
We take care of our own. Endearing praise, unwavering support or frag. See ya “Recoil”. Maybe you should consider changing your magazines name to “Backfire”
“Someone on Canadian Gun Nutz posted that this would be like the editor of a BBQ magazine writing meat is murder.”
Bingo.
Do not besmirch your audience. Remember the “Dixie Chicks”? Same premise.
Meh, there are gun mags aplenty out there already, I for one wouldn’t loose any sleep if it went under. If they do cave it will be but a tiny ripple in an ocean full if gun mags, a failed experiment if you will. Serving as a lesson to the next guy who thinks he can do better.
Being from California had nothing to do with his words. Stupid is stupid no matter where you live or where your from.
Agreed.
I have to say I have mixed feelings about the entire issue. Jerry Tsai stepped on it but we also have to remember how the 2A protects the 1A. I am as big a supporter of the 2A as anyone out there and there should be no legal limits to what type or how many guns citizens can own. BUT, Recoil had the potential to be a game changer for OUR community and I hope it can survive this debacle. I also believe that some of those criticizing the magazine the loudest could also be the ones to reach out and save it IF the publisher removes head from ass and realizes what it has and what it could potentially have with a community with the resolve such as ours.
Okay coming from a female point a view, my husband and I are gun enthusiast my husband more than I to be exact. Thumbing through the magazines section at the grocery store I saw this magazine and I loved it! Now we do get the other gun magazines but I really really enjoyed this one. I love the layout the article on the suppressors which I had no idea were legal in my state. Learning about what it takes to purchase this item was new to me and what it takes led me to do research. Having recently lost my hearing in one ear even considering shooting again got me pumped.
When I read the article on HK MP I thought that would get some back lash and googling confirmed it. I think it is more where you grew up and if it was in California are you surprised? So it looks like he got a little bit of an education on the what the rest of the country mood is and maybe finding himself reading The Second Amendment. That being said I think it is a mistake to wish this magazine tanks, it introduces guns in a fun way to people who aren’t experts but perhaps want to indulge see what the experts recommend presented in a different way than other gun magazines. Plus along the way introduce and learn what the second amendment is all about, not just what others believe it should be, what it is.
I just picked issue 4 up at wall greens two days ago. It looked cool, and in my typical ADD fashion, read it back to front (lol) immediately. So I read the Noveske article first – the author’s constant reference to Noveske’s belt-fed machine gun set the tone of the magazine for me…I thought here’s the gun mag I’ve been waiting for…great basic-level explanations of things (silencers, night vision), articles on high-quality firearms (Noveske) and great pictures.
When I read the MP7A1 article, it left me wanting one. When I read the offending language, it didn’t initially hit me hard. In hindsight, some small warning lights went off, but I didn’t really notice them. That is why that when I started researching if anyone has made a MP7A1 kit, a link to this web page came up. I started reading, and had to comment.
This “uproar” has absolutely resonates with me. In hindsight, I read the “no sporting purpose” language and didn’t think much of it, as I’d heard it so many times before. It just didn’t sink in that this gun-magazine was effectively condoning the logic. I suppose the silencer, auto-knife and SBR articles were throwing me off as well, since I live in Illinois where both of those things are verboten, and those articles/topics are very pro-2A rights. Another reason it didn’t piss me off right away was because HK had made that call themselves, and didn’t offer the gun in a semi-auto version, so I figured the point was really moot.
Then I read the OP and all these comments…I get it now, and I’m glad to say that my brain registered the problem, just didn’t connect the dots (so I give myself half credit). I understand why people are so pissed…it unfortunately brings out the “fringe” that asks for things like shooting the magazine for a discount on merchandise. Those comments only hurt the 2A cause, imo.
Great points made above on how could this get through the editing process. Probably a combination of California bias, lack of attention and immaturity…I don’t know what the solution should be. What I do know is that with the exception of that single paragraph, it seems that the rest of the magazine – as well as the first 3 issues – were great. I hope that they spend some serious time crafting an appropriate, direct mea-cupla, lesson learned, they DONT feel that way, etc. etc.
I for one would like to see this magazine recover and continue doing just what they’ve been doing.
PS – I believe in the 2A, and that it’s not about “duck hunting”. However, I also feel that there ARE realistic limits. While I don’t have a problem with civvies owning “assault weapons”, I not in favor of legalizing (more than they are already) full-auto weapons…or tanks, anti-aircraft weapons, land mines, grenades, 2000 lb bombs, etc.