U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, invited ammunition magazine manufacturer Magpul Industries Corp. to relocate its plant and any of its willing employees to Arizona in response to the recent passage of stringent gun laws in Colorado.
In his letter, Gosar advised Doug Smith, COO of Magpul Industries, that more than 100 manufacturers of firearms and components in Arizona are licensed and regulated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Those manufacturers generate hundreds of millions of dollars in annual sales.”
“Arizona is perfect for Magpul,” wrote Gosar. “Its dry climate, its pro-gun politics and its shooting culture makes this former Wild West state appealing to firearms and components manufacturers.”
Gosar offered to “personally arrange, and join you on a tour of Pinal County, Yavapai County, Gila County, Yuma County, Mohave County, Maricopa County, and La Paz County.” He concluded his letter, “ In Arizona, we defend the Second Amendment, we do not attack it.
According to an article in the Denver Post, Magpul said it plans to begin leaving Colorado “almost immediately” after Colorado’s Governor John Hickenlooper signed legislation that prohibits the sale of gun magazines that hold more than 15 rounds.
“Our moving efforts are underway,” Magpul chief operating officer Doug Smith told the Denver Post. “Within the next 30 days we will manufacture our first magazine outside the state of Colorado.”
Magpul employs about 200 workers. In a Facebook post, Magpul said that they “will likely become a multi-state operation as a result of this move, and not all locations have been selected.” The company advised the public that the “transition to a new home will occur in a phased and orderly a manner to allow us to continue to serve our customers during the move, as well as to allow an orderly transition for affected employees. We are actively working on those plans.”