Colt Thinking about Bailing on Conn.

[PegLeg45]

Another big name gun company is flirting with the idea of pulling up stakes.

Colt Gun Company May Leave Connecticut, Doesn’t Feel Welcome

Colt Manufacturing is considering leaving the state of Connecticut after being thrust into the limelight in the national debate over gun control and the Second Amendment.

Dennis Veilleux, president and CEO of Colt, said that the pro-gun control climate that has emerged from the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting has made it difficult to do business in the state of Connecticut, and that the company doesn't feel welcome despite doing business there for 175 years.

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Particularly, proposed legislation by Governor Dannel Malloy has made Colt feel estranged from Connecticut. Such legislation includes a new gun offender registry, an expanded assault weapons ban, ammunition restrictions, and a ban on the purchase of handguns in bulk.

“At some point, if you can’t sell your products … then you can’t run your business,” Veilleux told Fox News. “You need customers to buy your products to stay in business.”

Colt employs roughly 700 workers in Connecticut, and Veilleux wrote in a recent op-ed that he has only considered pulling operations in the state. There are no “definite plans” to do so, he wrote, but if Malloy’s legislation targeting AR-15 rifles goes through, leaving will be a more realistic option, The AR-15 is the centerpiece of Colt’s business.

If Colt does leave, it’s not without options. Several red state governors have approached Veilleux to relocate, envious of the estimated $1.7 billion in annual contribution to Connecticut’s economy.

But Veilleux is hesitant to abandon his Connecticut workers.

“The employees are what the company is,” he said. “It’s not a building with a bunch of machines in it. The company is the employees. They’re proud of what they do, they represent their community – and I would say a lot more than some of the legislators do. They’re real people.”


Read more at:
http://www.inquisitr.com/583295/colt-gun-company-may-leave-connecticut-doesnt-feel-welcome/

[Jrlobo]

If Colt decides to leave Connecticut that would be a feather in our caps, a really big feather. A real slap in the face to the states considering or have already passed anti-gun legislation. It also sends a message to the feds that they are willing to move out of the country if the feds pass outrageous anti-gun legislation. A similar decision point for Beretta in MD is just days away.

[JC5123]

I feel for the employees. However, major manufacturers like Colt need to leave states that demonize guns and criminalize their citizens. If they don't they are indirectly supporting those policies with their tax dollars. Continuing to do so would be no different than tying their own noose. Sure Colt has big government contracts, but could they sustain their current profits and production without private sales? Also, look at the innovation to the AR platform in the last 10 years. When the Clinton AWB lifted, people were freed up to start playing with parts, and accessories. Today, you can buy or build an AR platform rifle in pretty much any configuration you can dream up. The reliability of the rifle has increased, and we haven't even touched the economic impact of the AR-15 on America over the past 10 years. How many BILLIONS of dollars could be directly attributed to the sales of AR-15's, accessories, ammunition, range fees. etc. While I don't have any studies to back this up, I would be willing to bet that the firearms industry is probably the fastest growing, most profitable industry in America today.

But I digress, COLT! Go West!!!

[tombogan03884]

Colt should move North since Me NH, and VT have the least restrictive gun laws in the country and a skilled underemployed labor force, transportation infrastructure, and low business taxes.

[jnevis]

If Colt decides to leave Connecticut that would be a feather in our caps, a really big feather. A real slap in the face to the states considering or have already passed anti-gun legislation. It also sends a message to the feds that they are willing to move out of the country if the feds pass outrageous anti-gun legislation. A similar decision point for Beretta in MD is just days away.

Never happen.  Beretta, or Colt for that matter, can leave a state but will never leave the country.  All of their contracts, for fed or local, stipulate that the weapon must be assembled in the US.  That's the whole reason Beretta, Sig, Glock et al HAVE factories in this country.  Colt and Smith are in a differen boat but still would never leave.  I'd say that C0lt and Smith in particular are almost wholy dependant on gov't contracts to stay in business.  As big as the civilian market here is, the larger gov't market here and abroad is MUCH bigger, and the profit margin is greater.  The Beretta factory for example, made only around 20-30% of the 92/96s for civilian sales at the time when I was there, and they were built only when the run of contract pistols were completed.  Now the entire run of pocket guns were for civilians but they were a fraction of the production totals. 

