Here’s an email exchange between reader Joseph D. and Colorado Rep. Paul Rosenthal, a Denver Democrat, who’s less than sympathetic to what the Centennial State legislature’s new civilian disarmament measures will do to Magpul’s cost structure. And who knew veterans’ pensions and VA salaries were so generous?
On Feb 17, 2013, at 12:50 PM, Joseph D <[email protected]> wrote:
I am disgusted at your political games driving Colorado jobs out of state. Unless you have less intelligence then I credit you for, you know this bill will not stand the test of time. But the loss of Colorado jobs will be permanent . . .
Unlike those bussed in to support the bill I am not a lobbyist. I am a Colorado voter, I have never voted republican in my life, but I will 2014. Colorado has millions of servicemen and they have families, and I don’t think your record on treating veterans will be forgotten.
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On Sun, Feb 17, 2013 at 12:53 PM, Paul Rosenthal <[email protected]> wrote:
Hi Joseph,
I am bewildered since I have no idea how this relates to targeting veterans. Quite the opposite, there are so many pro-veteran bills this session.
Regards,
Rep. Rosenthal (D-Denver)
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On Feb 17, 2013, at 12:56 PM, Joseph D <[email protected]> wrote:
If you are unaware magpul is a veteran run company I am frankly amazed at how poorly informed you are on the issues. Again I say shame on you
Sent from my iPad
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On Sun, Feb 17, 2013 at 1:00 PM, Paul Rosenthal <[email protected]> wrote:
Hi Joseph,
Thanks for your email. I fail to see how Magpul relates to veterans. My Air Force retiree brother makes out like a bandit, with a pension plus his salary from the VA. He doesn’t own a gun, and he seems pretty happy.
Regards, Paul
Sent from my iPad
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On Feb 17, 2013, at 1:06 PM, Joseph D <[email protected]> wrote:
As you don’t get it I will explain. Magpul is run by Richard Fitzpatrick, a veteran who chose to come to Colorado and started a company that employs hundreds. And HB1224 is bullying him, and his company out of state.
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On Sun, Feb 17, 2013 at 1:10 PM, Paul Rosenthal <[email protected]> wrote:
Hi Joseph,
Magpul can stay if it wants to.
Thanks, Rep. Rosenthal
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On Feb 17, 2013, at 1:21 PM, Joseph D <[email protected]> wrote:
Not under the conditions laid out. Individually serial numbering a mass produced product will make them uncompetitive. and no one has addressed the transportation across state of their product. Not to mention the prospect of the next idiotic idea, were I them I would not want to remain in Colorado.
Now you may think the “oops” amendment technicality lets you off the hook, but your comments on “veterans making out like bandits” shows your true feelings.
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On Sun, Feb 17, 2013 at 1:25 PM, Paul Rosenthal <[email protected]> wrote:
Hi Joseph,
My brother does well regardless of the bills we are passing. My true feelings about veterans is that we are passing a whole bundle of laws helping them. Anything we passed about guns is irrelevant to them.
I disagree with you about Magpul. They can still sell their product just fine.
Regards,
Rep. Rosenthal
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On Feb 17, 2013 1:32 PM, Joseph D <[email protected]> wrote:
wow, I remain amazed. But if you let comments like “veterans making out like bandits” in a public email and don’t see the impact on future campaigns maybe I credit you too much. Clearly you are not as adept at politics as I thought you might be. Friendly advice, close your mouth before you put your foot deeper into it.
Regards
I have to give him credit for responding (Edit: Frequently, repeatedly, over the course of two hours, on a Sunday afternoon) to a constituent. Even if you disagree with him, you have to give him that. I have yet to get anything but a form letter response from any of the people I’ve contacted.
+1
Same here. Though of course, the internetz has a way of making me question everything. Is it REALLY Rep. Rosenthal replying, or just a paid intern?
Wow. Not even a modicum of diplomacy from the legislator. Rather, he exudes arrogance.
I fail to see diplomacy anywhere in the conversation from either side.
Wow. His “Air Force retiree brother” must know some secrets this Air Force retiree hasn’t uncovered yet. But I’ll bet his “Air Force retiree brother” hasn’t been getting the runaround from the VA for two years about his “pension… from the VA.” And does the mention of a “salary from the VA” mean he also works at the VA? If so no wonder the double-dipper “makes out like a bandit.” I wish I had a brother who was a State Representative who I could use to get what I need from the VA – including a job!
Aren’t there two kinds of anti’s? Many would restrict firearms simply because they’ve had no experience with guns, or have for the time accepted false statistics, have only images of malignant guns-as-fetish instilled by movies, or have lived a gentle life without exposure to human predators. These people are open to new information and (range) experiences, though their conversion may not be readily or publicly admitted.
Then there is the other kind of anti, the one for whom “minimize or confiscate guns” is simply a step prescribed in a manual they follow for progress to a dystopia only they can love, wherein a nation becomes a government-run meat-and-dairy operation stocked with human cattle quietly producing sales, income, and estate taxes. Ideally these ‘cattle’ learn to speak a language evolved not by poets and scientists, but one engineered in the Office of Acceptable Expression. These anti’s are closed to new information, because they’ve decided on other grounds that confiscation is absolutely required in the march to achieve their dystopia. Their minds can’t change without deprogramming their dys/utopian vision first.
