Smith Enterprise Stands with the Law Abiding Citizens of New Jersey Against Gov Christie's Gun Control Laws

Smith Enterprise has been halting sales of Smith’s products to state and local law enforcement agencies in states pushing for unconstitutional firearms laws such as New York, Connecticut, Colorado, California and Maryland. The latest is the State of New Jersey which has at least 20 anti-gun proposals floating through both houses of the State Legislature. The 21 bills raised in the House are now in the Senate where they may be passed into law as part of Governor Christie's "50 common sense gun restrictions"..

Smith Enterprise will not support the so-called law makers who are rolling out these measures and if enacted will cease selling their products to law enforcement and government agencies based in New Jersey.

SEI's President had this to say: "Once again another Anti-Gun State Government has decided that their current draconian gun laws are not restrictive enough and is trying to further encroach on the Second Amendment rights of its citizens. These laws do not prevent crime as they only affect the law-abiding gun owner and not the common criminal. Witness the two terrorists that wreaked havoc on Boston last week: they did not have the required state and local permits for the firearms they used to attack police officers after they were found out and were fleeing. The only thing the gun grabbers can come up with are more laws to give an illusion that they are doing something. 

New Jersey is looking to outlaw 50 caliber rifles, which are not used in crime, but by target shooters. They want to outlaw most standard types of ammunition. If these bills pass both houses of the Garden State's legislature and are signed into law by Governor Chris Christie, then New Jersey state agencies can add themselves to the list of rogue states that will not be allowed to purchase parts from Smith Enterprise."
 
In February, the New Jersey State Assembly passed 21 pieces of anti-gun legislation that are now in the state Senate and can be heard at any time. 

Below are brief descriptions of these anti-gun bills passed in the New Jersey State Assembly:

Assembly Bill 588 (Spencer / Coutinho / Deignan) – prohibits possession of commonly owned ammunition.
Assembly Bill 1116 (Fuentes / Spencer) – establishes 180-day prohibition on purchase of handgun for individuals who fail to report loss or theft of firearm.
Assembly Bill 1329 (Greenwald / Quijano / Coutinho) – reduces the maximum capacity of ammunition magazines to ten rounds.
Assembly Bill 1387 (Wilson / Johnson) – permits municipalities to establish “weapon free zones” around schools and other public facilities.
Assembly Bill 3510 (Johnson / Vainieri Huttle) – requires proof of firearms safety training as a condition for issuance of firearms purchaser identification cards and permits to purchase handguns.
Assembly Bill 3645 (Greenwald / Eustace / Mosquera) - requires ammunition sales and transfers be conducted as face-to-face transactions.
Assembly Bill 3646 (Greenwald) - establishes a regulatory system to govern the sale and transfer of ammunition.
Assembly Bill 3659 (Barnes, III / Johnson) - revises the state's definition of a destructive device to include certain firearms of 50 caliber or greater.
Assembly Bill 3666 (Cryan / O’Donnell / Jasey) - prohibits mail order, internet, telephone and any other anonymous method of ammunition sale or transfer in New Jersey.
Assembly Bill 3668 (Jasey / McKeon / Cryan) - prohibits investment by state pension and annuity funds in companies manufacturing, importing and selling “assault firearms” for civilian use.
Assembly Bill 3687 (Stender / Fuentes) - disqualifies persons named on federal Terrorist Watchlist from obtaining a state firearms identification card or permit to purchase handgun.
Assembly Bill 3717 (Lampitt / Singleton) - requires submission of certain mental health records to National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
Assembly Bill 3748 (O’Donnell / Mainor / McKeon) – outlaws the private sale or transfer of firearms.
Assembly Bill 3750 (Cryan / O’Donnell / Quijano) - establishes a regulatory and reporting program for all ammunition sales.
Assembly Bill 3754 (Cryan / O’Donnell / Quijano) - requires the seizure of firearms when mental health professional determines patient poses threat of harm to self or others.
Assembly Bill 3772 (Eustace / Wagner / Vanieri Huttle) - requires that firearms purchaser identification cards display picture and mandates that firearms purchaser identification cards be renewed every five years.
Assembly Bill 3796 (Mainor) – provides a ninety-day window for persons to dispose of certain unlawfully possessed firearms.
Assembly Bill 3797 (Mainor) – requires law enforcement to report certain firearms information to inter-jurisdictional electronic databases including the national Integrated Ballistics Identification Network.
Assembly Committee Resolution 180 (Greenwald) – urges the President and the US Congress to enact legislation enforcing stricter firearms control measures.
Assembly Bill R143 (Quijano / Cryan / O’Donnell) - expresses support for Attorney General's gun “buyback” program.
Assembly Bill R144 (Oliver) – urges Governor Christie’s Administration not to apply for annual exemption from requirements of federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.

