Posted on 02/22/2013 5:07:42 AM PST by Kaslin
Here's 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 America's 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 Cuomo's 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 Cuomo's draconian regulations. The company's 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 Remington's weapons can no longer be sold to citizens legally. Its small-town plant employs more than 1,300 people in a town of 8,000 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 it's a historic employer. It's 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 27,000 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 100,000 people in the U.S. and generate an additional 110,000-plus jobs in supplier and ancillary industries.
"These are good jobs, paying an average of $46,858 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 Magpul's 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.
They hate GOD and GOD is a Capitalist.
When I was a kid, the Democrat party was still making a deep hatred for American factories its bread and butter. The average Dem stump speech and labor union rally were indistinguishable.
Having driven most manufacturers out of business, they are now forced to turn to fanning racists, goat lovers, and pot heads for support.
I had an interview yesterday with a US based company that’s doing a booming business in Europe. The Engineering director said, “All you have to do is mention ‘green’ in Europe and the company or governmental agency is whipping out their checkbook!” I think that the perception is that European companies are hug-your-bunny green with rainbows and unicorns playing all around them. But American companies are those money-grubbing, profit-seeking (skew face showing distaste) b*st*rds.
Also, European companies complain constantly that they can’t compete because the European companies are paying for socialism in their product’s price. American companies aren’t. So, American products are cheaper. It’s not FAIR!!! (Clench fists and throw fit.)
Democrats hate American manufacturers because manufacturers make stuff. Democrats are takers, not makers, and takers are always jealous of makers.
Gabby says we don’t need those jobs.
Many people calling the shots these days have lost the instinct for long-term national survival.
We have a whole generation that was trained in this belief and similar ones. This is what our public (liberal,government-controlled) school system has given us. Bill Ayers could not overthrow the country by blowing up the Pentagon, so he turned to education...and was successful.
I often wonder wfere all that stimulus money went and why our government has turned it’s back on the American people and allowed us to consider changing the Constitution or even removing it, taking our guns, and converting us into a nation of Communism and Islam and then it dawned on me that maybe 0 might be handing it out the stimulus money to payoff his fellow comrades to allow it to happen. A few billion missing. I think you might want to check the politicians bank accounts. I would never have even considered it with past administrations but I see it as a real possibility with this one.
The money was in effect stolen
The Democrat party is a criminal enterprise.
Not only happened to gun manufacturers but also other business like Gibson guitar where they were coerced to end their business overseas.
Gov’t especially the current dictatorship hates small business and would prefer that all of us work for a large corporation where we can be more easily controlled instead of being independent.
And there are many of us in Colorado who hate East Coast politicians butting in our affairs.
Dems and Republicans both are selling out American manufacturing.
Go in any store. All the crap is made in CHINA.
Not America and not Europe. China.
Bring back American manufacturing now.
The stimulus is old news as two elections have gone by since it was passed 2009.
As far as guns go Dems in congress seemed to have given up on all Obama’s proposals except the ‘universal’ background checks which they see as polling very high (popular idea.) So they are focusing on that one to beat Republicans on the head with, just like those 'loopholes for the rich'. This is pretty much their strategy and it has worked great for them so far.
I believe these new gun control (’gun safety) laws in these lib states are more about the 2016 POTUS Dem primary than anything else.
Gay marriage and banning guns are rights of passage to liberals (governors looking to get ahead in the Dem party) .
They don’t hate American manufacturers - they hate Americans in general.
The “stimulus” money went to pay-off the unions.
Here’s the monetary life cycle: taxpayer money goes to government employees. Government employee money goes to union dues. Union dues go to political campaign donations for Democrats. Democrats get elected, and pass more laws to take more money from taxpayers to give to government employees. Repeat as required.
The three parts of the new Democratic Party Platform:
(1) Democrats are the party of BIG - Big government, Big Labor, Big Business. Democrats have structured the game so that money flows between the groups we control
(2) Democrats are the party of HATE - If you’re not on board with our plan, you must be evil and we hate you
(3) Democrats are the party of SHUT UP - Democrats do everything they can to prevent anyone that disagrees with them from speaking
The three parts of the new Democratic Party Platform:
(1) Democrats are the party of BIG - Big government, Big Labor, Big Business. Democrats have structured the game so that money flows between the groups we control
(2) Democrats are the party of HATE - If you’re not on board with our plan, you must be evil and we hate you
(3) Democrats are the party of SHUT UP - Democrats do everything they can to prevent anyone that disagrees with them from speaking
For the same reason that nearly all of the more favored political constituent owners of politicians hate real manufacturers (real: those who produce on American soil). Picture in your mind, one person who would be the most likely kind of person to start a new, small manufacturing shop. What does that person look like? There you have it.
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