Re: Magpul Threatens To Leave Colorado
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SNIPERTARGET</div><div class="ubbcode-body">if limit-law-is-passed/
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http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/c...h-capacity-ammo
After about 6 hours of debate, members of the Colorado House on Friday afternoon gave preliminary approval of a bill to banning high-capacity ammunition magazines.
"An overreaching majority of Coloradans support limiting these high-capacity ammunition magazines and it's our job in the legislature to implement the will of the people," said House assistant Majority Leader Dan Pabon, D-Denver.
Republicans could force a roll call vote later today on the bill, otherwise a final House vote will be taken on Monday.
The vote came after Republicans implored members to vote against what they called a "flawed" measure that would infringe on Second Amendment rights and kill jobs.
"It's not good for Colorado and I urge that we do what's right and kill this bill," said House Minority Leader Mark Waller, R-Colorado Springs.
In a last-minute effort to kill the bill, Denver-based Alfred Manufacturing, announced Friday afternoon that if the measure passes, the company will leave the state.
The move follows the announcement from Magpul, Colorado's largest and most profitable high capacity ammunition magazine manufacturer.
Republicans leadership said it will present the a letter from Alfred on the House floor.
"We are a third-generation Colorado company that has been committed to this state since my grandfather founded the company in 1948," Greg Alfred, the company's chief executive, writes in the letter. "However, if House Bill 1224 passes, we will plain and simply have no choice but to relocate part or all of our operations to another state."
Alfred also said that the bill has caused him to freeze a planned expansion of plans in Colorado.
Members of the state House Friday continued hours of debate over whether there should be a ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines in Colorado.
The measure is sponsored by state Rep. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, and passed on a party line vote out of the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday.
Opening remarks on the House floor surrounded a committee report that increases a ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines from 10 to 15 rounds. Much of the debate also centered around a Democratic amendment to the bill that clarifies manufactures can make and sell high-capacity magazines to individuals out-of-state and the U.S. military. The amendment came in response to a Colorado magazine manufacturer vowing to leave state if the measure passes.
"This further enhances public safety," said Fields. "Look at all the mass shootings that happen with these magazines."
Fields went on to list mass shootings at an elementary in Newtown, Conn., an Aurora movie theater and outside a Safeway in Tucson, Ariz., as examples of shootings where gunmen had high-capacity ammunition magazines.
Meanwhile, Republicans argued that the bill is not about public safety and is instead a measure that lacks substance and is more about appearance.
"Is there any study out there that shows a ban on high-capacity magazines prevent shootings or save lives?" questioned House Minority Leader Mark Waller, R-Colorado Springs. "I don't think there is ... in fact, there isn't."
"We're going to pass this legislation for no other reason — none, zero — than to feel good," Waller said.
House Bill 1224 says that if an individual already owns a high-capacity magazine on the effective date of the bill's becoming law, then that individual may retain it. Prosecutors would bear the burden of proof that an owner violated the new stricture.
On Thursday Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper expressed support for a ban on limiting gun magazines to 15 rounds.
Manufacturers would still be able to produce these magazines within the state, supporters say.
Still, the bill has caused a stir with Magpul, Colorado's largest and most profitable high-capacity ammunition manufacturer, who said this week that if the measure passes then they will relocate — costing the state hundreds of jobs and possibly tens of millions of dollars.
"We will leave if it passes," said Doug Smith, Magpul's Chief Operating Officer. Smith has said that no amendment to the measure would keep the company here in Colorado.
Under the legislation, manufacturers would be required to engrave each magazine with a serial number and date upon which it was produced — something Smith said is "burdensome and unnecessary."
On Friday in initial debate over the bill, state Rep. Joe Salazar, D-Thorton, still offered an amendment that clarifies manufacturers could still sell high-capacity magazines to out-of-state vendors that range from the U.S. military to law enforcement.
"I want it to be clear that manufacturers can still do business here in Colorado," Salazar said.
Republicans contested the amendment, calling it an "oops amendment," and argued that it's unfair that a company can produce the device, but can't sell it in Colorado.
"This just doesn't make sense, it's wildly inconsistent," Waller said. "It seems Democrats want to ban individual rights to have these magazines, but allow business of these magazines to continue."
Salazar said his amendment reflects constituents' concerns and what Magpul told him they would like to see in the measure.
"They (Magpul) may be against the bill, but this amendment represents the language they wanted to see in the bill to possibly stay," Salazar said.
State Rep. Lori Saine, a Republican from Dacano, represents the district where Magpul is housed.
"The bill will decrease public safety, will limit law-abiding citizens from protecting themselves and will encourage criminals to have these magazines," Saine said before the House.
Saine also called the measure a "jobs killing bill," because of Magpul's threat to leave the state if it passes.
"Colorado families will hurt," Saine said.
State Rep. Frank McNulty said this bill and amendment is "lost" and does nothing.
"What unfavorable manufacturer is next, will it be distilleries? What are we going to decide is unfavorable, what is the next industry that will leave state because of the state legislature," McNulty said.
Democrats control the House 37-28, though not all Democrats are on board with passing a measure to ban high-capacity ammunition magazines.
"Limiting the number of bullets will save lives," said state Rep. Lois Court, D-Denver. "It's intuitive ... more bullets, more weapons, more killing. Less bullets, less weapons , less killing."
But some Democrats have expressed they will vote against the legislation.
"This is an emotional issue and we're just reacting to an emotional issue," said state Rep. Ed Vigil, D-Fort Garland, who plans to vote against the measure.