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LOBBYING AMMUNITION

Colo. Firearms Accessories Company Threatens to Leave State if Gun Control Law Passes

The state would lose hundreds of jobs and $85 million in potential spending this year, the company says

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by Lisa Fine

Staff Writer t

Image: AP

Colorado's largest manufacturer of high-capacity ammunition magazines said it will leave the state if a package of gun control measures that's advancing through the state legislature becomes law, the Denver Post reports.

Magpul Industries Corp., officials claim moving from the Erie, Colo., location would cost the state hundreds of jobs and about $85 million in potential spending this year.

The Colorado bill, which received preliminary approval from the Democrat-controlled state House, bans individuals from possessing high-capacity ammunition magazines of more than 15 rounds but lets manufacturers to stay in Colorado and produce the devices. An amendment raised the number from 10 rounds earlier in the week. It also would require manufacturers to engrave each magazine with a serial number and date, the Post said.

"If we're able to stay in Colorado and manufacture a product, but law-abiding citizens of the state were unable to purchase the product, customers around the state and the nation would boycott us for remaining here," Doug Smith, Magpul's chief operating officer told the Post. "Staying here would hurt our business."

Via the Denver Post
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Should Colorado lawmakers let Magpul's threat to move affect their votes?

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Comments (view in Forum)

  • harold_lloyd
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    On the other hand, banning them but still allowing them to be made in the state is an egregious example of hypocrisy in a state government.

    They want to run your life, but not at the expense of a 'job creator' whose revenue and taxes they covet.
  • dances-weebles
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    @MaxPain the only offer that they should be made is to 'piss off'. one silly little company shouldn't be allowed to try to hold an entire state legislative system hostage.
  • u
    Slowmo
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    @dances-weebles and this statement epitomizes the attitude of the left in regards to peoples' rights under the constitution. Silly little company... With the job market the way it is now, you think it's ok to tell 800 people that they're jobs can just "piss off"? And those jobs are all in one place; in one community where the effects on families would be focused into one place. Can that community even absorb that many unemployed workers? How many families will lose their homes? And for what?? To pass legislation that has OVERWHELMING evidence showing that it doesn't work? And what REALLY chaps my ass is that Ole Uncle Joe kept his nose stuck ALL in the middle if it. Pushing and prodding the whole time. The Vice President isn't even supposed to be involved in state legislation, much less be directly influencing votes! Blatant overreach! You know what's stupid?..that the people who have openly said that they don't have guns are picking a fight with the very people who do.
  • dances-weebles
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    @Slowmo moderate... i'm a moderate, not a leftist. tell me something, if your job dried up tomorrow would you sit there whining about how hard you have been done by, or would you move to where you could find work? if all you can say is that someone may have to move because the company that they are working for manufacturing a completely useless item shuts down, then all of your arguments are empty.

    not only that, but if you have a matter that you'd like to discuss with mr. biden, then maybe you should give him a call on the phone and set up a time when you can get together and talk about it over coffee. it's not my problem.
  • View all 29 replies >
  • zachsquatch
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    I already said that this would be the trend. New York has already had Olympic Arms announce their departure of the state and have suggested to Remington and Kimber to do the same. That will be a ton of jobs lost for that state. I stand with MagPul on this decision, why would they waste their time dealing with a state that restricts their own product? I say move to KY or TN, I know that both states would appreciate your products and the fact you're bringing jobs here. Also, if "assault weapons (sic)", "high capacity" magazines, and other "scary" firearms related amoral objects are banned at the Federal level, do they not know that jobs will be lost due to layoffs? The "job creating" Obama admin is showing their colors again.
  • Quantummist
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    In states like Colo I would also thing there would be lots of Gun Shops take off for greener pastures also... And to all the Shops and Manufactures.... Welcome to Kentucky... "A State where if you don't have a firearm, one will be supplied to you"
  • u
    AnnieO
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    @Quantummist Good to see some fellow Kentuckians on here.:) I agree, we would welcome them with open arms! Our state can use the extra jobs.
  • o
    Sonny
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    @AnnieO Well I'd glad they have somewhere to go...Colorado should quickly bid them a fond .."good bye"... And all states should stop this dangerous behavior of allowing themselves to be held hostage by some corporate bully...I say not only let them move---But celebrate their departure.
  • Quantummist
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    @Sonny .. I agree partly... All those bad old corporations should leave those liberated bastions of utopian bless and move to Kentucky.... Places like Cali, Colo, Wash, Chicago, Detroit are marvels of the promise of social justice and and those bad evil corporations need to relocate to Kentucky at once...

