It seems like there's one thing you can't do if you're the editor of Guns & Ammo magazine: run a column endorsing gun control.
That's what Jim Bequette found out this week. On Thursday, he announced that he was resigning immediately from the helm of the gun-friendly title after readers revolted over an article by contributing editor Dick Metcalf which ran in the magazine's latest issue.
"Way too many gun owners still believe that any regulation of the right to keep and bear arms is an infringement," Metcalf wrote. "The fact is that all Constitutional rights are regulated, always have been, and need to be."
Cue outraged readers. "Guns and ammo for gun control? Unsubscribed!!!!! Fire Mr. Metcalf," one wrote on the site's Facebook page.
In response, Bequette told readers he had made a huge mistake, had fired Metcalf and would be resigning right away:
I made a mistake by publishing the column. I thought it would generate a healthy exchange of ideas on gun rights. I miscalculated, pure and simple. I was wrong, and I ask your forgiveness.
Plans were already in place for a new editor to take the reins of "Guns & Ammo" on January 1. However, these recent events have convinced me that I should advance that schedule immediately.