Les Baer bids adios to Ill.

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He's had enough. Moving to Iowa.>
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/17266371.htm

Associated Press

LECLAIRE, Iowa - An Illinois gun maker plans to move to Iowa after
the LeClaire City Council agreed to sell city-owned land to the company.

The council voted Monday to approve the sale of the land to Les Baer
Custom for $10,000.

The company is currently based in Hillsdale, Ill., but its owner, Les
Baer, decided to move after Illinois lawmakers proposed a ban on
the distribution, sales and manufacturing of semiautomatic weapons.

Baer hopes to move into a one-story steel building on LeClaire's west
side by November. The building will be used to make custom 1911
revolvers and AR .223 caliber rifles, he said.

The move initially will create 14 jobs with a total of at least 18 jobs
by 2010, Baer said.

Initial opposition to the plan quieted and no one spoke in opposition
of the project during Monday's meeting.

Rick Reed, president of the LeClaire Chamber of Commerce said the
custom firearms company will help strengthen the city's manufacturing
base.

"We're thrilled to see Les Baer will be coming to our community, and
we welcome new businesses and manufacturing to LeClaire," Reed
said.

The council also voted to give Les Baer $150,000 in tax increment financing.
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Up to 18 jobs lost due to Ill's possible semi-auto ban. Iowa wins, Ill loses.
 
You would thinka reporter would do just a TINY bit of homework when writing an article on a subject they clearly know nothing about...
 
Don't misunderstand me, but it may work to our (progun) advantage if all gun manufacturers leave the state. I hate to see it happen, however at least then we can point to a loss of jobs and tax revenue as a result of their (antigun) misguided legislation. It's not much, but it is another rock to throw at them.
 
Good for Iowa. Iowa is a well run state with good business laws. I have been amazed by how much it has grown in the past five years.
 
Longterm this is good news. It's part of a larger trend that is driving freedom-loving Americans from authoritarian strongholds. This means that instead of having a whole bunch of patriotic Americans scattered in isolated pockets across the continent you end up with whole cities, even states full of them. It's just a slower version of the free state project.
 
Awesome. I hope he follows the Barret business model.

"Oh? You're going to use my wares to take 'em away from other people? Yeah, um... no sales or service for you."

:D

(and R127 - good observation!)

-K
 
My only regret in this is that Mr. Baer and Company did not choose to move to Ohio.

But otherwise, yeah, "Good on ya, mate" for sticking it to Emperor "DICK" Daley II, and Guv. "Hot Rod" Roddy Blago. :D:evil::D:evil:

If I said what my brother has informed me that the correct pronunciation of Guv Roddy's name is, I wouldn't be within 1,000 miles of "The High Road". :eek:

For you Good Guys still stuck in ILL-inois, sorry for the loss of a good company. I don't own any of Mr. Baer's offerings, but I have gotten to shoot one of his 1911's. SWEEEEEEET! :D:D

I realize that Les Baer & Company are less than 25 people, but if it starts a trend, and say Springfield Armory flees Geneseo, Ill, followed by Armalite and DSA (??) from their respective locations, well that would be a SIGNIFICANT impact on Illinois economy. I seem to very vaguely recall seeing somewhere that Springfield Armory was one of the top 2 or 3 employers in Geneseo.
 
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I seem to very vaguely recall seeing somewher that Springfield Armory was one of the top 2 or 3 employers in Geneseo.
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Springfield, Armalite, and the school district, IIRC.
 
I think Barret and Baer ar just the first two, the more I look, the more arms companies, and large ones at that are in the front line states. Berretta in Acokeek, MD, Kimber in Yonkers, NY Springfield Armory, IL, Colt, and the list goes on. I myself have been looking to move to a state that better represents me and my interests, hopefully near some family in Texas in a year or two. I think that you don't just vote at the ballots in november, but every day with your dollar, and for wherever you choose to hang your hat.
 
Well if there new law passes Armalite and Springfield Armory will be leaving. Its really sad that they do not care about the impact of their new laws, Especially when the intended impact, to lower violent crime rates (especially the murder rate), does not happen.
 
My only regret in this is that Mr. Baer and Company did not choose to move to Ohio.
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There's still Rock River, and here in Rocky River, there will soon be a vacant Target store when they move up the street to the new mall. Just the place for them, and a bargain no doubt. If they don't like that, there's a vacant Giant Eagle grocery store opposite it. Probably cheaper still.
 
Well if there new law passes Armalite and Springfield Armory will be leaving.
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Tecumseh - Any articles or press releases to back that up? Not that I doubt you, I just know that sometimes rumors get circulated and start to look like fact. If it's indeed a statement from the horses's mouth, so to speak - I just gained a huge amount of new respect for both Springfield and Armalite. (not that I was lacking any to begin with, you understand)
 
There are a lot of reasons that a lot of businesses are looking to, and have, moved out of IL. The main one is the high taxes and the governor's proposed gross receipt tax which will drive out a lot of businesses. If the GRT passes it will be the largest tax increase in IL history and numerous businesses have announced they'll move or close their doors.
 