Magpul is more than welcome to move their manufacturing operations to San Antonio, Texas, where our veteran-owned businesses are appreciated as well as the jobs they provide for our citizens.
I endorse moving to San Antonio, Austin much too liberal due to aging hippies and mush brain college students, not all but most.
weird.
Rep. Rosenthal get’s credit for replying, but an F for content.
Maryland’s motto should be: “Once a slave state, always a slave state.”
Thomas, I don’t see any insults, but perhaps a tiny measure of belittlement. That said, this exchange should give anyone pause who is under the delusion that most people in charge of making laws are above average intelligence. This rep is not even above the 50th-percentile.
Great review (and nice SIG, heh).
If I’m in the market for a sports cam, I’ll definitely giving this a look… though at the moment, most of my camera exploits involve my Olympus micro 4/3rds and my 6 month year old daughter, ha!
I do not believe that pounding a nail through my pecker with a 2X4 would be less painful than discussing anything — anything — with gungrabbers (antigun politicians and cops), wingnuts (useful idiots) and squib loads (just plain ignorant idiots). Frankly, I’d rather douse my jockey shorts with lighter fluid and strike a match than suffer one nanosecond in the presence of terminal stupidity or unbearable cynicism.
Agreed, I give the Rep. credit for replying multiple times. His basic failure to miss the sender’s point and arrogant responses show how out of touch he is with the real world. I want these bill authors to visit Magpul and speak with the (soon to be) displaced workers. Let this great company explain what these “representatives” seem to miss entirely.
Rep. Rosenthal go to Magpul’s plant and see what you are ending, productive qualified workers making quality products. Listen to the sucking sound as this company moves to safer ground out of state.
How much does Colorado take in from out of state hunting licenses? They should know that a lot of hunters will choose not to come based on principles.
Add skiers and snowboarders too.
Joseph, kudos on making your stand. I was almost in tears, laughing at the responses you got.
McCain built a political career on the years of hell he spent in the Hanoi Hilton having his arms ripped out of their sockets. He still cannot raise his arms above shoulder level, nor can he walk properly. I applaud his loyalty, courage and ability to withstand punishment. Sen. McCain, god bless you and thank you for your service. Now GTFO because it’s time for you to go.
OMG, my Dad, small claims court judge, carried a gun into the courtroom when it was in session. That was in late 70’s in small town in Texas Hill Country. Not sure if it was his .357 revolver left to him by former sheriff or a nice Colt 1911 style .380 semi auto pistol I inherited from him. Not a problem for him with armed sheriff deputies in his court.
Today, I’m pretty sure most of the judges in that county carry concealed.
I’ve seen puddles with greater intellectual depth that this rep.
I’ll believe that Magpul will leave CO when it leaves CO. Until then, it’s just talk. And talk, as we all know, is cheap, which cannot be said of pmags.
i’ve heard all this talk of texas, but don’t they have some bills out there regarding some anti-2A legislation? even if it’ll never get through…. maybe they should consider montana? I’m not from there but i really admire their “FOAD” to the Feds.
Why would one pick this over a gopro? Other than size.
Today on video…
“Things I’ve been telling ya for 30 years”
“Why I’d never own a Glock”
“Ways I’ve won everything from drinks to those over-rated guns”
“No, seriously, some of those dumb kids have bet the gun that I couldn’t make it jam”
“Hope you can iron-wrist, wounded in a shootout”
Excellent video and a great explanation of limp wristing.
McCain is like that friend we all have who changes their opinions and likes/dislikes to suit the popular opinion of the crowd they’re with. We all know someone like that, and odds are we hate being in a social setting with them because they annoy the hell out of us.
“While I am an unwavering supporter of the Second Amendment, please know that I will seriously consider all reasonable public safety legislation that comes before the Senate.”
Translates to:
“Honey, I am a firm believer in the sanctity of marriage and fully committed to you. Please know, however, that if something more appealing comes along, I will seriously consider all options.”
If the Glock is at fault do the smart thing dump it and get a good Beretta 92FS!!!!!!!!!!
As the person sending out the email in question I should clarify. I had send out multiple carefully laid out correspondence raising salient points, and not once received reply. I also spent 13h in the judiciary committee that week and watch legislators deny those who wanted to speak on the bill the chance to. The were not answering phones, and their voice mail was too full to take new messages, and they pushed the bill through so fast regular mail would not arrive.
After the vote had gone though to relive tension, I sent out a rant email to vent and to illustrate how emotion can be used on either side. Based of my previous experience I expected no one to read my mail, and certainly did not expect a reply.
I do not think the rant approach is a good one for sensible debate, and I do not think the text in my original email was the best. But when the vote had gone through already I chose to vent and somehow hit enough of a nerve to get a reply. But when I read about veterans making out like bandits I was speechless.
What’s the definition of insanity? Repeating the same action expecting a different outcome? (AWB supporters anyone?)