Beretta USA to Leave Maryland, Smith Enterprise Cuts Off State Agencies and Law Enforcement to Side with the People

Smith Enterprise has been stopping the sales of Smith’s products to state and local law enforcement agencies in states pushing for unconstitutional firearms laws such as New York, Connecticut, Colorado and California. The latest is the State of Maryland whose proposed laws not only threaten the liberty of their citizens, but the livelihoods of over 400 workers from Beretta USA.

Effective immediately, Smith Enterprise will no longer sell any products to state and local law enforcement agencies located in Maryland.
 
Ron Smith, the President of Smith Enterprise said today,"Make no mistake about it, the gun grabbers are declaring war on the law-abiding. We will not run from this fight, we will not retreat.We stand beside Beretta in this fight and will not make our products available to agencies employed by the enemies of all we hold dear. I sincerely hope that more people will lend support to Beretta when they make their move out of Maryland by buying their products and making these politicians pay for their actions in the next election cycle.”

The US division of the world’s oldest gun manufacturer (in business since 1526) is considering moving its Maryland manufacturing plant and roughly 400 jobs out of the state in light of legislation passed on Thursday night.

In a 28-19 vote, Maryland's Senate gave final approval to Governor Martin O'Malley's sweeping gun control bill, sending the legislation to the governor for his promised signature.

State House minority leader Anthony J. O’Donnel (R) said,“We are pushing a legitimate manufacturer and good neighbor out of Maryland. Losing them would be a big disappointment. Maryland has a reputation for having a horrible business climate, and this would be one more nail in the coffin.”

The legislation bans the sale of so-called assault weapons (used in less than 1 percent of Maryland homicides since 2004), requires fingerprints and a license to buy a handgun, empowers state police to audit gun dealers and limits magazine capacity to 10 rounds, mirroring the regimes of New York, California and Connecticut. Other provisions of this bill would bar gun ownership for people convicted of certain violent crimes but given probation before judgment and increase the amount of information about people with mental illnesses sent to a national database for background checks.

Opponents have vowed to petition the bill to referendum. If they are successful, the law would be delayed for a year and be on the ballot for Maryland voters to consider in November 2014.

Before the vote, Sen. Nathaniel McFadden,(D-Baltimore), demonized the state's law-abiding that authorities would crack down on them.

"Wherever you are, especially if you are in the city of Baltimore, please don't have a comfort level," McFadden said. "We're coming to get you."

Smith's response was,"The audacity and brazenness of these politicians is repugnant. They turn their citizens into potential criminals with the stroke of a pen and then issue threats like this. You can 'come for them', but you will not use our products to do it.”

Once signed, the law takes effect on October 1, 2013. Gun dealers would be allowed to sell their existing inventory of the 45 makes and models of banned so-called assault weapons. Residents of Maryland who place an order before that date would still be able to purchase them.

Smith Enterprise Halts Sales to California State Agencies and Law Enforcement, Stands With the People of California

Last month Smith Enterprise halted sales of all SEI products to law enforcement agencies based in New York State due to Governor Cuomo’s newest round of anti-gun legislation in the so-called "SAFE Act". Last week Smith Enterprise did the same with regard to Colorado. Today Smith Enterprise is suspending sales of all products to all state and local law enforcement agencies in the state of California, because of proposed anti-gun legislation making its way through the State Legislature.

The California legislative session for 2013 has introduced a dozen pieces of antigun legislation in the latest effort to criminalize California gun owners and it is enough to raise the ire of Ron Smith, the President of Smith Enterprise.

Smith said today, “These anti-gunners in California are delusional. They want their constituents to believe that passing more gun control laws in addition to the hundreds that they have in place will mean an end to violent crime. These proposed laws are aimed at the millions of law-abiding California citizens who have bent over backwards to comply with their state's ridiculous demands from past legislation.