    So all you bad evil corporations " Come On Down, We will leave a light on for ya"... Oh and Detroit.... Last one out please turn the light off, We will need the extra Juice...
  • View all 66 replies >
  • u
    Slowmo
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    Yup! "Ehh it's only 800 job losses focused on one community. Screw em bygod! We want our statistically proven ineffective legislation to be made a law! And when criminals figure out that theyre the only ones with guns and that the police are 20 minutes away, we'll do what Chicago is doing and blame the skyrocketing violence on El Chapo. Yeah, El Chapo..you know, the billionaire leader of one of the cartels; the most notoriously violent groups in North America. The same groups that we got caught giving a buttload of AR-15s to in hopes that those guns would show up at murder scenes so that we could frame the 2nd amendment and the American gun market for the killing of innocent Mexican citizens and US Border Patrol agents and further push our agenda. We REALLY want to push this agenda. I mean, poor Diane Fienstein
  • u
    Slowmo
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    @Slowmo haha I pushed post too soon! "...Fienstein started putting this legislation together 10 years ago in anticipation for this. We can't let her efforts go to waste." End rant.
  • DavidRobertson
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    They don't have to care what Magpul chooses to do, but if they're smart they will at least care about the loss of jobs and revenue, even if they will not respect the Second Amendment.
  • jessejaymes
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    It really doesn't matter one way or the other except for one thing. If the gun/accessory companies are all forced to relocate to the Bible Belt then maybe all those states that suck up so much federal funding to keep them alive can support themselves. The rest of the country will adjust to the losses and the South can support themselves. I don't see the problem.
  • jessejaymes
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    @OhWiseOne Look bubba if it weren't for 10 states paying in much more than get back in Federal taxes the south would still be driving on dirt roads. I don't care to rehash the BS about the Union destroying the south's economic base by freeing the slaves. We're 150 years past that. How damn dumb does one region have to be to not be able to rebuild an economy in 150 years? Stuck on stupid is why the entire South (excepting Florida) is on National welfare.
  • stepped_in_it
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    hey, if some states don't want the jobs, they can send them here. Even though I'm employed, we have 4 large factories empty and waiting. be nice to get these "hillbilly's " back to work....they're driving me crazy!
  • Fishbone345
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    They sure don't like to hear where exactly the money goes do they? Bitch and whine till they are red in the face about welfare cases, but you tell them where most the welfare cases live and suddenly its not a topic they want to discuss anymore.
  • View all 38 replies >
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    OhWiseOne
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    I love it! Hit them where it hurts! I'll bet Texas would love to have their business. I heard they are already taking businesses away from Cali. No jobs, no people, no taxes. The liberal nanny welfare state is imploding and I'm lovin' every minute of it.
  • u
    Slowmo
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    Lol I like the way you think. "Implode". It's what should happen to a system when people try to pervert its intended purposes.
  • o
    OhWiseOne
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    I really do wish all the gun manufacturers would leave gun hating states. They should also quit selling weapons to police departments that oppose the 2nd amendment.
  • u
    Slowmo
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    @OhWiseOne right! Unity under a common goal is what's needed. And that goal needs to be a statement conveyed through examples made.
  • DARSB
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    Trying to influence legislation by threats and tantrums is not exactly burnishing the image of the deadly weapons industry. It's not clear the company would even lose revenue under the law - at least no Colorado sales figures have been released by this company so far.
  • Medicinebow
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    I don't see their testimony as a threat so much as I do a reality. Truth be told, they are speaking for me. As a consumer of their product I support their stance. It isn't about money to them. They can move and continue to manufacture their product. The state of Colorado will simply be the loser and there's plenty of other states willing to accept their business. I see it as a matter of principle and I fully support them in principle and financially. Magpul may not lose a dime but Colorado may lose plenty. So be it.

