Time for the big name mfgs. to turn up the heat

arfcom is outraged: ARMALITE'S PRESIDENT'S RESPONSE. - AR15.COM

Thanks for posting this email. I just received a concerned telephone call about it, an email from the staffer who stimulated the mail.

I think a bit of clarification is in order.

The root of the matter is a HUGE series of inquiries by both email and telephone asking ArmaLite to cut off sales to New York and other states which deny its citizens the right to own our rifles, as several other firms have done. Some of the contacts have been duplicates of others and some were so redundant that they appeared to be spam. Many of them have been rude and I'm afraid one of my staffers thought that he was responding to a spammer and was more terse than he should have been. Once he realized what happened he came to me and apologized.

My purpose here is to pass on his apology from the corporate level and to answer the initial question: What is ArmaLite going to do?

ArmaLite is continuing a policy put into place when California first banned our rifles. That policy remains:

1. We will not sell to those states which deny it's honorable citizens the right to own ArmaLite's.

2. We do not halt sales to individual officers even in problematic states. I am a former Police Officer myself, and the staffer who stimulated the recent anger is a currently serving one. We are well familiar with the fact that most rifles serving Police Officers are purchased by the officers themselves, and that they shouldn't be punished for the actions of their political elite.

We consider sales to those sate subdivisions which are not engaged or potentially engaged with disarming its citizens. DNR and Forestry Departments, for instance, sometimes serve in remote areas that conceal drug farms and their officers deserve good hardware.

3. We will not sell to those lower political subdivisions that deny their honorable citizens the right to own ArmaLite's. Chicago, for instance, prohibits its citizens from owning ArmaLite's within the city limits so we make no effort to sell into that city. We have many friends on the Chicago Police Department and have continued to sell to them individually.

Our observation is that most County Sheriffs disagree with banning sales of our rifles and many publicly refuse to enforce such laws. We sell to those departments and to their Deputies, but will not sell to those County departments headed by Sheriffs who would deny their citizens the same rights.

In short, Americans need not worry that ArmaLite is selling to those who betray them.

As you can see by reading posts on the topic, some readers have been harsh with their criticism of ArmaLite. It was in response to this atmosphere that my staffer reacted harshly. He's come to me and apologized and I personally am passing my own apology along with his.

But don't be mistaken, ArmaLite is strongly involved with both personal, corporate, and political efforts at the State, National, and International level to protect our civil rights. And we'll continue to support your shooting needs as the situation moves forward.


Respectfully,


Mark Westrom
President,
ArmaLite Inc.
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The above is called, "playing both sides of the fence."

Here's the problem that I see with Mr. Westrom's point #2: above. I also don't want to see the police outgunned or disarmed. However, most legislatures when passing anti-gun legislation, exempt LEO's from the laws. This makes them an elite citizen. Whether their dept. buys their arms or individual LEO's have to purchase their own (budget constraints or just smaller depts), by supplying "forbidden arms" to the police, their bosses have no reason to howl for change to their legislatures.

Police Chiefs (political appointees) and those LEO's that are truly anti-gun, need to be pressured. The only way to make these LEO's understand, is for the Manufacturers to supply them with the same equipment that the lowly citizens are allowed to have. All the exemptions, by law, will not help them if the arms they want are (1) not available and/or (2) not warrantied.

This goes back to the other thread. They (Arms Manufacturers and the Police) are either with us, or against us.
 
I just used the link in post #11, any chance the OP or a Moderator can place it in its own thread? It would get more mileage.
 
For NY i would guess that any contracts for items banned by the SAFE act could be deemed null and void as delivery (even to LE) would violate state law. Cancel the contracts and do not send anything to NY agencies ever again.
 
Add Barrett to the list.

Here is a statement from Ronnie Barrett on the Barrett Facebook page:

A STATEMENT FROM RONNIE BARRETT:

Barrett’s Position Regarding the Assault on Liberty
February 20, 2013

Barrett opposes those who are illegally disarming the American public from their efficient arms and creating superior armed elitist government agencies.

