Whether you agree or not with the context of the message is somewhat irrelevant. The 2nd Amendment we all value is there for our gun ownership rights as much as it is to protect the rest of the Constitution, including the 1st in its entirety.
Can (insert outdoor personality of interest here) say whatever they want? Absolutely, as we all can.
Are there potential consequences for saying the wrong thing? That's between the "offender" and his/her folks they are accountable too and/or for.
Post may be a potentially impactful ecologist, the bar was set long before his conception and the notary prevalence in that field is sparsely populated , he's young and has some "Instacred." It's a great setting for someone to exercise a basic right, expressing an opinion, but not having the wherewithal to tactfully represent or present said opinion. The result is what we see it, a weird train wreck that we just can't seem to take our eyes off of.
Will Post be the hunting equivalent of the NFL's Kaepernick? Who's to say?
Should we as hunters/anglers/managers/conservationists create a hierarchy of offenses that spurn our activism and outrage? Personally, any poacher sits atop my list of offenders, as that seems to be the more harmful image representing hunting among the 80% of the population that sit in the precarious agnostic subset of the population. A self proclaimed "hunter" that is willing to circumvent the ethical process of the very activity/lifestyle they claim to be a part of is more enraging and dangerous than a self proclaimed "hunter" that is reaching for ideas to curb a trend in any societal issue, informed or otherwise.
Should Sitka have to respond? They associate with Post and his role as the Environmental Lead, not as the political proselytizer. He wasn't obviously representing Sitka in his advocacy plea. I think that Post would potentially learn more if Sitka stayed completely out of it. Although I imagine his supporters in the non-hunting world far outweigh the voices and detractors in the hunting world.
All in all, its an entertaining conversation.
Changing your perspective can help but some things are simply thorny creatures. Move with caution! - MP