Now that Martin O’Malley and the Maryland Legislature have enacted a gun controller’s wish list of measures sure to drastically lower the Old Line State’s crime rate, attention turns to Accokeek and Beretta USA. The centuries old gun company seems to have had their response all ready to go. Here’s the release they’ve posted on their web site . . .
The firearm companies owned by Beretta Holding in Maryland—Beretta U.S.A. Corp., Benelli U.S.A. Corporation and Stoeger Industries, Inc.—have all been deeply concerned about Governor Martin O’Malley’s effort this year to impose broad new restrictions on the rights of Maryland citizens to buy firearms, as well as on the types of firearms and firearm magazines they can acquire. The Companies have submitted comments before the Maryland legislature and to the press condemning these efforts and stating that the Governor’s anti-gun activity is causing them to evaluate whether they want to remain in this State.
Notwithstanding some media reports to the contrary, those efforts have had some beneficial effects.
Through the Companies’ legislative efforts and with assistance led by Delegate Joe Vallario and others provisions were stripped out of the final Bill that would have required an immediate move of certain operations out of Maryland. The parts of the legislation that remained, though – and that were not deleted notwithstanding the Beretta Holding companies efforts to do so -remain offensive not only to our companies as firearm manufacturers, importers and distributors and as investors in jobs, taxes and income within the State of Maryland, but also to those of us who, as Maryland citizens, will now be encumbered with obstacles to our exercise of our Constitutional rights, such as a requirement we now be fingerprinted like a criminal before we can buy a handgun, without providing a commensurate benefit in reducing crime.
The resulting law that passed is not acceptable, even with the improvements we were able to obtain. In short, the law that finally passed went from being atrocious to simply being bad.
The question now facing the Beretta Holding companies in Maryland is this: What effect will the passage of this law–and the efforts ofMarylandgovernment officials to support its passage–have on our willingness to remain in this State?
In that respect we are mindful of two objectives: We will not let passage of this legislation prevent us from providing on-time delivery of our products to our U.S. Armed Forces and other important customers. We also will not go forward in a way that compounds the insult made to ourMarylandemployees by their Governor and by the legislators who supported his efforts.
Prior to introduction of this legislation the three Beretta Holding companies located inMarylandwere experiencing growth in revenues and jobs and had begun expansion plans in factory and other operations. The idea now of investing additional funds inMarylandand thus rewarding a Government that has insulted our customers and our products is offensive to us so we will take steps to evaluate such investments in other States. At the same time, we will continue our current necessary operations withinMarylandand we are thankful for and welcome the continued support of our employees as we do so.
one of the things that has been confusing me about our new stupidity here in the “free state” is the part of sb281 that outlaw’s “cop killing” bullets, but somehow i have not been able to find an explination on what those are.
Man, I wish they still were manufacturing the 92G. And, in Texas. Or anywhere but MD.
Plenty of weasel language in there… it will be interesting to see if they really pick up their toys and go somewhere else.
Agreed.
“We’re angry but the money is just too good.”
since liberals will pressure banks and credit card companies not to do business with gun companies. we should apply pressure to gun companies to move away from slave states.
war is politics by other means- Carl von Clausewitz
since liberals will pressure banks and credit card companies not to do business with gun companies. we should apply pressure to gun companies to move away from slave states. two can play at economic warfare
war is politics by other means- Carl von Clausewitz
since pols are pressuring credit card companies and banks not to do business with gun companies. we should pressure ALL arms manufactures to leave slave states.
two can play the game of economic warfare.
“War is a continuation of politics by other means.”
Carl von Clausewitz
like most “i’m gonna”s and “we’re gonna”s this isn’t going to happen. big talk is usually a proxy for big action. everyone including adam kokesh is going to chicken out.
Eh well, I was going to spend a lot of money with Beretta if they finally decided to pick up and leave Maryland.. guess not.
Getting a Glock instead of a 92FS. Lucky for them I already own my Nano, but wont be buying any accessories for it from them.
So, it turns out “Beretta doesn’t bluff” was, well, a bluff.
All competitions held under the auspices of a sanctioning body should be observing the same rules and procedures, as published by that sanctioning body.
