🚀 go-pugleaf

A package of gun control measures that won initial approval in 
Colorado's Democratic-controlled House Friday night could result 
in several hundred jobs lost at the state's largest manufacturer 
of high-capacity ammunition magazines.

Erie-based Magpul Industries has threatened to leave the state 
if lawmakers are successful in passing the sweeping gun-control 
package, which limits the number of rounds a magazine can hold, 
according to The Denver Post.

"If we're able to stay in Colorado and manufacture a product, 
but law-abiding citizens of the state were unable to purchase 
the product, customers around the state and the nation would 
boycott us for remaining here," Doug Smith, Magpul's chief 
operating officer, told The Post.

The bill limits magazines to 15 rounds, with a more restrictive 
eight-round limit for shotguns. The bill makes an exception for 
magazines that people already have in their possession.

The legislation would require manufacturers to engrave magazines 
with serial numbers and dates -- a requirement Smith believes is 
"burdensome and unnecessary," The Post reported.

Magpul, which employs some 200 people directly and supports 
about 400 jobs through subcontractors, expects to contribute 
nearly $85 million to Colorado's economy this year, according to 
The Post.

Testifying before a state House committee Tuesday, Smith said he 
feared the proposal would hurt his businesses and restrict 
future expansions and warned the state could lose millions in 
tax revenues.

Smith said an ammunition limit �will not improve public safety, 
will not reduce crime, and would endanger the lives of Colorado 
residents by unduly restricting their ability to defend 
themselves.� �Arguments to the contrary are based purely on 
emotion and not facts,� he added.

Although the bill has been amended to exempt manufacturers, 
Magpul still plans to leave the state if the measure banning 
high-capacity magazines passes.

"We can't disappoint our customers nor ignore our convictions. 
Anyone who votes in favor of this bill votes to drive over 600 
jobs out of [Colorado]," the company said in a post on its 
Facebook page Thursday.

Prior to Friday's vote, Vice President Joe Biden personally 
phoned four lawmakers from his ski vacation in the state to 
speed along the emotional debate.

Biden phoned three freshmen legislators along with Democratic 
House Speaker Mark Ferrandino. The calls came amid a long debate 
over the proposals, including expanded background checks and 
ammunition limits -- responses to mass shootings, including the 
killings at a Colorado movie theater.

In all, the House gave the initial OK to four bills after a 
daylong debate. The preliminary votes set up final actions on 
the measures Monday.

The Democratic gun-control package that advanced also includes 
banning concealed weapons on public college campuses, and 
requiring that gun buyers pay for their background checks.

Colorado's votes capping magazine sizes and expanding required 
background checks to private sales came amid 12 hours of debate. 
The votes were preliminary and unrecorded, but they were the 
first chance for many lawmakers to debate gun control after mass 
shootings last year in Aurora, Colo., and Newtown, Conn.

"These high-capacity weapons have no place outside the fields of 
war," said Rep. Rhonda Fields, an Aurora Democrat who sponsored 
the ammunition bill.

Republicans spent hours arguing that the limit violates Second 
Amendment rights.

"We are not safer by limiting the constitutional rights of law-
abiding firearm owners," said Republican Rep. Frank McNulty.

A few Democrats appeared to agree Friday, though an exact vote 
count won't be known until recorded votes are taken Monday. GOP 
leaders were hoping gun activists would spend the weekend 
pressuring rural Democrats like Rep. Ed Vigil of southern 
Colorado, the only Democrat who argued Friday against any 
ammunition limit.

"We should be going down the path of making mental health 
available to people who really need it," Vigil argued.

The gun debate was at times emotional and pointed. One gun 
lobbyist was asked to leave the Capitol after a heated exchange 
off the floor with a Republican lawmaker who said the lobbyist 
was falsely accusing her of considering voting for the gun-
control measures. The gallery was at times packed with gun-
rights activists.

Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper has said favors some of the 
gun-control measures. Hickenlooper supports expanded background 
checks and indicated Thursday that he could support a potential 
amendment on magazine sizes, if the restriction was between 15 
and 20 rounds.

He also said he thinks gun purchasers should pay for their 
background checks, but he had not made up his mind yet about the 
ban on concealed firearms on colleges.

All of the proposals still need to be considered by Democrat-
controlled Senate.

Democrats in the Legislature said the time is right to limit gun 
access and magazine sizes to prevent more shootings.

"This is about kids who have been shot, over and over and over 
again," said Democratic Rep. Crisanta Duran said. "I am tired of 
seeing kids die, year after year, after year, after year."

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/02/16/colorado-gun-bill-
could-cost-state-hundreds-jobs/?intcmp=obnetwork

--
Are you obligated as an armed civilian, to defend unarmed 
liberals while you are both under fire by foreign agents of the 
outlaw Obama administration?

No.  Shoot the liberals immediately so they can't stab you in 
the back while you are defending yourself, then return a 
controlled rate of aimed fire.  ��

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