REP METCALF INVITING FIREARMS MANUFACTURES TO PA

[rangeofficer]

I received the email listed below from REP Metcalf's office earlier this AM. He and a few other Reps are working to extend invites to Remington, Magpul and a few others to relocate to the Commonwealth ! We need this MAN to run for higher office to represent us in DC !

Grove and Metcalfe Roll Out Welcome Mat to Gun Manufacturers: ‘We Are Passionate About Defending the Second Amendment in PA’


HARRISBURG — State Representatives Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) and Seth Grove (R-York) announced today that they are reaching out to encourage several leading out-of-state firearms and weapons components manufacturers, including Beretta, Magpul and Remington, to relocate their facilities and bring hundreds of jobs to Pennsylvania.

“With America’s single largest per capita representation of National Rifle Association members and more than one million licensed hunters and anglers contributing billions of dollars annually into our state and local economies, Pennsylvania is a natural fit for any of our nation’s major producers of guns, ammunition or accessories that are currently looking for a new home due to the imposition of senseless, gun-grabbing legislation by their state or local governments,” said Metcalfe, who is the prime sponsor of the Right to Bear Arms Protection Act (House Bill 357).

Final enactment of House Bill 357 would make any new federal gun control laws unenforceable within the Commonwealth.

“Pennsylvania is known all over the country for clinging to its guns, and it’s time that we use this reputation to our advantage,” Grove added. “By enticing these three companies to Pennsylvania, we are sending a clear message that we welcome their industry, and we also welcome the hundreds of jobs and multi-million dollar economic impact this would bring to the Commonwealth.”

In February, news reports indicated Maryland gun manufacturer Beretta had begun considering a relocation of its headquarters – and its 300 jobs – to a state where its product hasn’t been made illegal. Its principal location is in Prince Georges County, Maryland, and the Maryland state legislature is advancing a ban on assault weapons. Beretta has a history of relocating operations, as evidenced by moving a significant facility to Virginia after Maryland’s previous attempt to restrict the Second Amendment.

“Recent reports have indicated that gun manufacturers are disappointed with the actions of the federal government and several state governments which want to enact legislation undermining the firearms industry,” Grove said. “We wholeheartedly believe in defending our Second Amendment rights, and if other states are looking to legislate an industry out of existence, then we should capitalize on this opportunity to deliver to our constituents good, family-sustaining jobs.”

Metcalfe and Grove are also interested in attracting Magpul, a manufacturer of weapons components and high-capacity ammunition magazines, from its headquarters in Colorado, and Remington Arms Company, a New York-based gun and ammunition manufacturer.

Magpul has threatened to leave Colorado if the state bans individuals from owning magazines with more than 15 rounds. Magpul employs 200 people directly and works primarily with contractors in the state where it is located. Currently operating a manufacturing plant with more than 1,000 employees about 90 miles west of Albany, Remington may also decide to leave the Empire State in response to Gov. Andrew Cuomo signing into law a regulatory package that he called the “toughest gun control laws in the nation” on Jan. 15.

“In Pennsylvania, we are passionate about upholding Article 1, Section 21 of our state constitution which declares in no uncertain terms, ‘The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the state shall not be questioned,’” said Metcalfe. “This has been the case since 1776 when Pennsylvania became the first state in the nation to adopt a formal guarantee of our God-given right to keep and bear arms and this foundational heritage of individual liberty and freedom will only continue to expand with final passage of House Bill 357.”

Metcalfe and Grove are also calling on all Pennsylvania citizens who support Constitutional liberty to attend Pennsylvania’s annual Second Amendment Action Day on Tuesday, April 23, beginning at 10 a.m. in the State Capitol Rotunda, and to sign the all-new Armed Pennsylvania: Say to No Gun Control petition by visiting RepMetcalfe.com.

[sinkrun]

Glad to here some good news.

[steelerfan]

That would be a very good thing !

[fortysix]

Any gun manufacturer has to consider two things when looking at any proposal like this. First, just because say Colorado is against guns and PA isn't, that doesn't mean that by the time Magpul demolishes their factory and builds one here, moves it all, and spends the many many millions to do so, PA doesn't magically change the law too, and they have to do it all over again, at twice the cost. Second, there is the national picture, some of their products may be illegal nationwide, if not now, but in the future, and investing future capital is an extremely risky course. Why in the world would Remington have stayed in New York State so long, or all the manufacturers that stayed in Mass, or CT? Plus, despite the law, and the companies' claims that they want to do right by their customers, those 100 year tax covenants really get a bit hard to walk away from, for both the monetary benefits and the legal ramifications of walking out on them.