"What criminal uses a device as ridiculous as a bullet button? What criminal is going to register firearms or apply for a permit to purchase ammunition? Not one. This is political grandstanding at its worst. Smith Enterprise will not be a party to the enforcement of these illegal laws which are not only unconstitutional, but only seek to punish and make criminals of the law-abiding."

California has long been a hotbed of anti-gun political activity. The Golden State was the first state to pass an assault weapon ban with the Roberti-Roos Assault Weapons Control Act of 1989 which outlawed over 75 specifically named semiautomatic handguns, rifles and shotguns. Not content to stop there, a decade later the state banned centerfire semiautomatic rifles, shotguns and handguns based on characteristics such as the presence of a pistol grip, thumbhole stock or flash suppressor. Other legislation passed in California outlawed rifles chambered in 50 BMG in 2004 and handguns that were not submitted for safety testing to the state's Department of Justice in 2001.

The first shot across the bow of freedom came from Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D-Alameda) who introduced AB174 that would have confiscated so-called semiautomatic assault weapons which were registered and in compliance with California's laws.  This onerous bill has since been amended to remove this wording, but it was the first of a dozen.

Assemblyman Nancy Skinner (D-East Bay) has submitted AB48 which bans the sale of magazine parts kits that can hold more than ten rounds, bans the sale or transfer of ammunition by anyone other than a licensed firearms dealer and requires that all ammunition transfers must be reported to the state.

Assemblyman Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) has submitted AB169 which bans the sale of handguns no longer on California's approved list.  This leaves gun owners who lawfully possess a handgun with no means of transferring or selling the handgun, if the handgun is not on DOJ's Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale. Dickinson has also introduced AB760 which imposes a sales tax of 5 cents per round of ammunition.

President pro temp of the California State Senate, Senator Mark Steinberg (D-Sacramento) wants to ban all semiautomatic rifles, including rimfire versions, as assault weapons. SB 374 would prohibit future sales and transfers in the state and require all such rifles to be considered so-called "assault weapons".

 Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) has introduced SB47 which expands the definition of so-called assault weapons to ban the future sale of rifles that are equipped to use the “bullet button” or similar device and requires registration of all those semiautomatic rifles as “assault weapons” and subject to their restrictions. Also proposed by Yee is SB108 which requires mandatory locked storage of firearms within a locked house regardless of whether anyone is present.

Senator Kevin DeLeon (D-Los Angeles) has introduced SB53 which requires citizens to purchase an annual ammunition purchase permit and bans online and mail order sales of ammunition to California.

Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) has introduced SB293, which would ban the sale of conventional handguns, if the state Department of Justice approves the sale of “Owner Authorized – Smart” handgun technology. DeSalunier would also seek to criminalize victims of firearms theft if they fail to report the loss of their firearm within 48 hours with SB299.

Senator Hanna Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) wants to change the technical definition of a shotgun with SB567. In Jackson's mind this would include a rifled bore and remove the definition of being made to fire from the shoulder. Her office has stated that this is to purposefully go after (in Jackson's words)the "exceptionally deadly" Rossi Circuit Judge revolving rifle chambered in 45 Colt, but also capable of chambering a 410 shotgun shell. The implications of this misguided law go far beyond any one rifle and could declare a host of handguns illegal under state law as short barreled shotguns.

Finally, SB396, introduced by Senator Loni Hancock (D-East Bay), would ban the possession of any magazine with a capacity to accept more than ten rounds, including currently legally possessed  magazines that were grandfathered under the State's ban in 1999.

When asked what Californians can do, Ron Smith gave a call to action: “Now is not the time for Californians to sit on their hands. It is us versus the gun grabbers. And Smith Enterprise hopes that the good people left in California make their voices heard by contacting these legislators as soon as possible via letters, phone calls, fax and email. If these politicians continue to support these ridiculous laws, Californians must make them pay for that support at the ballot box.”

The California legislature needs to know that this tyranny against law-abiding citizens needs to stop.
Californians can write their representatives here urging them to OPPOSE the anti-gun bills listed above. 

Californians can send a letter to all elected officials in California here.  When contacting legislators, readers can copy and paste all the bill information above to ensure the elected officials of California know which bills to OPPOSE.

Until California's government opens its doors again to 2nd Amendment Freedom, Smith Enterprise will be forced to apply the laws it passes to its government agencies.

