I wrote an email to Springfield just today:
To whom it may concern,
I was really excited about your impending release of the Springfield XD-E, you may have had a new customer in me with a single stack DA/SA concealable firearm, as there is not many options in that arena. But I must regret to inform you I am no longer interested in your offerings as you chose to put your companies sales and betterment ahead of the mandate all free Americans have in supporting the constitution and the 2nd Amendment. As it is well known in the firearms community your actions in saving your interest in Illinois through carving out your exemption of licensing requirements in SB-1657, in doing so you are sacrificing any reputation you once had. It is no surprise when Springfield Armory and Rock River Arms both contribute $50,000 each to the IFMA, and in turn the IFMA lobbies for their special rights while soaking any other firearm dealers in Illinois who still feel the urge to fight rather than compromise. You’ve made my future choices of discretionary income much easier, as there are plenty of firearms manufacturers who have located in “free” states and have kept their most important mandate in the forefront of their decision making; the mandate to support the freedoms for all to participate in the 2nd Amendment on an equal playing field.
Until firearm manufacturers get the point they need to be located in free states and guard against any compromises on the 2nd Amendment, the other side has won. Take a page from Magpul, if you feel that it is too burdensome to move your operations, as long as they continue the path they have forged, which wasn’t an easy or immediately fiscally prudent one (but the correct one that deserves much respect and loyalty) they will always have an eager consumer in myself and anyone I talk to. I realize you have loyal employees in Geneseo, but to only think of them is short sighted at best, people need to understand that decisions have consequences and if they are truly loyal they will follow you to a free state, if not then they can continue down the path of being complicit in the fracturing and erosion of our second amendment rights and move over to Rock River Arms or find other employment.
Supporters of the 2nd Amendment are not so easily manipulated as your company and Rock River Arms think they are, it is not too late to stand with us and turn from this back room deal and be a company that has integrity and backbone. Until you do so you will have no friend in me, and I will make sure that it is known what you have done.