Posted by Kromey at 6:47pm Feb 22 '13Okay, the post title is over-the-top... or is it?
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is going on CBS' Face the Nation to talk about how the sequester, which would cost Colorado an estimated $67.9 million in federal funds, will hurt Colorado.
Meanwhile Colorado Democrats are pushing through anti-gun legislation that is set to drive major firearms accessories manufacturer Magpul clean out of the state -- taking with them over 600 Colorado jobs and an estimated $85 million that won't be going into Colorado's economy.
The Democrats have made their position clear: They don't want Magpul's products in their state, but the hypocrites will happily allow the company to continue to sell its products to out-of-state customers so they can continue to reap the rewards to their state's economy! Magpul's made their own position equally clear: If their products aren't permitted in the state, they will move elsewhere -- end of story.
Now, two interpretations of this story are clear right off the bat:
1) A multi-billion-dollar company is using their economic might to hold state politics hostage.
2) Gun-ban-happy politicians are happy to reap the benefits of having a company selling so-called "weapons of war", just so long as their constituents are banned from buying them.
Frankly, I see it quite clearly as being the second one, and Magpul's "threat" to leave the state should this bill pass is nothing more than the natural consequences of politicians' actions -- they want to ban certain items from commerce, and then they expect companies making those items to continue to operate within their state? Really??
Magpul makes a variety of accessories for firearms, mostly for AR-15-patterned rifles. I myself have their grip and adjustable buttstock on my own rifle, as well as their amazingly accurate and usable MBUS (Magpul BackUp Sights, Magpul's take on the pop-up BUIS (BackUp Iron Sights)). They also manufacture some of the most popular hand guards and forward grips, but they are probably most famous for their PMAGs, lightweight polymer magazines designed for the AR-15, available in standard 30-round capacity, or limited-capacity 20- and 10-round versions.
Colorado HB 1224 would make their single most popular product illegal in their own home state. Is it any wonder that, given such a hostile environment, they'd prefer to move their business elsewhere?
And if Gov. Hickenlooper's so worried about the effects of losing $67.9 million, what's the loss of $85 million going to do, especially when it also directly takes away so many jobs?
This, by the way, comes on the heels of York Arms announcing they are cancelling LE and government orders to New York, and LaRue Tactical making a similar, but broader-reaching, announcement. Of course, in the case of New York, the new law makes no exemptions for New York police anyway, so these companies are merely abiding by the law that was rammed-through in an unprecedented late-night session. The Democrats are reaping what they sow, and it's going to hurt them...
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is going on CBS' Face the Nation to talk about how the sequester, which would cost Colorado an estimated $67.9 million in federal funds, will hurt Colorado.
Meanwhile Colorado Democrats are pushing through anti-gun legislation that is set to drive major firearms accessories manufacturer Magpul clean out of the state -- taking with them over 600 Colorado jobs and an estimated $85 million that won't be going into Colorado's economy.
The Democrats have made their position clear: They don't want Magpul's products in their state, but the hypocrites will happily allow the company to continue to sell its products to out-of-state customers so they can continue to reap the rewards to their state's economy! Magpul's made their own position equally clear: If their products aren't permitted in the state, they will move elsewhere -- end of story.
Now, two interpretations of this story are clear right off the bat:
1) A multi-billion-dollar company is using their economic might to hold state politics hostage.
2) Gun-ban-happy politicians are happy to reap the benefits of having a company selling so-called "weapons of war", just so long as their constituents are banned from buying them.
Frankly, I see it quite clearly as being the second one, and Magpul's "threat" to leave the state should this bill pass is nothing more than the natural consequences of politicians' actions -- they want to ban certain items from commerce, and then they expect companies making those items to continue to operate within their state? Really??
Magpul makes a variety of accessories for firearms, mostly for AR-15-patterned rifles. I myself have their grip and adjustable buttstock on my own rifle, as well as their amazingly accurate and usable MBUS (Magpul BackUp Sights, Magpul's take on the pop-up BUIS (BackUp Iron Sights)). They also manufacture some of the most popular hand guards and forward grips, but they are probably most famous for their PMAGs, lightweight polymer magazines designed for the AR-15, available in standard 30-round capacity, or limited-capacity 20- and 10-round versions.
Colorado HB 1224 would make their single most popular product illegal in their own home state. Is it any wonder that, given such a hostile environment, they'd prefer to move their business elsewhere?
And if Gov. Hickenlooper's so worried about the effects of losing $67.9 million, what's the loss of $85 million going to do, especially when it also directly takes away so many jobs?
This, by the way, comes on the heels of York Arms announcing they are cancelling LE and government orders to New York, and LaRue Tactical making a similar, but broader-reaching, announcement. Of course, in the case of New York, the new law makes no exemptions for New York police anyway, so these companies are merely abiding by the law that was rammed-through in an unprecedented late-night session. The Democrats are reaping what they sow, and it's going to hurt them...
added on 6:49pm Feb 22 '13:
Oh, and can't forget about Remington considering leaving their own home state of New York over new anti-gun legislation...added on 7:13pm Feb 22 '13:
I kinda wish I could find a higher-quality version of Magpul's letter, one that's, y'know... legible...
Colorado Democrats poised to tank state's economy - Kromey