I'm going to do 2 things and I want everyone to understand why:
1) I'm going to post a summary of my conversation with Steve and what we can expect to see later today.
2) I'm going to lock the thread so that we can resume the discussion within Troy's forum once they address this.
I had the chance to speak to Steve, which I appreciate immensely and which hopefully shows everyone here how much they value the community and ensuring things are clear. As I've said, information is key and I feel we have been missing our target. There's just no way I could see Steve backing someone who is against us with how passionately he runs his business. He was very open to state that he has nothing to do with the that company or it's hires. Once he found out about Jody, he quickly corrected the mistake because of his anti-2nd stance/history. He was very emotional in telling it, so it clearly bothered him.
In regards to Monroe, they will be releasing more information (statement?) in which he will defend their reasoning for him being retained. Steve and I spoke about the information out there, the misinformation, and the missing information, all important for any judgement to be made. It isn't this nice neat box we are trying to fit this into, where Monroe is a bad guy who admitted to being prepared to shoot an unarmed woman. He went on to speak about how Monroe has spoken at length about the Ruby Ridge incident and all it's failings, acknowledging the many mistakes made. To think someone openly stated they would shoot an unarmed woman holding a baby is hard enough to believe without knowing anything more. How many of us here would say that about even our most hated enemy? I can't fathom how anyone would think this appropriate, let alone be an intended comment in a federal court where he could have taken the 5th and not said anything. The fact he was more than likely misquoted or misunderstood seems much more logical.
At this time I want to lock this thread and allow for Troy to post their comments/statement for discussion. I understand people here like to be emotional and carry anger over all the bullshit in the world today (myself included), but I don't like to put that mantle over a company or man who has done so much for the community at every turn without absolute certainty that he should shoulder it. Steve eased my mind through our discussion and I hope he does the same for those of you with concerns when he addresses it shortly. I ask that you guys following this be patient until their response is posted.