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[Ulmus]

I could see Colt moving to Florida.  They already were working on building a factory here so a complete move could be possible.

[twyacht]

If Colt and S&W leave for more gun friendly states, that would be huge.

OBTW, SERBU has denied selling .50 cal rifles to the NYPD.

http://www.guns.com/2013/03/25/serbu-firearms-refuses-to-sell-50-cal-sniper-rifles-to-nypd/

Serbu Firearms, a manufacturer of bolt-action and semi-automatic .50 caliber sniper rifles, is refusing to sell their wares to the NYPD. Their reason, of course, is that owing to unfair gun laws, they will not support law enforcement in New York.

Serbu is one of almost 150 companies that has officially refused to sell to law enforcement in New York following the passage of the SAFE Act, the controversial gun control package that has been met with scorn by gun owners across the nation.

The company posted the NYPD’s inquiry as well as their refusal to their Facebook page, with names omitted.

Company founder Mark Serbu said, “Unfortunately, we have a policy of selling to state law enforcement agencies only what is allowed to be sold to private citizens in that state. Since the passage of the NY SAFE act, the BFG-50A is considered an assault weapon and as such is no longer available to private citizens in the state of New York. Therefore we have to respectfully decline to supply your department with BFG-50A rifles.”

He also said he felt bad about not being able to outfit the officers, because although he would like to get his guns into “as many police departments as possible,” his decision is a matter of principle.

“Because of a stupid law the venerable NYPD won’t have the best tools for the job.”

What’s interesting about this is that while Serbu makes a fine firearm and impressive .50 BMG rifles, they’re not a first-tier company in the sniper rifle world and are perhaps best known for their compact Super-Shorty shotguns.

Two of the biggest names in sniper rifles, Barrett and ArmaLite, have already stated that they will not sell to the police departments of New York. If the NYPD is calling Serbu, we have to wonder how many other companies have told them to keep walking.

Serbu is the 137th company to halt sales to New York law enforcement according to the unofficial official New York Boycott list, which is now up to 142 companies (at the time of writing) and likely to keep growing.

[Frosty]

I hope Colt does leave CT., though I do feel for the 700 or so folks that would more than likely be out of work. A similar situation with Magpul here in CO. Magpul told Gov. Chickenpooper in the wake of his signing the bills into law, the Co. will be gone by yrs. end and 200 or so people out of work. Hate to see this happen but I standby the CEO's that are willing to make the big move and telling the anti-gunner politicians and states stick it, you'll get no more of our $$$. I've heard Texas is more than willing to help get Magpul?

It's funny, the anti's were pushing their agenda wanting to limit mag capacity to 10 rnds., then magpul said they would leave CO. should this come about. Most likely gov. Chickenpooer talked to the fooliticians regarding Magpul and next thing you know they changed the language to 15 rnd mags. Didn't work!

[alfsauve]

Colt should move North since Me NH, and VT have the least restrictive gun laws in the country and a skilled underemployed labor force, transportation infrastructure, and low business taxes.

Plus minimum relocation expense for those employees willing to follow.   And not too dissimilar climate.   Though if I had the choice I'd opt for something warmer and milder.

[tombogan03884]

Plus minimum relocation expense for those employees willing to follow.   And not too dissimilar climate.   Though if I had the choice I'd opt for something warmer and milder.

You would only be trading heating costs for cooling costs .
The CNC machinery used in machining gun parts needs to be relatively cool to maintain tolerances.
When I was at TC/A we had one machine that would completely crash every time the temperature passed 80 degrees.
The only way to keep it running was to put a block of ice in the coolant tank.