Magpul continues to fight the good fight against the proposed 2nd Amendment encroachments in Colorado. HB1224, a Colorado House Bill to limit magazine capacity, is still on its way to becoming law, and, as many of you know, Magpul has stated that they will leave Colorado if it does.
From Magpul:
MAGPUL INDUSTRIES ANNOUNCES IT WILL LEAVE COLORADO IF GUN BILL PASSES
MOVE WOULD COST STATE 600 JOBS, $85 MILLION
Denver, Colorado – February 15th, 2013 – Magpul Industries, an Erie, Colorado, based manufacturer of firearms accessories, announced today that it will be forced to leave the state if House Bill 1224, which would ban standard capacity magazines, becomes law. The announcement was made to Governor Hickenlooper, state legislators, members of the media, and in a full-page advertisement to appear in the Denver Post on Sunday.
Richard Fitzpatrick, Founder, President, and CEO of Magpul Industries, said that regardless of any amendments that may be worked into the bill, he will no longer be able to continue to do business in Colorado if his core product is made illegal.
“Our company could not, in good conscience, continue to manufacture our products in a state where law-abiding citizens are prohibited from purchasing and owning them. ” Fitzpatrick said. “The passage of this bill will do nothing to enhance public safety, but will force us to immediately begin taking our business to another state.”
A proponent of the bill argued that with the amendment language, the choice to stay or leave was up to Magpul. Fitzpatrick responded, “Our relationship with our customers across the country would be severely damaged if this bill passes and we stay. We’ve already heard word of potential boycotts if that happens. They (legislators) really need to understand that our customer base is as passionate about freedoms as we are, and staying here if this bill passes would cripple the company. Make no doubt about it…we have no choice, and would be forced to leave in order to save the business.”
Magpul cited the example of the Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show, which was canceled earlier this year after the organizers announced that it would not permit a popular category of firearm, like the ones Magpul makes accessories for, in the show. Public outcry from the customer base forced exhibitors to withdraw from participation, causing the cancellation of the show, and an estimated loss of $70 million of show revenue for hotels, restaurants, merchants, and other businesses in Pennsylvania, where the show was to be held.
Magpul Industries directly employs 200 people, supports another 400 supply-chain jobs, and contributes over $85 million annually to Colorado’s economy. Doug Smith, Chief Operating Officer for Magpul, says that it is a difficult position to be in. “We could choose to stay in a state that wants our jobs and revenue, but not our products, and lose half the jobs we are fighting to save, or potentially the entire business, when our customers stop buying. Or, we can take the company and those 600 jobs out of Colorado to continue our growth and the growth of American manufacturing in a state that shares our values. This is not really a choice. It’s an unfortunate and inevitable result of the actions of the Legislature if this bill passes.”
Magpul was started over a decade ago by Fitzpatrick, a former U.S. Marine. It has become one of Colorado’s fastest growing businesses, successfully marketing its products to American and allied military forces, police departments, sporting goods stores, and thousands of responsible private citizens. Fitzpatrick says that the rich western culture and strong values of individual freedom and responsibility, traditionally found in Colorado, were one of the reasons the company chose to remain in the state.
“It is heartbreaking to me, my employees, and their families, to think that we will be forced to leave,” Fitzpatrick said. “But if HB13-1224 passes, we will simply have no choice.”
They even took out a full page ad in the Denver Post.
This has become a national story. Do what you can to oppose the passage of HB1224. If you are a resident of CO, you must contact your representatives now!
UPDATE:
HB1224 has passed in Colorado State House. It still has to pass the CO State Senate and be signed by their Governor.
magazines are dangerous but dopers are safe????
I sent this to every Colorado State Representative who voted for the HB1224:
Please be advised that I will take an active financial role in supporting any political opponent of yours who claims that he or she would not have voted for HB1224.
Magazine limits will not reduce crime, they will not reduce the magnitude of mass shootings, and this law will not impact the capacity of magazines used by criminals. All you have done with this bill is to drive out a multi-million dollar business, and turn your own citizens into criminals overnight. In my educated opinion, you have also infringed on the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America. Oh, and you might feel good about yourself, but that’s not why you were elected.
I lived in Durango, CO for five years, only leaving it in 19xx to join the US Army Infantry. I now have a family of xxxxx, and look forward to taking them to a mountain state when the kids are old enough so they can learn to climb, ski, hike, hunt and enjoy the rugged majesty of the great outdoors.
With the passage of HB1224, Colorado is no longer on the list of states that I will consider vacationing in, or even visiting.
The only money that I spend in Colorado will be to unseat you and the others who voted for this bill.
Very sincerely,
Me
“Dopers” Bill? Really? That kind of coprolitic view on marijuana consumers drives a significant number of fiscal conservatives away from the GOP, and is part of the reason they don’t have the numbers to really defend against these kind of Constitutional assaults. Pick your battles, man.
And no, I don’t and never have been a consumer.