Heres the latest example of head-splitting cognitive dissonance in Washington: President Obama used his State of the Union address to crusade for a revitalized U.S. manufacturing sector. But while he pays lip service to supporting businesses that build their products on American soil Obama and his left-wing operatives are hell-bent on driving a key sector of the U.S. manufacturing industry six feet under: the American firearms and ammunition industry.
The White House is pushing new government spending to spur economic growth protect manufacturing plants and create good-paying jobs to help Americas middle class. Yet across the country with aggressive lobbying by the White House itself Democrats are working to destroy tens of thousands of good-paying jobs and the firms that created them. Assault rhetoric has lasting real-world consequences.
In New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo imposed radical ineffectual gun-grabbing measures that are backfiring in more ways than one. Nearly half a dozen gun companies have now announced that they will no longer sell their products to police in the Empire State. In protest of Cuomos gun-control regime banning citizens from owning semi-automatic rifles or shotguns because of cosmetic features deemed military-style Washington-based Olympic Arms will no longer be doing business with the State of New York or any governmental entity or employee of such governmental entity within the State of New York.
According to USA Today other companies including LaRue Tactical York Arms Templar Custom and EFI as well as sporting-goods retailer Cheaper Than Dirt have also joined the sales boycott of New York.
Worse news for New York citizens: At least one local manufacturer the storied Remington Arms Company founded in Ilion N.Y. in 1816 is in dire financial danger as a result of Cuomos draconian regulations. The companys innovations in weaponry and ammunition have been used in sporting self-defense law enforcement and warfare for two centuries.
Now as a result of hysteria-induced government pandering nearly 40 percent of Remingtons weapons can no longer be sold to citizens legally. Its small-town plant employs more than 1300 people in a town of 8000 and generates revenue of an estimated $400 million from sales in the U.S. and 55 other countries. As an Ilion local official noted Remington is not only a major employer but its a historic employer. Its been part of our very fiber for 200 years.
And so it is with the rest of the industry. Despite tough economic times firearms and ammunition companies have created nearly 27000 well-paying jobs over the past two years alone according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Businesses in the United States that manufacture distribute and sell firearms ammunition and hunting equipment employ nearly 100000 people in the U.S. and generate an additional 110000-plus jobs in supplier and ancillary industries.
These are good jobs paying an average of $46858 in wages and benefits the NSSF reports. In addition the firearms and ammunition industry was responsible for as much as $31.84 billion in total economic activity in the country ... (and) the industry and its employees pay over $2.07 billion in taxes including property income and sales based levies.
In my adopted home state of Colorado where unemployment hovers near 8 percent nearly a dozen businesses are being forced to consider leaving their home state because of extremist gun-control proposals. Vice President Joe Biden himself leaned on Democratic lawmakers to support an arbitrary 15-round limit on ammunition magazines. So what have Sheriff Joe and his gun-grabbing pals wrought? Denver-based ammo magazine manufacturer Magpul served notice that it will take its 400 full-time employees and subcontractors somewhere else. Magpul generates some $85 million in spending in the state.
As the Denver Post reported the privately held company makes an array of consumer products in addition to sales to the military law enforcement and gun owners. And because Magpul has made a conscientious effort to support other Colorado companies the ripple effect could reach far beyond the gun industry -- including several cutting-edge innovators in the plastics-injection-molding business. One of Magpuls most important contractors Denver-based Alfred Manufacturing Co. employs 150 residents. It too will relocate part or all of our operations out of state if Democrat Gov. John Hickenlooper enacts the stringent gun-control regime pushed by Biden and company. The company has already put expansion plans on hold.
Smart lawmakers from Texas Michigan Oklahoma Arizona and South Carolina are now courting Remington away from New York and Magpul away from Colorado. For now these states can offer business-friendly Second Amendment-defending climates that support a demonized industry. But how much longer will it be until Obama and the pro-jobs hypocrites on Capitol Hill find new more nefarious ways to obstruct this innovation-driving wealth-producing sector of the American economy? Make no mistake: Gun-control demagoguery is a lethal weapon.
Michelle Malkin is the author of Culture of Corruption: Obama and his Team of Tax Cheats Crooks & Cronies (Regnery 2010).