Elected state officials of New York, having been sworn to protect our Constitution, have instead committed an offense against it and their citizens by stripping inalienable rights duly protected and guaranteed under the Second Amendment. By their deliberate and sinister actions, these officials now cause their state and local policing agencies to enforce these unconstitutional and illegal so called “laws”.

By current law, Barrett cannot be an accomplice with any lawbreaker, therefore, cannot and will not service or sell to New York government agencies. Barrett also applies this stance to the individual elected official who, as a matter of public record, has voted for or created regulation that violates the constitutional rights of their citizens. This is an expansion of our 2002 ban against the California government due to their second amendment infringements, and shall apply to any future violators.

In the course of world history there have been officials that strip inalienable rights from the people that were given to all by our Creator. Most of these officials inevitably come to trial, some do not.

Intentionally violating constitutional rights by officials that have sworn to uphold them should have severe prison sentences.

With the clear vision of horrible events in history repeating itself, all manufacturers of firearms or related equipment remaining in partnership with such violators should have a respectable fear of being found with the guilty on their day of trial.

During this era of assault on liberty, Barrett will remain steadfast in our efforts to serve law-abiding citizens of all fifty states, and stands together with you in the struggles we will fight and win.

Ronnie Barrett
Chairman and CEO
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^^ Contrast with the CEO of Armalite.

One has honor. One only honors the dollar.

The choice of sides is clear. Any of the bretheren who buy an Armalite product are no longer on the side of righteous.


Tell a friend.

Willie


.
 
J&G Sales, Ltd of Prescott, AZ is hopping on the band wagon.

ANNOUNCING A NEW J&G LEO SHIPPING POLICY

For immediate release:

As state and local jurisdictions are increasingly passing laws which infringe upon the Second Amendment of the US Constitution, J&G Sales is implementing a new policy on shipping restricted items to these states and localities.

Effective immediately, laws that restrict firearms, ammunition, or magazine possession by law abiding citizens will also be applied to state and local law enforcement and government agencies in that jurisdiction. All residents will be treated equally. Honorable citizens, law enforcement personnel, and government agents, should all be allowed to utilize the most effective defensive equipment available.

J&G believes that there should not be a difference between the rights of citizens and those of government employees. This new policy will also help us to be sure we avoid the consequences of not conforming with the anti-firearm regulations in these various jurisdictions.

We expect to lose some revenue from government purchases, however we feel it is essential to defend the US Constitution by making a statement about the importance of the Second Amendment in maintaining all our freedoms.

We await the day when all law abiding citizens will be able to possess the most effective means and tools available for self-defense regardless of where they live or for whom they work.

Thank you
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I'm glad the momentum is still going. Is there any way that we can get a separate thread or sticky made that lists companies that are doing this? I for one would like to give them my business and it would be easier if we had a catalog of such businesses.

It would also give some ammunition to those writing letters.
 
Shield Tactical, currently in California, announced on their Facebook page yesterday that the are moving to Colorado.

Shield Tactical is pleased to announce that we are moving our retail division to Shiner, Texas. We are pleased to have neighbors such as TBRC and the Spoetzl Brewery (home of Shiner Beer). Shipping etc will not be substantially affected.

Out training division will remain in CA until the legislature outlaws everything.

JWH
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http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2013/02/21/gun-retailer-abandons-california-for-texas/
 
"There always seems to be a problem with Maryland" (quote from the article). I just shake my head at the people like O'Malley's spokeswoman. "We can get assault weapons off our streets and keep this company". These people always want to have their cake and eat it too. They live in a utopian dream bubble and I hope hers gets popped by the massive sucking force of Beretta leaving that crap state. I love my Ruger firearms and make no apologies for that. They already have facilities in Arizona and I hope they too relocate. In fact I hope every firearms manufacturer presently located in one of these liberal cesspools packs up their gear and heads out. Leave them all scratching their heads as they ponder why the golden egg laying hen they abused for years finally flew the coop.
 
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