    There are plenty of other states to do their business. It's a shame to see Colorado the loser.

    I sincerely hope the manufacturers in NY and Ca. pack their bags and go elsewhere. Ca. can ill afford to lose any tax money. These states can live with the consequences of their decisions.

    I vote with my dollars and I let businesses know they won't be receiving my hard earned dollars for their stances on issues I truly believe in.
  • u
    Slowmo
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    Do it do it! WhatEVER it takes to take back the control that has been stolen! There is a balance of power that this country is SUPPOSED to have to prevent an overreaching government. That balance of power is being circumvented by convincing citizens that they aren't capable of handling it. This isn't about guns and safety is not the government's goal. It may be the goal of the citizens but safety is not what our government is trying to gain. If it were, they wouldn't ignore and downplay the evidence and statistics that indicate gun control does absolutely nothing to curb violence. Even our own Dept of Justice and FBI has blatantly and plainly said so.(Reference their reports summarizing the effectiveness of Clinton's gun control policies) Yet it's being pushed anyway? This is about gaining more control. It's the only thing that the evidence points to.
  • o
    OhWiseOne
    !
    It's always been about CONTROL with the liberal nanny welfare state. These people think they know how to live our lives better than we do.
  • u
    Slowmo
    !
    @OhWiseOne knowing that, it's crazy to listen to people FERVENTLY defend a government who has told them, "Hey listen guys, you aren't really capable of handling the rights and powers given to you in the constitution. You need to just turn them over to us because you know the founding fathers didn't account for your level of incompetence." Haha wtffff!
  • o
    OhWiseOne
    !
    @Slowmo Some people are willing to hand over their rights for a government check. Not me. They can take their check and shove it. I'll keep my freedoms, my guns, etc..
  • View all 11 replies >
  • o
    OhWiseOne
    !
    Indeed. I don't know why any business wouldn't move to Texas. The taxes are much lower there than in Connecticut, New York, Cali, Illinois, etc... It's a business friendly environment.
  • u
    Slowmo
    !
    @texas_cutie75 They'd have a TON of support here. Austin,Texas would be a FANTASTIC new home for Magpul Industries! And the surrounding hill country terrain would be very accommodating for their training programs. Hell, I don't even live in Austin but I'd GLADLY move there and work for them to support their efforts!
  • Vance1
    !
    Colorado's largest manufacturer of high-capacity ammunition magazines said it will leave the state if a package of gun control measures that's advancing through the state legislature becomes law, the Denver Post reports.

    GOOD.....Come to Arizona!!! or move to Texas
    Those states would appreciate your business!!!
  • WMCOL
    !
    One of the few industries we still have in the nation and the anti-gun, anti-Constitution folks want to shut them down.
  • o
    Sabio
    !
    it all boils down to the almighty dollar! this will be interesting, they are like people who have sex for money,,, you know the term!
  • Thunderchicken
    !
    Gotta do what's best for you. If CO. wants to alienate a resident business that's their perrogative. If the business wants to move that's their perrogative. I wouldn't want a business that I find repugnant. Nor would I want to support a state that finds my business repugnant. Freedom is all about choices.
  • DARSB
    !
    @OhWiseOne Votes from actual human beings do have consequences, and it's probably not a coincidence that the President who earned the most popular votes in 60 years is now at odds with an old school conservative lobbying group.
  • o
    OhWiseOne
    !
    @DARSB And we have a House of Representatives and a Senate that the people elect too. As much as y'all would like for it to be a reality, Obama is not a king. He never has been and never will be.
  • PoliticalSpice
    !
    Colorado is a communist state? I believe you live in the state with far more restrictive gun laws. And what, by the way, does gun control have to do with communism?
  • bsking
    !
    @PoliticalSpice I lived in NY. I still own property there ,buf rarely visit. When politicians vocally attack business because it may conflict with their agenda,like nanny bloomberg/guns or rahm emmanuel/gay issues...they remind me of communist dictators yes.
  • PoliticalSpice
    !
    @bsking Ahhh, so communism is defined as a system of govt where politicians vocally attack business in a way that reminds @bsking of communist dictators. I see.
  • View all 14 replies >
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