Magpul Responds to Proposed Colorado Magazine Capacity Limit

Guns.com ^ | 2/12/13 | David Higginbotham

[Red Steel]

Magpul is one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of AR-15 magazines. Their PMAGs were popular before the current rush on all-things-AR, but now they’re almost impossible to find in stores. Even with the increased demand, Magpul is holding their prices steady. And they’ve increased production to meet the increase in demand.

By every estimate, Magpul is a model company. Their products are used by civilians, law enforcement and the military. They employ more than 200 people in Colorado, their home state, and their presence there guarantees work for more than 700 suppliers and subcontractors.

By all accounts, Magpul is not a major employer, but there are close to 1,000 jobs directly associated with the company. And this is Colorado, a state that is predominantly rural. Though modest in size, Magpul is an important part of the Colorado economy.

So why would the Colorado House propose legislation that would shut Magpul down, or force the company out of Colorado? Colorado HB 1224

The Colorado House Bill 13-1224 essentially aims to regulate the production, sale and ownership of magazines for a rifle, handgun and shotgun. Here is the exact language of the bill:

The bill prohibits the sale, transfer, or possession of an ammunition feeding device that is capable of accepting, or that can be readily converted to accept, more than 10 rounds of ammunition or more than five shotgun shells (large-capacity magazine). A person may possess a large-capacity magazine if he or she owns the large-capacity magazine on the effective date of the bill and maintains continuous possession of the large-capacity magazine.

A person who sells, transfers, or possesses a large-capacity magazine in violation of the new provision commits a class 2 misdemeanor.

A large-capacity magazine that is manufactured in Colorado on or after the effective date of the bill must include a serial number and the date upon which the large-capacity magazine was manufactured or assembled. The serial number and date must be legibly and conspicuously engraved or cast upon the outer surface of the large-capacity magazine.

The Colorado bureau of investigation may promulgate rules that may require a large-capacity magazine that is manufactured on or after the effective date of the bill to bear identifying information in addition to the serial number and date of assembly.

A person who manufactures a large-capacity magazine in Colorado in violation of the new provision commits a class 2 misdemeanor.

It would seem that this language not only limits the rights of most of us, but really singles out Magpul as a company. Magpul wouldn’t even be able to make magazines for sale in other states without complying to Colorado’s new restrictions. Magpul’s response?

Magpul is a model of restraint. As the demand for PMAGs escalated, and the civilian consumers became more concerned with potential bans, Magpul seemed to remain aloof. Instead, they made magazines. But now they’ve responded. The full text of their open letter can be found at the company’s Facebook page.

HB 1224, Prohibiting Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines — a measure that bans the possession, sale, or transfer of magazines over 10 round capacity. The measures and stipulations in this bill would deprive Colorado residents of the value of their private property by prohibiting the sale or transfer of all magazines over 10 rounds. This bill would also prohibit manufacture of magazines greater than 10 rounds for commercial sale out of the state, and place restrictions on the manufacture of military and law enforcement magazines that would cripple production.

We’d like to ask all Colorado residents to please contact your state legislators and the members of the Judiciary Committee and urge them to kill these measures in committee, and to vote NO if they reach the floor.

What would happen if the bill does pass? Magpul says:

Due to the highly restrictive language in HB 1224, if passed, and we remained here, this measure would require us to cease PMAG production on July 1, 2013.

In short, Magpul would be unable to remain in business as a Colorado company, and the over 200 jobs for direct employees and nearly 700 jobs at our subcontractors and suppliers would pick up and leave Colorado. Due to the structure of our operations, this would be entirely possible, hopefully without significant disruption to production.

Nothing ambiguous about “pick up and leave.” Where would they go? Texas, maybe. But that’s just conjecture based on the overwhelming number of comments on the Facebook posting. But there are many other options.

But I don’t know anyone who wants Magpul out of Colorado. First, it would mean a huge defeat for freedom in the state. But Magpul is very much a part of the state’s culture. Conclusion

I’ve tried hard to refrain from editorializing, but here it goes. Magpul is known for their 30 round magazines. This is not a “high-capacity” magazine. It is a standard capacity magazine. We know this. Limiting the manufacture of these magazines will do nothing to reduce gun crime. And Magpul knows this.

The legislators drafting these measures do so in spite of the fact that nothing they are proposing will do anything to even marginally improve public safety in Colorado, and in fact, will leave law-abiding Colorado residents less able to defend themselves, strip away rights and property from residents who have done nothing wrong, and send nearly 1000 jobs and millions in tax revenue out of the state.

We like Colorado, we want to continue to operate in Colorado, but most of all, we want Colorado to remain FREE.

We agree. But I think I speak for a lot of AR enthusiasts when I say I want Magpul, no matter where they are made.

