sailingaway
01-30-2013, 02:49 PM
Five states have contacted the parent company of Remington Arms to encourage the gun maker to relocate in response to New York's efforts to tighten gun control laws.
The flurry of courtships comes after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed "the toughest gun control laws in the nation" on Jan. 15.
Lawmakers from Michigan, Oklahoma, Arizona and South Carolina have all sent letters to Remington's owner, Freedom Group, in the last two weeks. Texas sent a letter to the company back in November. It's common practice for the governor's office send such letters to companies from time to time, according to a spokeswoman.
The letters cite each state's business-friendly environment and support of the Second Amendment, but do not mention specific economic incentives for moving. The letters encourage the company to contact the state's economic development offices.
"Horrific news"
The Remington Arms plant has been located in the Mohawk Valley town of Ilion, just east of Utica, for almost 200 years. The town of 8,000 people was built around the company and New York's new gun control measures have many their worried about the future of the factory.
Remington makes several types of rifles, including the Bushmaster semi-automatic line, which was used in the Newtown, Conn. shooting and is now banned for sale in New York.
Word that so many states are trying to get Remington to move is "horrific news," says Frank "Rusty" Brown, the political coordinator for the United Mine Workers of America Local 717, the union that represents the Remington employees.
"This is actually the worst situation we’ve been in as far as other states wanting to lure us away," he says.
more at link: http://www.innovationtrail.org/post/five-states-courting-remington-arms-away-new-york#.UQmGX5WVBSd.twitter
The flurry of courtships comes after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed "the toughest gun control laws in the nation" on Jan. 15.
Lawmakers from Michigan, Oklahoma, Arizona and South Carolina have all sent letters to Remington's owner, Freedom Group, in the last two weeks. Texas sent a letter to the company back in November. It's common practice for the governor's office send such letters to companies from time to time, according to a spokeswoman.
The letters cite each state's business-friendly environment and support of the Second Amendment, but do not mention specific economic incentives for moving. The letters encourage the company to contact the state's economic development offices.
"Horrific news"
The Remington Arms plant has been located in the Mohawk Valley town of Ilion, just east of Utica, for almost 200 years. The town of 8,000 people was built around the company and New York's new gun control measures have many their worried about the future of the factory.
Remington makes several types of rifles, including the Bushmaster semi-automatic line, which was used in the Newtown, Conn. shooting and is now banned for sale in New York.
Word that so many states are trying to get Remington to move is "horrific news," says Frank "Rusty" Brown, the political coordinator for the United Mine Workers of America Local 717, the union that represents the Remington employees.
"This is actually the worst situation we’ve been in as far as other states wanting to lure us away," he says.
more at link: http://www.innovationtrail.org/post/five-states-courting-remington-arms-away-new-york#.UQmGX5WVBSd.twitter