NASCAR doesn’t allow each individual track owner/promoter to have their own set of rules as to the types of cars that may compete in a NASCAR race, or the equipment that can be used. We, in the shooting sports, should do no less. The competition is only fair when the “playing field” is level.
All equipment should be inspected before the match for compliance, and subject to spot inspections during, and after, the match. If, at any time a “tech inspector” finds that the equipment is “non-standard” (does not comply with the rule book), the competitor should be allowed a chance to bring his equipment into compliance.
If the competition is already under way, it would be the call of the Match Director as to whether the shooter should be DQ’d, or allowed to begin again (though that option does present competitive advantages to the shooter, and at this level of competition, probably should not be an option).
It is up to the competitors to ensure that they are in compliance with the rules.
I applaud Mr. Dueck for his honesty after-the-fact; perhaps in the future he will pay more attention to the jots-and-tittles of the rules prior to setting out to compete.
While I support the idea of open carry, and basically tossing all the commerce and “gun” laws we have now out the window, I see to many things that could go wrong with this march. The GRAA, Oath Keepers, and Californians Against Gun Restrictions have all made public responses against this march.
My feeling is this. March with cardboard cut outs of 30 round magazines, and rifles slung over your back, made of cardboard of course. It makes the point with out breaking the law.
What a load of disingenuous huffing and puffing. Beretta will continue to do business in Maryland. Don’t think that any company getting money from the government will ever risk their bottom line by taking political stands.
The galling thing is that we’re the ones paying for all of this tyranny through our tax dollars.
Sharp. Professional. Well spoken.
The real money in Maggie’s video is 1:58 to 3:16. Especially the wrap-up. NRA should reedit. Clip that and post it everywhere on the net.
TL;DR
Shorter version: Move because of new law? Not so much.
Bought lasik a year ago since I was finally old enough. Happily that means I get to completely ignore one and only one TTAG article 🙂
I encountered the same issue. After a quick visit to my ophthalmologist he sent me to WallyWorld to order a set of generic glasses with lined bifocal lenses in a Yellow #3 tint. Best $60 I ever spent.
“Are they in bed with the gangs and criminals? Do they want crime to go up to justify spending money? ”
Every ammendment that punished criminals or increased penalties for violent crime was shot down. We were told the state ” couldn’t afford” to jail criminals. Ammendments getting rid of early release for violent offenders were hot down but they couldn’t criminalize gun owners quick enough.
I have progressive bifocals, sit behind a monitor 8+ hrs a day, and did the same thing about 4 years ago. Best move I have ever made to help out my shooting. It takes a little getting used to it walking around, but the eyes adapt quickly.
My eyes are so bad that even after lasik I would still need glasses 🙁
To make it more complicated, I shoot rifles left handed as I am left eye dominate (right eye is several times worse off then the left) and I shoot pistols right handed as I am right handed but I use my left eye.
I’m waiting to either get brand new eyes or bionic ones.
I am nearsighted and because of my age I also need progressive glasses. It’s a nightmarish front sight picture. That is, until ESS solved it for me. I ordered the ESS safety glasses with the eyeglasses insert. The glasses are good for correcting nearsightedness and they placed a circle correction on my right eye lens that places the front sight of both pistols and rifles in perfect focus. Here’s a pic, hope you can see it:
http://www.josesuroeditorial.com/photos/i-Djr2b3D/0/O/i-Djr2b3D.jpg
Jupiter Florida, used to be a nice little small town until invaded by developers.
Wallets People! And make it known that you will not spend a cent on anything connected to the slave states.
While he’s at it, maybe he can introduce a bill to get the military some of those sweet ass rail guns from True Lies. Those would save countless lies in Afghanistan.
interesting but if you have one good eye and one bad eye no amount would help
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LgFyy-JXCU
Kita Stoeger
As much as we would like them to announce they are just picking up and leaving, scouting new locations, building the new facility, moving an entire factory worth of equipment, hiring new machinists to run it, and actually moving is not an easy or cheap task. They are a business, and will not do something rash that would cause them to raise all their prices by $100 (as an example) to pay for the move.