Heres the latest example of head-splitting cognitive dissonance in Washington: President Obama used his State of the Union address to crusade for a revitalized U.S. manufacturing sector. But while he pays lip service to supporting businesses that build their products on American soil Obama and his left-wing operatives are hell-bent on driving a key sector of the U.S. manufacturing industry six feet under: the American firearms and ammunition industry.
The White House is pushing new government spending to spur economic growth protect manufacturing plants and create good-paying jobs to help Americas middle class. Yet across the country with aggressive lobbying by the White House itself Democrats are working to destroy tens of thousands of good-paying jobs and the firms that created them. Assault rhetoric has lasting real-world consequences.
In New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo imposed radical ineffectual gun-grabbing measures that are backfiring in more ways than one. Nearly half a dozen gun companies have now announced that they will no longer sell their products to police in the Empire State. In protest of Cuomos gun-control regime banning citizens from owning semi-automatic rifles or shotguns because of cosmetic features deemed military-style Washington-based Olympic Arms will no longer be doing business with the State of New York or any governmental entity or employee of such governmental entity within the State of New York.
According to USA Today other companies including LaRue Tactical York Arms Templar Custom and EFI as well as sporting-goods retailer Cheaper Than Dirt have also joined the sales boycott of New York.
Worse news for New York citizens: At least one local manufacturer the storied Remington Arms Company founded in Ilion N.Y. in 1816 is in dire financial danger as a result of Cuomos draconian regulations. The companys innovations in weaponry and ammunition have been used in sporting self-defense law enforcement and warfare for two centuries.
Now as a result of hysteria-induced government pandering nearly 40 percent of Remingtons weapons can no longer be sold to citizens legally. Its small-town plant employs more than 1300 people in a town of 8000 and generates revenue of an estimated $400 million from sales in the U.S. and 55 other countries. As an Ilion local official noted Remington is not only a major employer but its a historic employer. Its been part of our very fiber for 200 years.
And so it is with the rest of the industry. Despite tough economic times firearms and ammunition companies have created nearly 27000 well-paying jobs over the past two years alone according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Businesses in the United States that manufacture distribute and sell firearms ammunition and hunting equipment employ nearly 100000 people in the U.S. and generate an additional 110000-plus jobs in supplier and ancillary industries.
These are good jobs paying an average of $46858 in wages and benefits the NSSF reports. In addition the firearms and ammunition industry was responsible for as much as $31.84 billion in total economic activity in the country ... (and) the industry and its employees pay over $2.07 billion in taxes including property income and sales based levies.
In my adopted home state of Colorado where unemployment hovers near 8 percent nearly a dozen businesses are being forced to consider leaving their home state because of extremist gun-control proposals. Vice President Joe Biden himself leaned on Democratic lawmakers to support an arbitrary 15-round limit on ammunition magazines. So what have Sheriff Joe and his gun-grabbing pals wrought? Denver-based ammo magazine manufacturer Magpul served notice that it will take its 400 full-time employees and subcontractors somewhere else. Magpul generates some $85 million in spending in the state.
As the Denver Post reported the privately held company makes an array of consumer products in addition to sales to the military law enforcement and gun owners. And because Magpul has made a conscientious effort to support other Colorado companies the ripple effect could reach far beyond the gun industry -- including several cutting-edge innovators in the plastics-injection-molding business. One of Magpuls most important contractors Denver-based Alfred Manufacturing Co. employs 150 residents. It too will relocate part or all of our operations out of state if Democrat Gov. John Hickenlooper enacts the stringent gun-control regime pushed by Biden and company. The company has already put expansion plans on hold.
Smart lawmakers from Texas Michigan Oklahoma Arizona and South Carolina are now courting Remington away from New York and Magpul away from Colorado. For now these states can offer business-friendly Second Amendment-defending climates that support a demonized industry. But how much longer will it be until Obama and the pro-jobs hypocrites on Capitol Hill find new more nefarious ways to obstruct this innovation-driving wealth-producing sector of the American economy? Make no mistake: Gun-control demagoguery is a lethal weapon.
Michelle Malkin is the author of Culture of Corruption: Obama and his Team of Tax Cheats Crooks & Cronies (Regnery 2010).
