By David Codrea
USA – -(Ammoland.com)- “I’m spiking the guns here on Sipsey Street Irregulars,” Matt Vanderboegh wrote Wednesday, closing down a blog that’s been a source of patriot leadership and no small amount of independent investigative journalism since November, 2008. “A couple of days ago, I received some news that ended up shaking me to my very core. After a great deal of consideration, I have decided to close the doors of the Sipsey Street Irregulars. Effective immediately, this blog [will] not be updated or monitored.”
What “news”? That’s personal, and his wish to keep his reasons private unless or until he decides to share more is something his friends will support – and those who aren’t his friends don’t matter.
Matt’s announcement was sad, but not unexpected. Without going into details I am not at liberty to share, while we once had high hopes he would continue and expand on his father’s work, there was a lot of wishful thinking behind that expectation. I fully support him in his decision to pull the plug.
That holds a special sadness, as I was not only there for the birth of the blog, I’m the one who badgered Mike Vanderboegh into starting it. It allowed us to collaborate closely throughout its run on stories and developments that only time will tell if a real difference was made.
For the present, the archive should remain. Some have asked about mirroring the site elsewhere. I wouldn’t do anything without first consulting Matt and Mike’s wife Rosey, as the intellectual property is theirs to disposition. Also, some of it is already captured over at the Wayback Machine.
Unsurprisingly, I’ve seen a few asses gloating, and telling whoever will listen it’s due to Matt being afraid to buck the brass. That’s not the case and it did not even enter into the personal reasons Matt approached me and a few other trusted advisers with.
I’ll even prove that on an individual basis to any challenger who would like to put money on it. It won’t be gambling because it won’t be a game of chance, and all proceeds will go to the Vanderboegh family. Anyone who wants to keep yapping without taking me up on that might as well just admit up front to being ignorant, malicious and all mouth.
Speaking of useless noisemakers, it figures the Southern Poverty Law Center would celebrate this in its “Hate Watch” section, characterizing a blog promoting the Constitution as “anti-government,” and a blog opposing the Klan and Nazis as one promoting hate. Projection has always been big with the totalitarian lobby.
I’ve seen comments on social media where some have speculated on me to taking over the site.
No.
First off, Mike knew better than to ask. SSI was his calling not mine, and besides, I don’t have his unique knowledge, perspective and ways of sharing observations. I have my own work and priorities, and anyone suggesting I take on more needs to understand how much has to go on behind the scenes to make that work happen.
Also, candidly I saw firsthand how few of Mike’s readers came through with concrete support despite multiple appeals for gratitude offerings based on value received. Obviously, either not enough people thought they received value, or they did but figured no one would notice if they let others carry the load — which perhaps about 3% of his regular readers stepped up to help with.
The closing of Sipsey Street Irregulars marks the end of an era. My opinion is Mike did great work there that deserves a place in the national memory as long as the nation exists to remember. That should be enough.
In any case, it will have to be. I wish Matt the best and am ready with some others to stand by him when he needs us.
Also see:
- Freedom Movement Loses Important Voice with Passing of Mike Vanderboegh
- Vanderboegh Memorial Celebrates Life of ‘Three Percent’ Leader
About David Codrea:
David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating / defending the RKBA and a long-time gun rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament.
In addition to being a field editor/columnist at GUNS Magazine and associate editor for Oath Keepers, he blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.