Gunmaker HiViz leaves Colorado for Wyoming over new laws

The Washington Times ^ | May 3, 2013 | Valerie Richardson

[jazusamo]

DENVER — A Colorado firearms company has found a new home across the border in Wyoming, protesting the recent passage of restrictive new guns laws.

HiViz Shooting Systems announced Thursday that it will move its core operations from Fort Collins, Colo., to Laramie, Wyo. That’s about an hour’s drive, but light years away in terms of state gun policy.

HiViz becomes the first gun-related manufacturing company to pick up stakes since Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper signed three sweeping gun-control laws in March. Other firearms manufacturers, including Magpul Industries, have indicated that they will relocate in response to the legislation.

Colorado Republicans, who opposed the gun-control bills, accused Democrats of killing jobs in pursuit of a liberal social agenda. Democrats control both houses of the state legislature and passed the gun-control bills with no Republican votes.

Democrats insisted the measures were needed to improve public safety after two mass shootings in 2012, including the Aurora theater massacre that left 12 dead. Republicans argued that the bills, which include a limit on ammunition-magazine capacity, will have no impact on safety.

“The Democrats and the governor are outsourcing jobs from Colorado to other states,” said Republican state Sen. Greg Brophy. “This was so unnecessary, and the worst part is, these bills don’t do anything to make anyone safer.”

Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead released a statement welcoming HiViz, saying that the “culture and people make Wyoming a great fit for the company.” HiViz manufactures high-technology shooting and other firearms accessories.

[RobbyS]

The Crawfords bringing their corruptions to Manfield Park.

[RobbyS]

Well, maybe you too can flee to Wyoming.

[Verbosus]

Texas is my home state - I hope to return to the Brenham area.

[RobbyS]

Ein herzlich Willkommen!

[Verbosus]

I had to use a translator - but thank you!

[RobbyS]

Given the area, I thought you might know a snatch of German. Incidentally, Texas was one of the first area where Germans immigrants from many different places in Germany were thrown together. My grandmother’s family came from Martin Luther’s area; my grandfather from near the French border about 30 years later. She was a farm girl; he, a townsman. But to the point, Germans colonized all over Texas. In 1900, I like to tell my Mexican acquaintances, there were more German-speakers in San Antonio, than either Mexicans or “English.” End of history lesson.:)