Magpul said what they meant and they meant what they said, and before the end of April the first Magpul magazine will be “Proudly Made by Americans” as the company’s advertising has always boasted, but not “…in Colorado.”
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has made it clear that he’s ashamed, not proud, of the company and its hundreds of direct and thousands of indirect jobs, so he should be celebrating their departur to points still unknown.
“Gateway Pundit” Jim Hoft, as he put it,”reached out to Duane Liptak, Director of Product Management and Marketing at Magpul Industries Corporation. …. In our communications Liptak revealed the next steps for Magpul’s escape from Colorado.” Let’s see what Jim has to say; we’ve bolded a couple of revelations that were new to us:
In February Magpul announced the Democratic legislation that banned high capacity magazines would force them to leave the state taking along several hundred jobs with them. Magpul warned they would leave the state “almost immediately” if the legislation passed. Duane Liptak, Director of Product Management and Marketing, said the company has received official invitations from elected officials and/or the economic development activities in over two dozen states since they announced their plans to leave Colorado. Liptak says, “We’ve talked to some states, visited some, and we’ve got a lot more to get to. Some of the initial round of states that we’re looking at are Wyoming, Nebraska, Texas, Utah, Montana, Idaho and Arizona but there are others in consideration.” Several more conservative states are hoping to lure the manufacturer to more friendly pastures.
Moving physical equipment and setting up products to run in new locations is an expensive venture. Lost opportunities due to disruption of production for the move could also be significant. Liptak says the company was getting ready to sign a lease on a new 125,000 square foot building for the headquarters in Colorado before Democrats introduced their legislation. So, the company held off on those plans. Magpul will now move forward with a new facility, just not in Colorado.
The move is already underway. Magpul chief operating officer Doug Smith told The Denver Post last week that the company will manufacture their first magazine outside the state of Colorado within thirty days. The company is moving some physical assets this month, but there are arrangements that need to be nailed down before Magpul can start moving major pieces of the operation.
And, it’s not just Magpul. Several parts dealers are also following Magpul’s lead. The company has received commitments from some of their largest suppliers that they will be leaving Colorado, as well. And, Magpul’s suppliers are even working with the company to help select new manufacturing locations.
via Breaking: Magpul Reveals Plans For Colorado Exodus | The Gateway Pundit.
This was a completely unnecessary “own goal” that not only sank Hickenlooper’s political ambitions for any larger office, but will do absolutely zero to deter criminals in Colorado.
Magpul is hoping that it’s new, higher profile will bring it new customers. We can say it already has: while we had access to PMAGs from time to time on duty, we have just received our first ten privately owned ones. And yes, they’re good. And no, they don’t fit in the 416. ‘S okay, we have HK mags for that one. It’s nice to have indestructible, OK-to-leave-loaded mags for the 6921 and other ARs.