In the growing debate about gun control and the various laws proposed to restrict firearms and magazine capacity, some firearm manufacturers around the nation are threatening to pull back.
More than 70 U.S. companies, ranging from gun shops to gun machinists, are calling for an end to “the police loophole” through a reverse boycott to local and state governments that enact any legislation that infringes upon the Second Amendment.
The companies are publicly refusing to sell any weapons or gear to police where governments have banned the use by civilians.
“There are some states, counties, cities, and municipalities in our great nation that fail to allow their citizens to fully exercise their right to keep and bear arms with restrictions such as magazine capacity or types of firearms that are widely available to citizens of other states, countries, cities, and municipalities,” the group’s website says. “However, these government entities do not place these restrictions upon their own employees, such as police officers.”
The group’s website says they are not against any government agency or individual, but are against gun control.
Idaho-based company Quality Arms joined the movement, saying the company has been under attack from “liberal minded individuals who feel we are the problem of today’s society.” The company says politicians have jumped on the bandwagon to bolster their egos and wish to “destroy the very existence as to how and why those laws came about.”
“We at Quality Arms are against any politician, law enforcement official, and any other organization who feel it is their right and purpose to destroy the freedoms and liberties of the citizens of this country,” the website says. “(We) will not supply any firearm or product, manufactured by us, or any other company nor will we warranty, repair, alter, or modify any firearm owned by any state, county or municipality who infringes on the right of its citizens to bear arms under the 2nd amendment (sic).”
Quality Arms builds semi-automatic sporting rifles used by civilians and law enforcement agencies. Proposed laws by the federal government and some state governments would prohibit many of the firearms the company makes.
Following the shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., Sen. Dianne Fienstein, D-Calif., reintroduced her Federal Assault Weapons Ban act, which would ban more than 150 firearms classified as “assault weapons.” The legislation also prohibits the sale or manufacture of any magazine that is capable of 10 rounds.
The bill, which many gun advocates say limits the rights allowed under the Second Amendment, is expected to be heard on the Senate floor this week.