I'm sad that Les Baer didn't move to Michigan, where my college is located--one Hillsdale to another, eh? :D

If he'dve moved to Louisville, I'd be REALLY happy. But, hopefully the GRT WILL pass in ILL, and businesses leave the state, resulting in high unemployment, etc, showing that the "anti-gun super-liberal agenda" is, ultimately, bad for a state, and will lead to evacuation by anyone with sanity who wants a job.
 
But, hopefully the GRT WILL pass in ILL, and businesses leave the state, resulting in high unemployment, etc
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The GRT is not directed at the gun industry but ALL businesses in IL which has gross receipts in excess of whatever the governor and legislature agree upon. I believe the governor is now asking for all business over $3 mil gross receipts. Note that's tax on "gross receipts" not net or profit.
 
The President of Armalite told a committee meeting that Armalite would leave several years ago while debating a very similar measure. Barack Obama was there, but he was a nobody outside Illinois back then.
Anyway, he sounded dead serious to me.

Springfield Armory HAS told the AP and the SJ-R's capitol bureau that they'll leave. The links are out there if you look. I hate it, but I can't blame them. They don't know what the next foolishness will be.

I don't agree that their leaving will improve anything for gun owners. The people behind these laws are overjoyed to see death merchants leave. They couldn't care less about those jobs.
 
This is the great Gunnie right wing conspiracy we keep hearing so much about. First the draconian gun laws that IL, NY, CA, and MD pass send the gun manufacturers packing for greener pastures in the midwest and south. Secondly, more infringes on good law abiding citizens rights sends good law abiding citizens packing for greener pastures in the midwest and south. Thirdly, after the arrival of thousands of gun toting, law abiding friendly folk from all around, the local bad guys will seek easier targets back in the sheep filled states. Then Global Warming puts the east coast under water, earthquakes spit CA into the pacific, and we might as well let Canada annex chicago. We will have all the food, all the guns, very few bad guys, and beutiful Las Vegas oceanfront property. Lastly you will see millions of really happy gunnies at the biggest BBQ the world has ever seen. brings a tear to the eye doesn't it.
 
This is the great Gunnie right wing conspiracy we keep hearing so much about. First the draconian gun laws that IL, NY, CA, and MD pass send the gun manufacturers packing for greener pastures in the midwest and south. Secondly, more infringes on good law abiding citizens rights sends good law abiding citizens packing for greener pastures in the midwest and south. Thirdly, after the arrival of thousands of gun toting, law abiding friendly folk from all around, the local bad guys will seek easier targets back in the sheep filled states. Then Global Warming puts the east coast under water, earthquakes spit CA into the pacific, and we might as well let Canada annex chicago. We will have all the food, all the guns, very few bad guys, and beutiful Las Vegas oceanfront property. Lastly you will see millions of really happy gunnies at the biggest BBQ the world has ever seen. brings a tear to the eye doesn't it.
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:p
ROFL! You owe me a keyboard.:neener:
 
They couldn't care less about those jobs.
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That's probably true, at least right now. But I have to think, that if what some here have already said about Armalite and Springfield being #'s 1 & 2 in employment in their area is true, how long they will keep that outlook on those lost jobs?

I think that you're absolutely correct in the fact that they're probably overjoyed in the gun manufacturers leaving, but I also think that they don't really believe that they'll lose the companies that are threatening to pack up and leave, and thus have no idea what they'd be losing out on.
 
Eightball said;
But, hopefully the GRT WILL pass in ILL, and businesses leave the state, resulting in high unemployment, etc, showing that the "anti-gun super-liberal agenda" is, ultimately, bad for a state, and will lead to evacuation by anyone with sanity who wants a job.
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Hopefully they will ban all guns and sharp objects one could hurt themselves with in KY. That way we can see another shining example of liberalism in action on the other side of the Ohio. :fire:

That's real smart, let's divide ourselves into state and regional factions so that eventually we all lose our rights. :banghead: The fight in Illinois is your fight too. If you think for one minute that you are immune to this kind of nonsense you're dead wrong. We need to fight on every front.

If you think for one minute that the loss of the few jobs the gun manufacturers have in Illinois matters much to the already poor state economy, you're wrong. The entire shooting industry nationwide is such a small part of the national economy that it wouldn't be missed anymore then we miss the buggy whip manufacturers.

I am so sick of the 'I've got mine, screw you guys in the other states attitude, I'm about to start donating money to the gun control advocacy groups in the other states...If we don't stand together we'll surely lose the battle.

We have met the enemy and it is us. - pogo

Jeff
 
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