Statement On Remington Arms

James L. Seward

May 16, 2014

ONEONTA, 05/16/14 -- State Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I – Oneonta) today commented on the announcement from Remington Arms that the Bushmaster and 1911 assembly lines will be relocated from Ilion, New York to Huntsville, Alabama: 

“Remington Arms has a storied history in Ilion and I know that the decision to shift jobs out of New York is not made lightly.   As the company shutters operations in other states like North Carolina, Utah, and Georgia to move them to the new Alabama plant in order to achieve efficiencies, it is at least reassuring that one-thousand good paying jobs will remain here in the Mohawk Valley.  However, the fact that the lines being moved out are for products now more strictly regulated in New York due to the overreaching SAFE-Act sends a strong, obvious message.

“Moving forward, I stand ready to assist Remington in meeting their needs in the Mohawk Valley, and that includes securing state support to help with facility upgrades at the company’s birthplace.  

“A concerted effort is needed in Albany to show Remington unified support - and that includes a revision of the state’s excessive anti-gun laws - otherwise I am afraid additional jobs, and families, will be forced to move south.”

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