I have shot frozen thick ice, concrete bridges, and other such items with everything from .22, .22 mag, .380, .38, .357. 9mm, .45 lc, .45 acp, 30.06, and 20 and 12 ga.
45 acp and 12 ga impress me very much with hammer power..of course 30.06 aint bad either.
I like killing old fridges and freezers the best, most fun things i have ever shot.. T>V> screens are the worse, sometimes they shoot back..
IMHO
http://oldsite.vcdl.org/new/raging.htm
Completely off topic, but can we disable the auto play Ashford University video advert in the right hand column please? Just under the follow us icons…
I’m all for you guys paying the bills, but the auto play ad with no off switch is annoying…
I think anyone engaging a supporter of the mag ban in Colorado needs to ask that person about the moral implications of allowing Magpul an exemption. If they claim that the reason for limiting mag capacity is to save lives, and that “high-capacity” magazines are too dangerous and deadly to be allowed in Colorado, why is it then okay to allow Magpul to export those dangerous products to other states? Shouldn’t they be happy to shut down this manufacturer, since they’re basically an assembly line of evil?
Yay Spike’s!
the ones at the top of the food chain are crazy like foxes, know exactly what their agenda is and figure time is on their side; there will be plenty more crises that they will be able to “not let go to waste…” the others farther down the chain who snap up the crumbs they are thrown [15 minutes of fame on tv, photo ops with their higher ups etc.] maybe they actually believe their illogical nonsense. sadly, this is a marathon, not a sprint…
I am a strong woman who was a college athlete. I’m older now and still very physically strong. But even the strongest of women is no match for an average male criminal. I raised several sons to adulthood and saw how strong they were, even at a young age. Defense classes and physical prowess can give a women extra confidence, which in itself can thwart someone who is looking for a victim, but honey, there ain’t nothing that beats a gun that has been practiced with and is carried at all times.
The 2A crowd in MD is fairly large, even some of the Dems are not behind this push but remaining silent. A lot of residents are really fed up because they know this is O’Mally’s attempt to thrust himself into the national spot light all this being said the anti-gun bills still stand a chance of being passed.
The irony of this whole thing is that one of the major Democrats in the MD state legislators has personally pointed a gun at me (he is a CCW or should be) over a misunderstanding. Do as I say not as I do.
Nice. I was thinking of getting a Contour but may go this route instead. Although, the quality comparison video kind of turns me off. It’s obvious that the Contour is shooting through the windshield while the Replay is outside of the car. That is not a fair way to compare light gathering ability or clarity, etc.
Great article, I just hope the president doesn’t go around the channels with an executive order.
Great article Nick!
Good for Spike’s and the other companies that are joining this boycott. As far as SIG and Glock are concerned, they’re foreign companies and probably think that the Second Amendment prohibits graven images.
Don’t expect any help from “America’s Gun.” And SIG’s motto is “when it counts.” Well, SIG, it counts now.
S&W and Ruger sold us out once before and I’m not expecting any help from them now. I haven’t forgotten. You shouldn’t either.
Lenin once said, “The Capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them.” He couldn’t have described S&W and Ruger any better if he owned their stock.
actually, people need to find out about getting conventions and other groups to boycott and not hold their annual meetings there. . . . this will hit the tourism industry, esp with respect to skiing and hunting. I have no reason to go to colorado short of a convention or to ski so F**k’em
We need to realize as gun owners that it is now past the time for emails and letters. It’s past the time for us to be sitting in our homes watching our rights, our fellow Americans rights, taken away. The opposition has us on our heels, and we do nothing but send empty letters and keep shallow hopes that our elected government will side with us. Our best ammunition of words and reason has become scarce. We need to protest. PEACEABLY!! We as owners, collectors, advocates, extremists, citizens all need to band together and protest.
This week protesters marched on Washington, D.C. Against the keystone XML pipeline. A mere 40000 people marched for what they believe in. Yet we’re willing to sit quietly for what is right.
I live in South Africa. I am a gun owner. Gun or no gun, one does not feel safe here. The levels of crime are ridiculous. Like to start with, we have a murder rate of 32 in 100 000. That is pretty bad. Now look at one of our municipalities down the road from me Richmond, 192 in 100 000. Our rape statistics are off the charts as well. The solution of course, make it near on impossible to get a gun.
The beloved 12 bore pump gun, unless you specifically hunt bushpigs, or live on a farm where that can be considered in the cops mind as a self defence weapon, forget about it.
You are allowed 1 weapon for self/home defense, handgun or shotgun (and good luck with a shotgun) you have to get printed, registered, your safe inspected, your psych history and friends/ family will be consulted etc etc. and the license is only valid for 5 years when you have to go through the entire circus again.
You can apply under the context of occasional / dedicated sportsman where the same will be required, as well as proof of your hunting / sporting achievements, but dont think that that allows you to carry your sporting pistol for self defence. Unless you are on the way to a practice or competition, you may not carry a sporting weapon. And this waste of a perfectly good orgasm is the key reason behind this disarmament.
USA, don’t stop fighting for your rights.
I wish I used to go there so I could stop. I should plan to go and then change my mind at the last minute.