So, I wouldn't get a hardon for these companies moving here. More likely, they will do like every other manufacturer that the government shit on for one reason or another, and move to China or Mexico. Why move around the US every year when you can move to China, pay 1% of expenses here, and have a forever tax covenant with them (with the caveat that they may someday nationalize and take everything from you)?

[staylo]

For Magpul, at least, a 1 hour drive up I-25 would put them in Wyoming. That would be about as safe a place as they could find, politically, to set up shop, and it's right next door. That would allow their employees to move with them and stay close enough to extended family to drive home to visit for the afternoon, or to even commute if they needed to.(a one-hour commute WITHIN Denver is normal during rush-hour traffc, so a run up I-25 wouldn't be ridiculous in context). Wyoming has voted Republican for, like, forever and is quite unlikely to move on any gun control legislation any time soon. I mean, Mayors Against Illegal Guns hates them. What better bona fides do you need?

Ironically, Magpul's HQ is in Boulder, CO., which is one of the most liberal, whacked out places on the planet. I grew up in Broomfield, which is 20 minutes away, and we used to have a saying about Boulder - "25 square miles surrounded by reality". The place is so wacky that the NY Times actually had a piece about it. Here's a little excerpt:

My brother-in-law Peter lives in Boulder, Colorado. Whenever I use the bathroom in his house, I heave a bucket of used bath water down the toilet to flush it. This provides a welcome opportunity to enhance my deltoids, and it can save approximately 7,300 gallons of fresh water per year. Peter usually bikes, but occasionally he'll drive his hybrid Honda from where it's parked next to his xeriscaped yard to the Buddhist meditation classes he teaches downtown. He is, in short, the quintessential Boulderite.

That Magpul would set up there is interesting, to say the least. They do seem to do production in the Lafayette area, however, which makes more sense. Lafayette used to be more like the Nebraska panhandle than a suburb of Denver. Now it's strip malls and tract housing like most of the Denver metro area, thanks to the Great Californication.

[rangeofficer]

All good points listed above, but the point is that we have legislators hustling and working to represent their constituents that voted for them.

[steelerfan]

All good points listed above, but the point is that we have legislators hustling and working to represent their constituents that voted for them.

Yes, this is exactly the point

[staylo]

All good points listed above, but the point is that we have legislators hustling and working to represent their constituents that voted for them.

That is quite refreshing lately, no doubt. Especially since the other side is certainly hustling to do us in.

[rangeofficer]

I absolutely agree. Just the fact that we have a State Representative who is obviously working hard to support the second amendment should be something we all take note of. Maybe we should urge him to run to replace Toomey who can't seem to articulate if his support for the Second Amendment really exists.

wholeheartedly agree. I make it a point to go to the Ruger site every week and send off the email that goes out to all of our respective legislators. Toomey 's response is very neutral to say the least. The tide is turning but we must be vigilant and not let down our guard.

[manooti]

Any gun manufacturer has to consider two things when looking at any proposal like this. First, just because say Colorado is against guns and PA isn't, that doesn't mean that by the time Magpul demolishes their factory and builds one here, moves it all, and spends the many many millions to do so, PA doesn't magically change the law too, and they have to do it all over again, at twice the cost. Second, there is the national picture, some of their products may be illegal nationwide, if not now, but in the future, and investing future capital is an extremely risky course. Why in the world would Remington have stayed in New York State so long, or all the manufacturers that stayed in Mass, or CT? Plus, despite the law, and the companies' claims that they want to do right by their customers, those 100 year tax covenants really get a bit hard to walk away from, for both the monetary benefits and the legal ramifications of walking out on them.

So, I wouldn't get a hardon for these companies moving here. More likely, they will do like every other manufacturer that the government shit on for one reason or another, and move to China or Mexico. Why move around the US every year when you can move to China, pay 1% of expenses here, and have a forever tax covenant with them (with the caveat that they may someday nationalize and take everything from you)?

With interstate commerce the federal laws are easily enforced once crossed over state lines. If they decide to do production and sales in a pro second amendment state it is easier for everyone and harder for federal offenses. If sheriffs and reps do not enforce new federal laws, which is what we are seeing in our state, it will be easier to deal within that state.

If they move production and sales out of the country, they then have a bigger situation; UN Arms Trade Treaty.

I believe for a company in firearms and ammunition to succeed in these times it would need to weigh in the income of sales only within that state. A better scenario would be to open plants in each pro second amendment state and produce/sell within that state without crossing state lines. More jobs, more revenue for the local government and, most importantly, second amendment freedom. There will probably be incentives to allow a company to move there also, less taxes for them or some program to help them move. The amount of revenue the state will receive is well worth the risk.

Of course no action should be set in stone without bills passed guaranteeing their rights as a company offering the people their choice of arms. Second amendment should of done so already, but we see how it is going.