Colorado ammo magazine maker Magpul threatens to leave state over gun bill

[NickB79]

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22593693/colorado-ammo-magazine-maker-threatens-leave-state-over

Colorado's largest and most profitable manufacturer of high-capacity ammunition magazines has vowed to leave the state if lawmakers pass a measure banning the devices — a move officials with the company say could cost hundreds of jobs and upward of $85 million in potential spending this year.

Magpul's threat has Democratic lawmakers scrambling to strike a balance that remains true to their goal of limiting the number of rounds a magazine can hold without frightening off businesses.

"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," said Doug Smith

This will be interesting to watch over the next few weeks.

[badtoworse]

1. Texas would welcome them with open arms

So would a number of other states.

[earthside]

2. As a Coloradoan ... you can have 'em.

That's my opinion of that company.

[BainsBane]

5. like Somalia

[Politicalboi]

3. Let them leave

They sound just like a child who threatens to run away from home. They are the VICTIM.

[backscatter712]

4. I'll bet they're bluffing.

They're butthurt and having a tantrum, but I'll bet they'll decide that moving's too expensive.

[bowens43]

6. good. now if we could just get him to lshut down completely......

[Hoyt]

7. The red states and their gun toting/accumulators will welcome them.

My guess is Colorado will save much more in uncompensated medical care for previously wounded and mentally challenged gun nuts who might move/go elsewhere.

[meadowlark5]

8. Boo-fucking-hoo. I'm really getting tired of all of these whiny-pissy pants

It's not like the state is imposing some extra tax or fees that cut into their precious profits. Most of their shipments probably go to the bigger gun loving states anyway. The magazine bans in this state certainly aren't going to send them into bankruptcy. They just have to be whiny-pissy pants because they are soooo persecuted and it's just not fair

[Light House]

9. Is Magpul a union shop.

And why would anyone want these employees to lose their jobs?
These employees have mortgages to pay, food to buy, kids to provide for, why put them out of a job just because a product isn't liked?
I don't like these high capacity magazines, but I don't want people to lose their jobs either.

[Kingofalldems]

12. Who said they wanted anyone to lose their jobs?

Oh yeah, the company is making those threats, no one else.

[Bake]

20. Duh, the state itself is considering BANNING the company's product.

I'd say that'll hit their bottom line.

But you don't care about that OR the potential job losses.

Bake

[Kingofalldems]

24. If someone is making a harmful product

of course I want it banned.

And don't tell me what I care about.

[Bake]

29. I'm not telling you what you care about.

But it's pretty obvious what you don't care about.

Bake

[HangOnKids]

22. Such Concern!!!

I see you note the concern too KOAD!

[donheld]

42. It is VERY unlikely Magpul is Union

Here's another Coloradan who would welcome their departure.

[SayWut]

10. What they should do is halt sales to PD's in states that have (or enact), "assault weapons" bans,

and/or magazine bans.
Doubtful they would, but you never know.

[SQUEE]

28. There is a growing movement of just this idea

Some are now refusing to sell anything to LEO or LEA that the state bans for its citizens, and the list is growing.

[Duckhunter935]

31. Good

[Hard Assets]

11. Don't let the door hit ya where the Lord split ya.

The gun control laws are needed.

Don't like it, GTFO.

[Light House]

14. So you're ok with these people losing their jobs?

Just because the company makes a product you don't like?
I don't like these hi cap mags either, but I don't wish people to lose their jobs because I don't like what they produce.

[Hard Assets]

19. If the gunmaker cannot learn to live with the law,

then I suggest that they move elsewhere.

Jobs lost, sure, but our point will have been made.

[politicat]

34. I live in the neighborhood of their production facility. Yeah, they can go.

It's not hundreds of jobs -- maybe 90, at most, assuming 24 hour production (which they don't do). Some of those - in their training division - are easy remote jobs because they're already off-site jobs (going to the customer's facility and training them.) If those people have their kids in our excellent schools and mortgages on houses that didn't lose much or any value (this area only got brushed by the housing bubble), they're unlikely to trade for worse schools and housing, so are going to stay and work remotely, especially if their spouses have careers in the area.

On the manufacturing side, there are other industries in the area that can absorb workers skilled with plastics manufacturing -- medical devices, optics, telecom. We can absolutely absorb the mechanical and chemical sides of the house, too -- this area has much growth in those areas and not enough people for the jobs.

We also suspect MP improperly disposes of their manufacturing waste -- we keep finding plastics residue in the soil and the chemical by products in the local water.

We'll survive.

[IveWornAHundredPants]

35. You're okay with corporations trying to affect public policy by threats?

[Light House]

36. Answer a question with a question.

So I can put you down as being ok with these people losing possibly losing their jobs.

[IveWornAHundredPants]

37. Sorry, thought that was obvious.

Yes, I am "ok with these people losing possibly losing their jobs."

Your turn to answer my question.

[Light House]

38. I'm ok with a company looking out for it's best interest

and if they feel that they need to move, then so be it.
The sad thing is that lots of people will lose their jobs, the city/state will lose the tax revenue from the company and lose the money spent from the people who used to work there.

[Bake]

21. Be sure and say the same thing to the employees who lose their jobs over it.

Bake

[iiibbb]

13. If they had real cohones they would leave over the proposal.

put up or shut up.

[Light House]

16. What they should also do

is offer their employees that want to stay with the company a relocation allowance to move.

[iiibbb]

18. adaptation

[HereSince1628]

15. Please remember to turn off the lights and to pay the pro-rated fraction of all your CO tax

obligations.

I am just SURE there is an industrial park in Maldova that can accomodate your manufacturing needs.

[Autumn]

17. So long

[Ilsa]

23. I bet Rick Perry has already called him:

"Come on down here! We got really cheap-cheap labor, and we'll excuse you from ALL of those pesky environmental regulations if you need for us to."

[littlewolf]

25. and we are a right to work state so you

don't have to worry about those pesky unions either.

[Turbineguy]

26. They could always move to

Somalia or some other 2nd Amendment paradise.

[SoCalDem]

27. hundreds of jobs for an $85 MILLION enterprise

am I the only one who sees something put of whack there???

200 jobs statewide @$50K only total 10 million, and we know that most of the jobs are not $50K jobs.

Too many of these companies have an over-inflated impression of their worth to a community/state

and do we know how much it cost the state to woo them there and to pay them ransom to stay?

sometimes it all ends up being a wash, and Colorado is no more sacred than any other place when it comes to the whims of petulant business owners.

[Lint Head]

30. Fuck em.

[ellisonz]

44. +1

[politicat]

32. I smell BS.

Magpul's production facilities are literally 5 miles away from me, and on one of my preferred bike routes. They do not have hundreds of employees -- the parking lot has maybe 40 spaces, which are never all full. The facility is the size of your standard Walgreen's, if that. I'm involved in my town, and have at least passing acquaintance with at least half of our 6000 residents -- and I don't know anyone who works for them.

They are a nuisance, however -- they manufacture from plastics, and the by products of plastic manufacturing keep showing up in the local well water.

If they go, there aren't going to be many tears shed in this neighborhood.

[NaturalHigh]

33. I don't blame them.

I wouldn't keep my company in any state that gave me the finger either.

[xoom]

40. +1

[mwrguy]

41. I hope they are bankrupted

One less merchant of death would be a good thing.

[justanidea]

43. I have several of their products. High quality stuff.

They're more than welcome here in PA.