Les Baer bids adios to Ill.

[the pistolero]

Well if there new law passes Armalite and Springfield Armory will be leaving.

Tecumseh - Any articles or press releases to back that up?

Ask and ye shall receive:

SPRINGFIELD -- Several Illinois gun manufacturers said Wednesday they will pack up and leave Illinois if state lawmakers approve a ban on assault weapons.

The threats came as a House panel approved legislation to ban the weapons, even though the proposal’s prospects appear bleak in the Senate following comments earlier this week by Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago.

In a press conference before the House Executive Committee’s 9-3 vote in favor the ban, the gun makers said they would pull up stakes and take 750 jobs with them if the ban is OK’d.

"If this passes, we’re out of town," said Dennis Reese, co-owner of Springfield Armory in Geneseo, one of four gun makers located in the Rock River Valley town of 6,400 residents.

"Our only course of action would be moving out of state," added Mark Westrom, president of ArmaLite Inc., another Geneseo gun manufacturer.

The sparring comes after Gov. Rod Blagojevich said in his State of the State speech last month that reinstating the expired federal ban on certain kinds of military-style weapons was one of his top priorities in this spring’s legislative session.

But Jones, in comments earlier in the week, said he doubts the measure will come up for a vote in the Senate because it is too contentious.

Despite its apparently dim prospects, state Rep. Edward Acevedo, D-Chicago, pushed the legislation through the House Executive Committee. The measure could come up for a vote on the House floor this week.

An attempt last year to move the ban through the House failed to receive enough votes.

Gun makers and their state lawmakers argued that they operate legal businesses that are subject to tough state and federal requirements. Westrom said the state should concentrate on catching criminals, rather than on banning guns.

"The arms manufacturers of Illinois and their customers are not the problem," said Westrom.

Along with Springfield Armory and ArmaLite, other companies involved in fighting the ban include Lewis Machine & Tool of Moline, Les Baer Custom Inc. of Hillsdale and Rock River Arms Inc. of Colona.

State lawmakers on both sides of aisle vowed to help block the ban.

"The State of Illinois has almost become an enemy of my district," said state Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline.

"We will fight this with everything we have," added state Sen. Todd Sieben, R-Geneseo.

The legislation is House Bill 2414.

I am not a fan of the 'divide-and-conquer' strategy, or the 'screw-you-I-got-mine' mentality, more than anyone else. But honestly I don't know how else to go about it other than saying that pro-gun people in anti-gun states are fighting the good fight, but at some point, is it really so bad to say the battle is lost and go to a state in which the prevailing political attitude is friendlier to your beliefs -- for example, Texas? Divide-and-conquer? Am I wrong to say that the pro-gunners in places like Illinois, Maryland and New York have -- at least to an extent -- pretty much already been marginalized to the point that they've basically already been conquered? Call me crazy, but for the life of me I can't understand why Springfield Armory, Armalite & Les Baer didn't leave for more friendly locales long ago.

 

[obxned]

Good! Every business generates taxes. If you have your business in a state like Illinois, you are part of the problem because you are funding their immoral, unconstitutinal activites!

 

[kingpin008]

Pistolero - Thanks for the links, I never doubted Tecumseh, I just wanted to see what the actual gun manufacturer's had to say on the matter.

I'm not a fan of the "I'm taking my ball" mentality either, but these Illinois lawmakers are doing this to themselves. If they insist on being so blind to the repurcussions of their idiot laws, they deserve to lose the jobs and money that Springfield, Armalite and Les Baer bring to the state.

They made their bed, now they'll have to lie in it. Let's hope they're good at explaining themselves - the sudden downturn in Illinois's economy is sure to raise some eyebrows come election time.

 

[mordechaianiliewicz]

If only Chicago could be anexed by Canada. Oh, happy day.

Look folks, I don't like Illinois being socialized! I don't like the gun ban attempt, and I hate, read again, HATE the idea of a "receipts tax" which will no doubt drive a bunch of businesses away, and beggar huge chunks of the populace. But, you don't have the numbers to stop the idiots in Chicago!

I wish it wasn't that way but it is. So get the *&(^ out of the state now!

Vote with your feet, so you don't have to vote from the rooftops. It's alot easier, and doesn't come with all expenses paid trips to federal property.

Plus, we have jobs in our more sensible states.

 

[qdemn7]

We should swap Canada the northern part of Ill. for Alberta.

 

[flynlr]

his is the great Gunnie right wing conspiracy we keep hearing so much about. First the draconian gun laws that IL, NY, CA, and MD pass send the gun manufacturers packing for greener pastures in the midwest and south. Secondly, more infringes on good law abiding citizens rights sends good law abiding citizens packing for greener pastures in the midwest and south. Thirdly, after the arrival of thousands of gun toting, law abiding friendly folk from all around, the local bad guys will seek easier targets back in the sheep filled states. Then Global Warming puts the east coast under water, earthquakes spit CA into the pacific, and we might as well let Canada annex chicago. We will have all the food, all the guns, very few bad guys, and beutiful Las Vegas oceanfront property. Lastly you will see millions of really happy gunnies at the biggest BBQ the world has ever seen. brings a tear to the eye doesn't it.
__________________

that is sig worthy but a tad bit long for it

 

[gunsmith]

huh?

The building will be used to make custom 1911
revolvers and AR .223 caliber rifles, he said.

I can't wait till I get one of them 1911 revolvers!
Does anyone know what caliber an AR 223 shoots?

It must be more powerful then an AR15 because it has a bigger number

 

[SaintofKillers]

I could not agree more with what Jeff White had said.

I moved out of Illinois 2 years ago for the one reason, I was not going to give up my guns to anyone. Problem is things like the proposed assault weapon bans, one gun a month programs and etc. tend to spread like a cancer.

East coast, West coast and now the midwest, its only a matter of time before they come for the rest of us. All I did was buy myself a little time.

The politcios in Illinois arent too bright when it comes to business. Once these manufacturers are gone to other states other business that supported them from machine shop suppliers and repair technicians to your local minimarts are going to close their doors also.

Gun owners in Illinois really need to get off their half moons and start standing together. As should we all stand with them. I have already let my old state senator know that I moved and why and that I would not be spending anytime hunting in that state until the atmosphere concerning my gun rights change.