New York Gun Manufacturer Opts to Open New Facility in Alabama
Havilah Steinman /
remington.com
New Yorkers are losing some potential new jobs.
Remington Arms Co., which is based in Ilion, NY, is expanding and purchasing a facility in Huntsville, AL. The expansion is expected to result in jobs for more than 2,000 employees over the next 10 years.
The president of the union that represents most of the Remington employees in Ilion, Fran Madore, was concerned by the news, telling The Post-Standard Saturday that “It can’t be good.”
Under the New York SAFE Act, passed in 2013 in response to the school shooting in Newtown, CT, Remington can manufacture, but not sell, “assault weapons,” which contain more than 10 rounds of ammunition, in the state. However, Remington CEO George Kollitides told reporters yesterday, according to AL.com, “We’re all disappointed by the SAFE Act. … Frankly, we think it’s unconstitutional, but that was not a driving decision maker for us.”
Remington openly opposed the SAFE Act, posting on its Facebook page last year that “We believe the NY SAFE Act is unconstitutional and was passed in a questionable fashion.”
New York State Senator James Seward, a Republican who represents the area, said in a statement, “I have been assured that any out of state expansion will not affect Remington’s workforce in Ilion and the recent $20 million plant upgrade is proof of the company’s commitment to New York.”
This story was produced by The Foundry’s news team. Nothing here should be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of The Heritage Foundation.