It would go much better if it was done as a CCW march. Everyone armed but holstered and not showing.
Meh, it’ll never pass. At the federal level, anyway. It could in CA or some of the other states.
Exhibit A.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_s2CQBIU58
It’s ironic that most of the major American firearm manufacturers are based in states with restrictive gun laws.
Massachusetts: S&W, Savage, Troy;
Connecticut: COLT, Mossberg;
New York: Remington (and by extension, everything owned by the Freedom Group), Dan Wesson;
Illinois: Armalite, DSA, Krebs, Rock River Arms, Springfield Armory;
Maryland: Beretta (plus all the brands they import), LWRC
If you’re serious about boycotting firearm manufacturers in restrictive states, then you’d better make friends with a small custom gun maker in a free state.
To any of the commenters who said Beretta is dead to them, do any of you own an M&P pistol or carbine? Picked up a Savage rifle for hunting? Love your Troy accessories on your AR15? Massachusetts has been an oppressive state for as long as I can remember.
I’ve heard that the extremist Muslims over there are also heavily armed as well so it’s not just gangs they now have to try and control.
In other words, they’ve attempted the Milquetoast Balancing Act with a Reverse Position Twist (Raw Score 4.5, Degree of Difficulty 4.0); which, even with their half-assed execution, they can still score very nicely. They’re hoping that enough pro-2A bluster will provide sufficient cover for their collaboration until this whole gun grabbing brouhaha blows over. They’re holding out the prospect of future investments going to other states, which is just talk, while their on-the-ground action is, well, inaction and remaining in Maryland.
“It’s for the shareholders, er, employees and soldiers, you see! Won’t *somebody* please think of the shareholders, I mean, employees and soldiers?!”
“But what about the Constitution?”
“The what?”
Maynard and Felix felt cheated when The Army chose the Willys Jeep over their concept of the “General Purpose Vehicle.”
I think this is hysterical. Talk about brain dead people. Happy to see policeman with automatic rifles, and they think that is going to keep them safe??
In England, the country with the highest violent crime rate in Europe??
Puhlease!!! The bad guys can see them a mile away. Awoid them all day (and night) and continue on with their activities.
As we have already stated… As soon as the secret service, the FBI, and other LEA proof the technology, I am all for it.
Coming to a New England neighborhood near you.
Elvis graciously allows Heinrich to try driving his personal “Mississippi Battle Tank” while on holiday
So “Berettas dont bluff?” Except for when they do.
For all of you that cry and defend them because it would be so expensive to move, remember Beretta bragged about the $35 mil a year they pay in Maryland taxes. Saving that much per year in a free state like Texas would help pay for the move.
Mine too – Stan Hilkey, Mesa County. Not so strange NOT to see; City and County of Denver, People’s Republic of Boulder, JeffCo and Arapahell.
I think slave state is appropriate since it is not just guns most of these states are banning. The amount of control they demand over their citizens lives is astounding, and the people vote them back in anyway.
In a democracy, you get the government you deserve.
We have been naughty indeed.
I just wear some comfortable tactical-ish cargo shorts, with a belt and a regular holster at home. With a t-shirt and a lightweight vest, and my tactical flip flops, it’s my perfect blend of comfort and concealment for hanging out at home. I’ve never worn a bath robe.
I’m against using this term.
This forum regularly and rightly critisizes the antis about using arguments backed by nothing but emotion. I think that if we come out and use terms don’t accurately describe our condition (we can vote, move, politically agitate, protest and do a whole load of things slaves can’t) inaccurately with the intent to shock people, we are just as guilty as our opponents. I don’t know that the phrase ‘slave state’ is too strong to use, it just isn’t accurate and puts us in the same hypocritical boat as the antis.
We in Texas will support any efforts for Beretta or any other gun manufacturer to move to our state. The second ammendment still means something down here… Come on down folks.. Your guns and accessories are most welcome.
Well, welcome to gun friendly Montana! We’d welcome the jobs, land prices are much lower than where you are now, we have no state sales tax and, I’m sure, our property taxes would be much lower than where you are now.