Ammunition magazine manufacturer Magpul Industries said it plans to begin leaving Colorado "almost immediately," and other firms may follow suit in the wake of a new law that limits ammunition magazine capacities.
"Our moving efforts are underway," Magpul chief operating officer Doug Smith said Wednesday. "Within the next 30 days we will manufacture our first magazine outside the state of Colorado."
One of three gun-control bills signed Wednesday by Gov. John Hickenlooper prohibits the sale of gun magazines that hold more than 15 rounds.
Erie-based Magpul, with about 200 workers, is the largest Colorado company that potentially would be affected by the bill.
Magpul said earlier this week in a Facebook posting that it " will start our transition out of state almost immediately." The company also posted, "We will likely become a multi-state operation as a result of this move, and not all locations have been selected."
The firm's departure could have a ripple effect on companies that supply parts and materials to Magpul.
"We're basically going to follow Magpul and do our best to continue being a supplier for them," said Lloyd Lawrence, owner of Denver-based Lawrence Tool & Molding. "It will probably be out of state."
Lawrence said about 50 to 60 percent of his business comes from supplying magazine parts to Magpul. He said that, ideally, the company could continue to manufacture parts in Colorado and then open an out-of-state facility where the parts would be assembled.
Lawrence said he doesn't yet know how many of his 82 employees would choose to relocate if the company moves out of Colorado.
Manufacturers could continue to make large-capacity magazines if they stamp them with dates and serial numbers.
That provision is impractical and potentially expensive, said Mark Passamaneck, owner of Wheat Ridge-based Carbon Arms, a manufacturer of parts and accessories for firearms.
He said the five-employee firm may consider moving out of state if the magazine capacity law is not overturned by future legislation or constitutional amendments.
From The Denver Post
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