As the debate in the US heats up over new gun control legislation, weapons manufacturers are threatening a new tactic: leaving inhospitable states for less regulated pastures.
At least that's the impression Colt Manufacturing President and
CEO Dennis Veilleux is making. In comments to Fox News on
Connecticut politicians' proposals to enact ammunition
restrictions, expand an assault weapons ban, curtail bulk purchases
of handguns and create a new gun offender registry, Veilleux said
such measures risk putting Colt and its 700 employees in the
“crosshairs.”
Colt’s latest statements are not the first of their kind. There is also the case of munitions magazine manufacturer Magpul, which announced that it will shut down its operations in Colorado following that state’s passage of a bill banning the sale of magazines capable of holding over 15 rounds
While the size of gun manufacturing outfits like Magpul and Colt can vary, the potential loss of jobs could influence local legislatures and make its way up to state capitols as they consider further curbs to the sale and manufacture of guns and ammo.
As for Colt, it has called Connecticut home for over 175 years -
and although it has not made any official announcement on a move,
Veilleux made it clear that the company is closely watching state
legislation - in particular, Governor Dannel Malloy’s promise to
ban both the purchase and sale of AR-15 rifles, one of Colt’s key
products now made infamous by the December 2012 massacre at Sandy
Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
By some measures, it might seem premature for Colt to consider
retribution against potential gun controls - gun permits in
Newtown, for example, have more than doubled since its December
school shooting. Meanwhile, evidence compiled by Bloomberg and
other outlets suggests that the mere idea of new gun control
legislation leads to spikes in gun sales and increased NRA
membership.
Last week Colt sent 400 of its employees to Connecticut’s state
Capitol to personally urge against new gun control
legislation.
Meanwhile, a Malloy spokesman has stated that he does not want gun manufacturers to flee the state. In Colt's case, it would mean a loss of $1.7 billion for the state’s economy.