Let's take a look at Soldier of Fortune's landmark achievements, most
notably that the magazine was sued on two different occasions after
contract killers were hired through its classified ads.
In 1985, Soldier of Fortune accepted an ad that read, "GUN FOR HIRE:
37-year-old mercenary desires jobs. Discreet and very private.
Bodyguard, courier, and other special skills. All jobs considered."
Richard Braun was killed, and his son wounded, after Braun's business
partner saw the ad and hired a contract killer. The Supreme Court
eventually let stand a $4.3 million dollar judgement against Soldier
of Fortune. (Samuel Francis, Washington Times, 1/15/93, p.F1, final
edition.)
Also in 1985, Robert Black Jr. saw an ad for a hit man who advertised
his services in Soldier of Fortune. Black hired John Wayne Hearn for
$10,000 to kill his wife so Black could cash in on a life insurance
policy and marry his cousin. A jury awarded Sandra Black's family a
$9.4 million verdict but the decision was overturned by the 5th U.S.
Circuit Court of Appeals in 1989. ("State sides," Houston Chronicle,
9/22/91, p. 2, Star Edition; Carol Christian, Houston Chronicle,
1/06/02, Sect. A, p. 33.)
The Rhodesian army recruited mercenaries in the 70's through
full-page back-cover advertisements, and mercenaries were also hired
in guerrilla wars in South America and Africa.
"A half dozen of its editorial staff have been killed in battle --
many of them working as mercenaries. In Angola, George Bacon was
caught and executed with a group of nine U.S. mercenaries. Editor
Michael Echanis was killed in Nicaragua while training U.S. backed
dictator Anastasio Somoza's special forces, (Richard Kelly, Toronto
Star, 4/7/96, p. A2, second edition.)
Timothy McVeigh was a long-time reader and subscriber.
Robert K. Brown, founder and publisher, is a long-term NRA board
member who calls law enforcement officers at the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms -- the "American version of the Gestapo," (Kevin
McCullen, Times Union, 11/12/00, p. A25, 4th edition.)
http://www.gunguys.com/archives/sotm/sotm_0103.htm
notably that the magazine was sued on two different occasions after
contract killers were hired through its classified ads.
In 1985, Soldier of Fortune accepted an ad that read, "GUN FOR HIRE:
37-year-old mercenary desires jobs. Discreet and very private.
Bodyguard, courier, and other special skills. All jobs considered."
Richard Braun was killed, and his son wounded, after Braun's business
partner saw the ad and hired a contract killer. The Supreme Court
eventually let stand a $4.3 million dollar judgement against Soldier
of Fortune. (Samuel Francis, Washington Times, 1/15/93, p.F1, final
edition.)
Also in 1985, Robert Black Jr. saw an ad for a hit man who advertised
his services in Soldier of Fortune. Black hired John Wayne Hearn for
$10,000 to kill his wife so Black could cash in on a life insurance
policy and marry his cousin. A jury awarded Sandra Black's family a
$9.4 million verdict but the decision was overturned by the 5th U.S.
Circuit Court of Appeals in 1989. ("State sides," Houston Chronicle,
9/22/91, p. 2, Star Edition; Carol Christian, Houston Chronicle,
1/06/02, Sect. A, p. 33.)
The Rhodesian army recruited mercenaries in the 70's through
full-page back-cover advertisements, and mercenaries were also hired
in guerrilla wars in South America and Africa.
"A half dozen of its editorial staff have been killed in battle --
many of them working as mercenaries. In Angola, George Bacon was
caught and executed with a group of nine U.S. mercenaries. Editor
Michael Echanis was killed in Nicaragua while training U.S. backed
dictator Anastasio Somoza's special forces, (Richard Kelly, Toronto
Star, 4/7/96, p. A2, second edition.)
Timothy McVeigh was a long-time reader and subscriber.
Robert K. Brown, founder and publisher, is a long-term NRA board
member who calls law enforcement officers at the Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms -- the "American version of the Gestapo," (Kevin
McCullen, Times Union, 11/12/00, p. A25, 4th edition.)
http://www.gunguys.com/archives/sotm/sotm_0103.htm