Smith Enterprise Stands with Magpul, Stops Sales to Colorado Law Enforcement and State Agencies

 

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper just signed 3 bills into law that place restrictions on the sales of firearms, magazines and ammunition. When Smith Enterprise received word of this, it was enough to make Ron Smith's blood boil.

 

Ron Smith, the President of Smith Enterprise is taking a stand against this legislation by suspending sales of his product to all state and local law enforcement agencies in the Centennial State, effective immediately. Ron Smith is also halting sales to Colorado law enforcement and state agencies in order to ensure the Colorado government practices what they preach.

 

Smith said today, “These politicians need to be held accountable for their actions and that rolls down to the people enforcing these laws. Our products will not be used against the law-abiding citizens of Colorado in the enforcement of these unjust laws which fly in the face of the US Constitution. Now let's hope that the good people of Colorado will punish Hickenlooper and other big government politicians who voted in favor of these measures at the ballot box and restore some sanity in their state.”

 

Hickenlooper’s office received some 3300 calls opposing these measures on Monday and Tuesday. The governor’s switchboard averaged one call every 18 seconds, but the voices of the law-abiding citizens of Colorado and pleas from numerous county sheriffs fell on deaf ears. Colorado, long known for its traditions of gun ownership and self-reliance, joined the ranks of New York, New Jersey, California, Massachusetts, Maryland and Illinois with their draconian laws.

 

One voice was a little louder than most, the voice of MagPul Industries, based in Erie, Colorado. The Veteran-owned business is known for producing top quality gear that works; from magazines to butt stocks to full-blown weapon systems. The laws, which take effect on July 1, would make MagPul’s P-Mags illegal to manufacture, let alone possess, in Colorado. Lawmakers offered a deal to include an exception for the company, but CEO Richard Fitzpatrick drew a line in the sand and turned it down. It was clearly an all or nothing gambit.

 

Fitzpatrick is planning on pulling up stakes and moving to greener pastures with his company, costing the State of Colorado 200 jobs and $10s of millions in tax revenue.

 

MagPul posted on the company’s Facebook page on Monday: “We will likely become a multi-state operation as a result of this move, and not all locations have been selected. We have made some initial contacts and evaluated a list of new potential locations for additional manufacturing and the new company headquarters, and we will begin talks with various state representatives in earnest. Although we are agile for a company of our size, it is still a significant footprint, and we will perform this move in a manner that is best for the company and our employees.”

 

Hinting at special interest groups from outside Colorado as being responsible for the legislation, MagPul wrote: “It is disappointing to us that money and a social agenda from outside the state have apparently penetrated the American West to control our legislature and Governor, but we feel confident that Colorado residents can still take the state back through recalls, ballot initiatives, and the 2014 election to undo these wrongs against responsible Citizens.”

 

MagPul’s first manufacturing effort outside of Colorado is planned to commence within a month with the company’s staple product: the P-Mag and they will be gone from Erie by year's end. In another bold move, MagPul has halted all sales to law enforcement agencies in states with prohibitive firearms laws. In a statement on the company's website Fitzpatrick wrote:

 

"With the fight in Colorado right now we do not have time to implement a new program, so I have suspended all LE sales to ban states until we can implement a system wherein any Law Enforcement Officer buying for duty use will have to promise to uphold their oath to the US Constitution - specifically the second and fourteenth amendments - as it applies to all citizens."

 

Last month Smith Enterprise halted sales of our products to law enforcement agencies based in New York State due to Governor Cuomo’s newest round of anti-gun legislation in the so-called "SAFE Act". Today we are taking that same stance alongside MagPul Industries and are, effective immediately, suspending sales of our products to all state and local law enforcement agencies in the state of Colorado.

 

When asked about Magpul, Ron Smith gave a call to action: “Magpul is on our team. It is us versus them (the gun grabbers). And Smith Enterprise doesn’t leave fallen comrades on the battlefield. We always pick up our wounded. We have Magpul’s back and hope Magpul finds a suitable place for their new operation. I hope more people support them by buying their products and making the politicians pay at the ballot box.”

 

It is in times like these when every manufacturer in the Industry has to take a stand for what is right in defiance of tyranny.

 

Smith Enterprise stands with MagPul and with the people of Colorado.