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COMMENTARY | An outright ban on all semi-automatic "assault weapons" has been proposed in Illinois. The Chicago legislators who've proposed and support House Bill 1294 would like to see Illinois' residents 2nd Amendment rights nearly wiped out. The proposal would make it illegal to buy a semi-automatic -- be it a rifle, shotgun or pistol -- it would also make illegal to own, or even manufacture any of these firearms. What's worse, Illinois is home to some of the world's finest firearms manufacturers, many of whom specialize in making the semi-automatic "assault weapons" specifically banned under House Bill 1294.
Armalite Inc., DSA Arms, Lewis Machine and Tool, Rock River Arms, and Springfield Armory all call the state of Illinois home. These are companies known the world over for their ability to make reliable, accurate firearms. Many of them even hold lucrative government contracts manufacturing guns for law enforcement and military clients around the world; and yet certain Illinois politicians are trying to chase them out of Illinois at a time when the state is bleeding jobs. What's worse: these manufacturers don't want to leave.
"We have engineers doing designing, we have people doing fixtures the fixtures go on machines and the machines have people running them. You can't just take a factory like this pack it up into a couple of pickup trucks and move it away," says Armalite Inc. owner Mark Westrom.
If this bill were to pass no one would be hit harder than Henry County. It's home to three of the state's biggest firearms manufacturers (Armalite, Rock River Arms, and Springfield Armory). A study done by the Henry County Economic Development Partnership revealed those three companies employ more than 600 people. What's worse, more than 30 states have contacted those companies offering incentives to leave Illinois and relocate to a friendlier setting.
When a similar ban was proposed four years ago Les Baer Customs picked up its entire operation and moved 20 miles west to Le Claire, Iowa.
"That was a worst case scenario they took their manufacturing and they moved it to another state, and then they grew upon it after they moved. That was growth that could have happened here in the State of Illinois," says Charlie Lotridge of the Henry County Economic Development Partnership.
Lotridge adds that right now Illinois ranks 50th out of 50 states when it comes to economic development. So the question that must be asked is why are some Illinois politicians willing to chase hundreds of jobs, and millions in tax dollars out of state at a time when they should be doing everything they can to keep companies, jobs, and tax dollars here?
Armalite Inc., DSA Arms, Lewis Machine and Tool, Rock River Arms, and Springfield Armory all call the state of Illinois home. These are companies known the world over for their ability to make reliable, accurate firearms. Many of them even hold lucrative government contracts manufacturing guns for law enforcement and military clients around the world; and yet certain Illinois politicians are trying to chase them out of Illinois at a time when the state is bleeding jobs. What's worse: these manufacturers don't want to leave.
"We have engineers doing designing, we have people doing fixtures the fixtures go on machines and the machines have people running them. You can't just take a factory like this pack it up into a couple of pickup trucks and move it away," says Armalite Inc. owner Mark Westrom.
If this bill were to pass no one would be hit harder than Henry County. It's home to three of the state's biggest firearms manufacturers (Armalite, Rock River Arms, and Springfield Armory). A study done by the Henry County Economic Development Partnership revealed those three companies employ more than 600 people. What's worse, more than 30 states have contacted those companies offering incentives to leave Illinois and relocate to a friendlier setting.
When a similar ban was proposed four years ago Les Baer Customs picked up its entire operation and moved 20 miles west to Le Claire, Iowa.
"That was a worst case scenario they took their manufacturing and they moved it to another state, and then they grew upon it after they moved. That was growth that could have happened here in the State of Illinois," says Charlie Lotridge of the Henry County Economic Development Partnership.
Lotridge adds that right now Illinois ranks 50th out of 50 states when it comes to economic development. So the question that must be asked is why are some Illinois politicians willing to chase hundreds of jobs, and millions in tax dollars out of state at a time when they should be doing everything they can to keep companies, jobs, and tax dollars here?
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