Gun Control Laws Prompt Firearms Companies To Relocate

Anti-gun lawmakers seem determined to chip away at the Second Amendment despite the loss of millions of dollars of important tax revenues and hundreds of jobs. As a result, several major firearms companies have made a rapid exit from Colorado and New York since the passage of new gun control laws.

Less than a year after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the SAFE Act into law, the great firearms exodus began. American Tactical Imports (ATI) was among the first to leave the state. ATI decided to invest nearly $3 million in a new facility in South Carolina, creating 117 jobs in the Southern state.

Magpul Industries, one of the largest gun companies in America, is the latest company to head for the door. The Colorado manufacturer recently announced that it would be relocating operations to Texas and Wyoming. Magpul cited the passage of new gun control laws that would drastically decrease the sale of firearms accessories as their reason for moving. The gun company was founded in 1999 and currently employs approximately 200 people. The business contributed nearly $85 million to the Colorado economy.

The company’s new headquarters will be in Texas, and the distribution, manufacturing, and shipping operations center will be in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Texas Governor Rick Perry has not been shy about enticing businesses to his state, and he reportedly played an integral role in the gun company’s decision to pack up and head South.

Chief operating officer Doug Smith said about the relocation:

“These dual moves will be carried out in a manner that ensures our operations and supply chain will not be interrupted and our loyal customers will not be affected.”

Stringent gun laws in Colorado prompted two successful recall elections. Democratic State Senators Angela Giron and John Morse lost their offices due to grassroots Second Amendment efforts in 2013. State Senator Evie Hudak, also a Democrat, allegedly resigned her post in an effort to avoid a recall election embarrassment. The new Colorado gun control law make magazines that hold more than 15 rounds illegal and requires background checks on gun transfers.

Richard Fitzpatrick, chief executive officer of Magpul, had this to say about why the company relocated:

“Moving operations to states that support our culture of individual liberties and personal responsibility is important. This relocation will also improve business operations and logistics as we utilize the strengths of Texas and Wyoming in our expansion.”

In New York, Kahr Firearms Group decided to leave the state and explore greener pastures in nearby Pennsylvania. The firearms company cited “uncertainty” over new gun control laws as their reason for the change in zip code. “One of our big concerns was, OK, the SAFE Act was passed in the middle of the night,” said Kahr vice president of sales and marketing Frank Harris. “You wake up the next morning and boom, that was it. It’s not just the SAFE Act, but the uncertainty.”

Remington Arms has also been pondering potential relocation spots for a potential new plant in Tennessee. The gun company is one of the largest weapons manufacturers in the United States and makes a rifle that is now illegal in New York.

One of the provisions in the controversial gun control involves mandatory background checks on ammo purchases. Governor Cuomo previously stated that the new law would permit law enforcement agencies to “track ammunition purchases in real time.” The statement understandably drew sharp criticism from gun rights advocates, who largely feel the SAFE Act infringes upon the Second Amendment. One New York resident, Evan Hempel, was so infuriated by the dictates of the SAFE Act he created the NYSAFEResolutions.com website to record the opposition by local counties to the gun control law.

Meanwhile, the battle continues to rage between supporters of the Second Amendment, and anti-gun zealots who are chipping away at the freedoms most Americans hold dear. When considering the right to keep and bear arms, we should heed the words of one of America’s Founding Fathers, George Mason, who said: “To disarm the people is the most effectual way to enslave them.”