Posted on 04/16/2013 3:01:30 PM PDT by neverdem
The state's gun manufacturers say Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is creating a hostile work environment and essentially driving them out of the state with comments they view as "offensive'' regarding their industry.
The clash had been simmering for weeks but reached a flash point on April 7 when Malloy gave a TV interview on CNN with anchor Candy Crowley. In the interview, Malloy said, "What this is about is the ability of the gun industry to sell as many guns to as many people as possible, even if they're deranged, even if they're mentally ill, even if they have a criminal record. They don't care.''
Those comments have prompted outrage in the gun industry in Connecticut.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation Inc., the Newtown-based trade association, wants an apology. And O.F. Mossberg & Sons, a North Haven gun maker with 270 employees, said the comments are "slanderous to our employees.''
Mossberg, the oldest family-owned gun maker in the nation, expressed its dismay in a letter written by Joseph H. Bartozzi, the company's general counsel.
"To set the record straight,'' Bartozzi wrote to Malloy, "our company and our employees have gone on record at public hearings and with our elected legislators as stating that the single biggest thing this state can do to stop the criminal misuse of firearms is to prevent access to firearms by prohibited or other at-risk individuals.''
He added that Malloy's comments "came across as insulting and slanderous to our employees and to our industry, and appear to be politically motivated as opposed to constructive or meaningful.''
"At a time when we are facing product boycotts simply because we have a manufacturing presence in Connecticut, I would respectfully ask that you carefully consider the [effect] that your words have both within and outside this state,'' Bartozzi wrote. "At a time when we are being encouraged to move our manufacturing facility to any one of several states, your words have made us feel most unwelcomed. In a state where our company has been providing good, well-paying jobs for over nine decades, your words make us feel decidedly unappreciated.''
But Malloy recently rejected the idea that gun buyers in other states would purposely avoid buying Connecticut-made guns because of the strict gun laws here.
"No, I don't believe it, but secondly, we have made a decision that we are going to protect our citizens, and we're leading, and we're doing it on a bipartisan basis,'' Malloy said.
When asked if he is concerned that gun manufacturers will leave the state, Malloy responded: "There aren't that many gun companies in Connecticut. This is not the Connecticut immediately following the Second World War in which Bridgeport was the second-largest munitions manufacturing center in the United States. Those companies have left Connecticut over a long period of time. We're not going to reverse that trend, but there's no reason for those companies to leave the state. Obviously, that's their option. We'll work with people who work with us."
But Larry Keane, general counsel for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, said in an interview Monday that the loss of business in Connecticut is real because gun buyers know where the firearms are made.
"That's a very real concern on the part of the manufacturers — that consumers will boycott manufacturers,'' Keane said. "Absolutely.''
He added: "A Mossberg shotgun will say North Haven, Connecticut. Federal law requires certain markings to be placed on the firearm. It will have the serial number. It will have the name of the city and state where it is manufactured. The consumer knows where you're located because it's right on the gun. The consumer is highly motivated and highly aware, politically — more than consumers of other products. They take these things into consideration.''
Keane said, "I think he should apologize to the manufacturers in the state for his comments, first off, and he ought to reconsider the law he signed. It is going to drive manufacturing jobs out of the state. He shouldn't have rushed through with his proposals, and he should have entered into a more meaningful dialogue with the industry. Connecticut has the toughest gun laws. But tough doesn't mean safe.''
Keane said he recently received phone calls from economic development officials in Indiana and New Hampshire who want to recruit Connecticut companies. In addition, he said, the governor of South Dakota sent a letter to every gun manufacturer in Connecticut to solicit business that said, "We'd love you to come here.''
One company, Bristol-based rifle maker PTR Industries, has already announced that it is leaving the state.
Concerning Mossberg's letter, Malloy's spokesman, Andrew Doba, said: "The governor thinks about jobs and economic development 24 hours a day. However, on this particular issue, his focus is first and foremost on public safety. The bill he signed into law will improve public safety and make Connecticut's communities and families safer. We hope the gun industry will join us in that effort.''
All industry should leave. The Military Industrial complex should leave Ct and teach the socialists a lesson. Malloy is nuts. The health Ins companies are being put out of business and he wants more employers to leave.
Time for Mossberg to leave the state.
The only mentally ill and insane people I know are the lunatic fringe on the left like Malloy (O’Malley in my state) and the other freaks in liberal land.
I'd suggest the Company leaves the state...and comes to Oklahoma.
Hell, I remember over 15 years ago I wondered why so many gun makers had their manufacturing setup in CT. Maybe NOW they are getting the message. Go South! Where you will be welcomed with open arms, for many reasons!
It's where they initially set up shop. That was before before the moonbats took over the rats. Most yankees used to have common sense.
It costs money to move.
“It costs money to move.”
_________________________
It will cost more to stay if nobody buys your product. The accountants will save you money right out of business.
Malloy is a political hack idiot with a room temp. IQ. Rather than leave the state, the gun manufacturers should stay and work like hell to defeat him in the next election.
THROW THE BUM OUT!!
If you are talking about United Technologies, I don't see it, not with Jamie Gorelick on the Board of Directors. To many lobbyist, and a PAC, and too many wine and cheese get-togethers to break up the old boys club.
An Interview on Beck as the only media source would absolutely drive the lame-streams and Malloy bonkers..
Time to go to Galt’s Gun Gulch - maybe Texas
Still waiting for the announcement from Colt that they’re packing up.
In “Atlas Shrugged” one of the later moves by the fascist government is to disallow companies from moving. This, and also that they are disallowed from reducing their work forces.
The man’s a clown. These are legitimate businesses that have been functioning for years in his state. Now he shoots off his mouth and they will be gone and the revenue lost will be felt. What a doofus!
Adam Lanza wasn’t the only nut in Connecticut!
Malloy is a deranged woman. What a sad state of affairs for a state that has such long history of gun making.
Yes, it costs money to move, but a savvy company, one way or another, would have those costs covered by the state to which it’s moving.
same with ruger and the rest of the names.
ruger has a particular problem with their “old man” when he was in charge and supported the awb.
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