[One Name]

Just need a few flatbed and van trailers and some 3-phase to hook on to and were in business...

The machine operators are welcome to relocate, but CNC doesn’t require that, should they decline.

[Still Thinking]

Oops, triple post! Have no idea how that happened.

[MarkL]

And maybe some of the gun manufacturers in states like IL, NY, MA, CT, NH

No kidding! I just don't get why Colt, Smith & Wesson, and Kimber are located in some of the most gun-unfriendly states in the country!

Heck, I've driven by the Kimber factory in Yonkers, NY!

Mark

[Stonewall Jackson]

I know that there has been some discussion about Remington possibly moving their manufacturing plant out of Ilion, New York. Some of the discussions I’ve seen have suggested that they might incorporate the Ilion facility into one of their other three facilities. They currently have another firearms plant in Lonoke, Arkansas, an ammo and components plant in Mayfield, Kentucky, and their R&D and Technical Center is in Elizabethtown, Kentucky (about two miles from my house).

[Paladin2]

Your fire select button is set to burst.

[lafroste]

There is a postage stamp sized gun store near me. They have several 30 rd mags for AR-15’s. I was thinking of buying some and I don’t even own an AR-15 (yet, at least).

[Still Thinking]

LOLZ!

[MasterGunner01]

There is really only one way to screw these state Donkey morons like NY and MD and NJ and CO and MO (or others contemplating onerous ‘gun control’) — that is the Ronnie Barrett solution.

Don't sell ammo, components, guns, spare parts or training to municipal, state, and government agencies. Military contracts are honored, but those for any other quasi-paramilitary LE outfits are canceled or not accepted.

If you can buy ammo or spare parts, you can only go so long before cannibalization of weapons reduces your serviceable numbers and training due to lack of ammo goes out the window.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Denton Texas Economic Development
http://www.dentonedp.com/news_case_studies/articles_of_interest.asp

[RandallFlagg]

Bookmarking

[familyop]

"One of the few (only?) sectors of the economy that is working/growing right now and Colorado legislators want to drive it away?"

According to some small newspapers on the Range, the economy is booming and always increasing, unemployment's always going down (see more federal funding for more incoming poor residents: HUD, DUIs, domestic violence funding, public schools, police funding, other social services, environmentalism, animal rights, planning, inspecting, etc.), and revenues are always up, of course (big grain of salt needed there, I say). And real estate and property taxes are always booming and increasing, of course. *Cough* *Cough*

[Red Steel]

The Pansy Dems in the Colorado House just voted and passed the mag ban by voice vote.

[familyop]

Thanks. Bad news but not unexpected, of course. So in the Senate, 20 Democrats, 15 Republicans? Is that right?

[Red Steel]

Right 20 to 15. Now debating HB13-1229 for ‘Background Checks for Gun Transfers’. The Rs are putting up big fights, but as we know, the Ds are intent on ramming them through. Another bill full of problems.

I’ll be back later....

[familyop]

"The Rs are putting up big fights, but as we know, the Ds are intent on ramming them through. Another bill full of problems."

Yes. Apparently, there were investments. Notice the date.

Intelligent Investing Panel
Going Great Guns
Forbes
David Serchuk, 04.23.09
"Thomas:...But, you know, you could always find another job that would pay all right, and pay slightly above minimum wage, could allow you to at least live and have a home in most communities. And I think that's slowly changed."
[...]
"Forbes: I was in Colorado, and I knew people who had 200, 300 guns. And they'd stash them in various hidden places around their compound. This wasn't all that uncommon out west."
[...]
"Sonders:...we have gone from a couple decades ago being a manufacturing economy to more of a service-oriented, information economy. That has just displaced permanently a lot of workers,..."

[Red Steel]

Some poster on the Denver Post forum said this as to why there was not an actual vote.

“It was not necessary today. Later tonight or Monday when the 3rd and final reading is conducted the GOP leadership will call for a roll call vote.”

I hope so. I want to see these guys on record.

[familyop]

Thanks. Republicans need roll call votes. Otherwise, suspicions of bipartisan support will follow.

[familyop]

If the magazine vote passes all the way (Senate, etc.), it will go well with the drought forecast for future revenues and debt. Salazar spoke a prediction of three or four decades of drought ahead (wanting more fed funding, no doubt).

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expert_assessment/seasonal_drought.html

[Red Steel]

I’ve thought about Obama/Fed payoff $$ has crossed my mind more than once for Colorado for being good little Dems.

[Lurker]

Magpul should announce loudly that they will not only leave Colorado but no longer sell their products to ANY Colorado State Agency and that includes any active duty US military personnel.

Time to play hardball.