Recently two companies, Magpul, which manufactures guns and HiViz Shooting Systems, which makes sights, recoil pads and other accessories, announced they were leaving the state of Colorado. Both citing the passage of new gun control laws. Both taking jobs, revenue and money out of the Colorado economy and bringing them to a state without restrictive gun control laws.
States like Wyoming are opening their arms and inviting these companies to move to a more gun friendly state. "Move to the Cowboy State," says Wyoming lawmakers.
Another gun manufacturer is now following their example, this one in Connecticut, and is citing the same reasons. PTR Industries announces, via their Facebook page as well as the PTR Industries website, that they will be "actively considering offers from states that are friendly to the industry."
"The rights of the citizens of CT have been trampled upon. The safety of its children is at best questionably improved from the day of the tragedy that triggered the events that lead us here," said officials at PTR Industries in a statement on their website. "Finally, due to an improperly drafted bill, manufacturing of modern sporting rifles in the state of CT has been effectively outlawed. With a heavy heart but a clear mind, we have been forced to decide that our business can no longer survive in Connecticut - the former Constitution state."PTR Industries owner Josh Fiorini also states he wants to move out before the new law goes into place Jan. 1.
More:
A majority of the company’s employees, “which includes ALL of our management personnel, engineering staff and skilled gunsmiths,” has agreed to move, the statement said, even though the location has not been determined.Other companies are already talking about potential moves out of Connecticut as well:
PTR said its employees had “a heavy heart but a clear mind” in reaching the decision — and the company is now inviting other manufacturers and suppliers to join it in departing Connecticut. It’s unclear how many people at different supplier companies work on PTR rifles, but all of the components are made in Connecticut, said John McNamara, the PTR vice president of sales.
Under the Connecticut law, firms are allowed to make and ship firearms that are banned for retail sale here. Still, manufacturers including Stag Arms in New Britain, with 200 employees, and magazine-maker Ammunition Storage Components, with 100 people in New Britain, say they may be forced to leave by customers in other states who refuse to buy from companies that remain here.
Both Colorado and Connecticut are facing budget shortfalls already, so driving businesses and their money, as well as employees, out of the state, is guaranteed to make matters worse.
Full statement from PTR Industries below:
April 9, 2013
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A STATEMENT CONCERNING MANUFACTURING ENCOURAGEMENT, ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND PROTECTION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF CITIZENS.
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This past week an historic and highly controversial bill was passed by the State of Connecticut which will have far reaching consequences to the state, its citizens, and businesses. The bill we refer to is Bill No. 1160, AN ACT CONCERNING GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND CHILDRENS SAFETY. This bill purports to reduce gun violence by banning hardware responsible for less than 3% of homicides in 2011 ; and claims to increase children’s safety by restricting the ability of those most responsible for it – their parents – to defend them.
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As a firearms manufacturing firm, our industrial roots reach deep in the State of CT. Along with other companies in the trade, we were deeply apprehensive at the hurried process to develop new gun laws and fearful that it would generate unintended consequences for our industry. On Thursday April 4th 2013, upon reading the full text of Bill 1160, our worst fears were confirmed. What emerged was a bill fraught with ambiguous definitions, insufficient considerations for the trade, conflicting mandates, and disastrous consequences for the fundamental rights of the people of CT.
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The magnitude of the constitutional and economic importance of this bill is such that the disregard for public input (in the final version), and the haphazard production of the legislation should be insulting to any citizen or business in CT. It should be a shock to us all that such landmark legislation could be written in one week, and seen by no one (including the rank-and-file legislators) prior to its emergency certification. Having been present in the deliberations in both legislative chambers, it was clear that a majority of our legislators had not even read the bill – and those that had read it had only a cursory understanding.
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The process with which this legislation proceeded, along with the language that resulted gives us no confidence that this will be the last violation of our rights in our beloved home state, and we only hope that this does not set a precedent at a national level.
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The rights of the citizens of CT have been trampled upon. The safety of its children is at best questionably improved from the day of the tragedy that triggered the events that lead us here. Finally, due to an improperly drafted bill, manufacturing of modern sporting rifles in the State of CT has been effectively outlawed. With a heavy heart but a clear mind, we have been forced to decide that our business can no longer survive in Connecticut – the former Constitution state.
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Furthermore, we feel that our industry as a whole will continue to be threatened so long as it remains in a state where its elected leaders have no regard for the rights of those who produce and manufacture its wealth. We are making a call to all involved in our industry to leave this state, close your doors and show our politicians the true consequences of their hasty and uninformed actions. We encourage those in our industry to abandon this state as its leaders have abandoned the proud heritage that forged our freedom.
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Although PTR has not decided upon a specific relocation site at this time, over the coming weeks the company will be actively considering offers from states that are friendly to the industry. We hope to have a site identified within the next six weeks, and hope to have our move completed by the end of this year. We plan to keep our business partners informed on the status of our move throughout this process in order to affect a smooth transition.
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We have extended the invitation to join us in the move to all of our employees, as well as all of our vendors. We are pleased to say that we currently have commitments to move from a majority of our employees, which includes ALL of our management personnel, engineering staff and skilled gunsmiths.
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It is our hope and sincere belief that this move will represent a step forward for the company; and that by bringing our expertise and core personnel to combine with the business friendly policies, and a motivated local labor force from a state that respects industry and the second amendment that we can expand our operations and not only maintain – but increase the quality and reputation of our products.
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Please direct any questions or inquiries to John McNamara, Vice President of Sales, at john@ptr91.com or at our main phone number.
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http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-8