As rumored in last issue, Kitsap County’s only radio station KITZ-AM has been sold and is now backed by the Second Amendment — both figuratively and financially.

Two Bellevue nonprofit groups, the Second Amendment Foundation and the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, have purchased the ownership share of Jamison White. The groups already owned a minority stake in the station. White, who is attending pre-med classes at TVI Community College in Albuquerque, N.M., cited “personal reasons” as his motivation for selling the station he took over in October of 1998.

The buyers already own or control three other AM radio stations in Spokane, Portland and Las Vegas. All broadcast talk or business-talk formats. They also have minority interests in stations in Sacramento, Phoenix and Reno and are looking to acquire other stations as well.

According to the chairman of the groups, Alan Gottlieb, hopes are to complete the sale by Dec. 1. Papers signed by Gottlieb and White to transfer control of the station’s license were signed Sept. 27 and accepted for filing by the Federal Communications Commission on Oct. 10.

Gottlieb said the station’s programming might change but the format will not. He may pursue higher profile nationally syndicated talk shows, but said “...the local stuff will stay” as will the station’s “MegaTalk” handle.

Although Gottlieb and the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms have been outspoken on statewide gun issues, he commented that listeners shouldn’t expect that issue to dominate the station’s airwaves. In 1997, his group successfully fought an initiative that would have required trigger locks for handguns and handgun safety classes for gun owners.

Originally owned by a group of 10 well-heeled Kitsap business people, KITZ has been on and off local airwaves for 14 years, seeing several ownership changes during that time. The station moved from downtown Bremerton to offices in the South Kitsap Mall in January.