New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, and their mouthpieces at the Daily News, are promoting an “investigation” they did regarding both Remington and Kimber receiving economic development grants from the state and are somehow trying to link this with microstamping:
“… Two gun-makers who have opposed a police-favored bill for bullet microstamping received more than $6 million in state economic development funds since 2009, the Daily News has learned. Most of the grant money, $5.6 million, went to the Remington Arms Company, which threatened recently to leave New York if the state passes a microstamping measure … The taxpayer-funded economic development dough was intended to create jobs — but Kimber Manufacturing in Yonkers, a recipient of $700,000 in grants, warned in a recent letter to Cuomo that micro-stamping would lead to an increase in production costs, which could in turn jeopardize job safety for some workers … The economic investment comes as Mayor Bloomberg, a major backer of microstamping, has railed against the scourge of illegal firearms in the city …”
And their point would be, what? New York gives out all sorts of development grants to companies who, unlike NYAGV, employ hundreds/thousands of skilled workers who make the economy work. There was no need to file freedom of information requests for the information. I’ve seen it mentioned on government websites and in the media before. It’s not like anyone is trying to hide something here. Just use Google, Yahoo or Bing.
In fact, guess who is responsible for Remington getting government contracts to make M24s and M4s for the military at the Illion plant? Chuck Schumer, that’s who.
From Schumer’s office, “Schumer announces Remington Arms Company set to receive $8.9 million Army Contract“:
“Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced the Remington Arms Company is set to receive $8.9 million from the U.S. Army to manufacture 1,212 M24 sniper rifles used by servicemen and women serving in Afghanistan. The funding is part of a federal contract through the Army Foreign Military Sales program. All of the production of the M24 sniper rifles will take place at Remington Arms’ Ilion facility by local employees, strengthening Remington’s position as a major regional employer …”
From the Observer-Dispatch, “Remington Arms lands $83.9M project, adding up to 50 jobs“:
“Remington Arms has been awarded an $83.9 million contract that will create up to 50 jobs in the community, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer’s Office confirmed Saturday. The contract is for manufacturing more than 100,000 M-4 rifles for the U.S. Army and also will allow the plant to buy new equipment and expand its facility, Schumer said … A year ago, Remington Arms announced it would hire about 150 new employees in order to fold operations previously performed at other plants …”
Funny how both NYAGV and the DN fail to mention this.
What does all this have to do with microstamping? Nothing. Gun control has been getting increasingly unpopular in Albany and this absurd attempt to link these things together shows just how desperate the antis have become.