RemArms, the latest incarnation of Remington, has announced its departure from New York in a significant blow to the state’s firearm industry. The closure of its manufacturing operations in Ilion, New York, and the subsequent consolidation in La Grange, Georgia, highlights the challenging political environment of the Empire State. Remington has been manufacturing firearms in Ilion for well over 150 years. According to union officials, the facility currently has about 270 employees.
RemArms CEO Ken D’Arcy expressed deep sadness over the closure of the historic Ilion facility, emphasizing the dedicated workforce but citing the prohibitive cost of maintaining old buildings and New York’s unfavorable legislative environment as primary reasons for the move. The departure reflects the broader firearm industry’s response to hostile legislative landscapes, where anti-Second Amendment sentiments dominate and any gun control or anti-hunting bill faces a serious risk of becoming law.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, once allegedly pro-Second Amendment, has shifted her political stance in favor of stringent gun control measures. Dismissing the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Bruen, she has embraced even more restrictive policies, disregarding the potential impact on the firearm industry. Her alignment with the damaging legacy of the NY SAFE Act, initiated by former Governor Andrew Cuomo, further contributes to the industry’s dissatisfaction.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has also intensified efforts to circumvent federal regulations by targeting firearm manufacturers through the state’s ‘public nuisance’ law. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is actively challenging these attempts in court.
RemArms’ offer to repurpose its Ilion facility for mass-producing personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 panic was notably ignored by then-Governor Cuomo, exemplifying the state’s disdain for the firearm industry.
In response to D’Arcy’s announcement, pro-Second Amendment officials, including U.S. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and New York state Senator Joe Griffo, criticized Governor Hochul’s policies. Stefanik attributed RemArms’ departure to New York Democrats’ “unconstitutional gun grab policies” and called for an end to the assault on the Second Amendment.
State Assemblymen Robert Smullen and Brian Miller, along with Republican state Senator Mark Walczyk, echoed concerns about burdensome regulations, high taxes, and problematic policies driving businesses away from the state. RemArms’ decision marks at least the 20th instance of a firearm business relocating to more welcoming states in recent years.
This trend reinforces the industry’s commitment to investing in states that value and respect the contributions of the firearm industry, sending a clear message to elected officials about the consequences of anti-gun policies.
