FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MAGPUL INDUSTRIES ANNOUNCES IT WILL LEAVE COLORADO IF GUN BILL PASSES
MOVE WOULD COST STATE 600 JOBS, $85 MILLION
Denver, Colorado – February 15th, 2013 - Magpul Industries, an Erie, Colorado, based manufacturer of firearms accessories, announced today that it will be forced to leave the state if House Bill 1224, which would ban standard capacity magazines, becomes law. The announcement was made to Governor Hickenlooper, state legislators, members of the media, and in a full-page advertisement to appear in the Denver Post on Sunday.
Richard Fitzpatrick, Founder, President, and CEO of Magpul Industries, said that regardless of any amendments that may be worked into the bill, he will no longer be able to continue to do business in Colorado if his core product is made illegal.
“Our company could not, in good conscience, continue to manufacture our products in a state where law-abiding citizens are prohibited from purchasing and owning them. ” Fitzpatrick said. “The passage of this bill will do nothing to enhance public safety, but will force us to immediately begin taking our business to another state.”
A proponent of the bill argued that with the amendment language, the choice to stay or leave was up to Magpul. Fitzpatrick responded, "Our relationship with our customers across the country would be severely damaged if this bill passes and we stay. We've already heard word of potential boycotts if that happens. They (legislators) really need to understand that our customer base is as passionate about freedoms as we are, and staying here if this bill passes would cripple the company. Make no doubt about it...we have no choice, and would be forced to leave in order to save the business."
Magpul cited the example of the Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show, which was canceled earlier this year after the organizers announced that it would not permit a popular category of firearm, like the ones Magpul makes accessories for, in the show. Public outcry from the customer base forced exhibitors to withdraw from participation, causing the cancellation of the show, and an estimated loss of $70 million of show revenue for hotels, restaurants, merchants, and other businesses in Pennsylvania, where the show was to be held.
Magpul Industries directly employs 200 people, supports another 400 supply-chain jobs, and contributes over $85 million annually to Colorado’s economy. Doug Smith, Chief Operating Officer for Magpul, says that it is a difficult position to be in. "We could choose to stay in a state that wants our jobs and revenue, but not our products, and lose half the jobs we are fighting to save, or potentially the entire business, when our customers stop buying. Or, we can take the company and those 600 jobs out of Colorado to continue our growth and the growth of American manufacturing in a state that shares our values. This is not really a choice. It's an unfortunate and inevitable result of the actions of the Legislature if this bill passes."
Magpul was started over a decade ago by Fitzpatrick, a former U.S. Marine. It has become one of Colorado’s fastest growing businesses, successfully marketing its products to American and allied military forces, police departments, sporting goods stores, and thousands of responsible private citizens. Fitzpatrick says that the rich western culture and strong values of individual freedom and responsibility, traditionally found in Colorado, were one of the reasons the company chose to remain in the state.
“It is heartbreaking to me, my employees, and their families, to think that we will be forced to leave,” Fitzpatrick said. “But if HB13-1224 passes, we will simply have no choice.”
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Yesterday (Tuesday 18th Feb) the Colorado House passed HB 13-1224 and a number of other gun-control bills, but the fight is far from over. These bills still need to pass through Senate Committee and be passed by the Senate itself before it moves to the Governor's office. Contact your Senator and politely explain why HB 13-1224 is bad policy, will harm the rights of law abiding citizens, and drive jobs out of the state while doing nothing to improve public safety.
Irene Aguilar
303-866-4852
irene.aguilar.senate@state.co.us
David Balmer
303-866-4883
david.balmer.senate@state.co.us
Randy Baumgardner
303-866-5292
randy.baumgardner.senate@state.co.us
Greg Brophy
303-866-6360
greg@gregbrophy.net
Bill Cadman
303-866-4880
bill.cadman.senate@state.co.us
Morgan Carroll
303-866-4879
morgan.carroll.senate@state.co.us
Larry Crowder
303-866-4875
larry.crowder.senate@state.co.us
Angela Giron
303-866-4878
angela.giron.senate@state.co.us
Kevin Grantham
303-866-4877
kevin.grantham.senate@state.co.us
Lucia Guzman
303-866-4862
lucia.guzman.senate@state.co.us
Ted Harvey
303-866-4881
ted.harvey.senate@state.co.us
Rollie Heath
303-866-4872
rollie.heath.senate@state.co.us
Owen Hill
303-866-2737
owen.hill.senate@state.co.us
Mary Hodge
303-866-4855
mary.hodge.senate@state.co.us
Evie Hudak
303-866-4840
senatorhudak@gmail.com
Cheri Jahn
303-866-4856
cheri.jahn.senate@state.co.us
Michael Johnston
303-866-4864
mike.johnston.senate@state.co.us
Matt Jones
303-866-5291
senatormattjones@gmail.com
John Kefalas
303-866-4841
john.kefalas.senate@state.co.us
Andy Kerr
303-866-4859
andy.kerr.senate@state.co.us
Steve King
303-866-3077
steve.king.senate@state.co.us
Kent Lambert
303-866-4835
senatorlambert@comcast.net
Kevin Lundberg
303-866-4835
kevin@kevinlundberg.com
Vicki Marble
303-866-4876
vicki.marble.senate@state.co.us
John Morse
303-866-6364
john.morse.senate@state.co.us
Linda Newell
303-866-4846
linda.newell.senate@gmail.com
Jeanne Nicholson
303-866-4873
jeanne.nicholson.senate@state.co.us
Scott Renfroe
303-866-4451
senatorrenfroe@gmail.com
Ellen Roberts
303-866-4884
ellen.roberts.senate@state.co.us
Mark Scheffel
303-866-4869
mark.scheffel.senate@state.co.us
Gail Schwartz
303-866-4871
gail.schwartz.senate@gmail.com
Pat Steadman
303-866-4861
pat.steadman.senate@state.co.us
Lois Tochtrop
303-866-4863
lotochtrop@aol.com
Nancy Todd
303-866-3432
nancy.todd.senate@state.co.us
Jessie Ullibarri
303-866-4857
jessie.ulibarri.senate@state.co.us