The day after one manufacturer figures out that there is a huge untapped market of law enforcement agencies who would be willing to sign long term supply contracts for the appropriate law enforcement weapons (independent of their status for private citizens), this will crumble.

Deep Throat (no silly, not that one...the other one...Mark Felt) said it best. "Follow the Money".

They don't buy tons of firearms. And once a weapon is added to the inventory it is used for many years. Sales to lawful citizens account for far more revenue and less headache.

Law enforcement can do just fine with the same firearms available to lawful citizens. Oh, and my duty weapons are a Colt 1911, a Smith and Wesson revolver, and a shotgun. Police work isn't about being all high speed and low drag. It's about being able to deal with people and the incredible messes they get into.

Yeah, right. Yeah sure. Venerable??!?!

This Serbu sounds like the kind of creature I imagine gun manufacturers to be.

if only manufacturers of other products were willing to act on principal once in a while, as opposed to chasing dollars regardless the cost, we may be in a better place..

What kind of creature do you imagine him to be exactly?

Wasn't even his idea. Barrett more famously started it when he wouldn't sell or service his firearms owned by California law enforcement.

Forking brilliant.

Can a firearms manufacturer lose its license to manufacture due to incompetence?

incompetence would be if the gun manufacturer put the triggers in backwards- not a political statement

Who needs semi-automatic rifles if they have APCs, ultrasound-guns that make you puke, microwave-guns that make you feel like you are burning alive, extremely strong stink- and chili-bombs...

Freedom Arms Group loves the shit out of this.

on gun boards about this.
They are not the only ones taking this principled stance, but sadly it will be ineffective for several reasons.
1) Unless LARGE LE suppliers like Glock, Sig, Beretta, or Smith & Wesson get involved, LE will just buy or put out for RFP to someone else, who will fill the order to spec.
Now, this may not work for Westport, CT, but I assure you, if the largest PD in the world (NYPD) asks GLOCK to build them a 50 BMG rifle, they will. They've proven that in the past - they designed 3 different features for Glocks to satisfy NYPD's trigger requirement.
Beretta has done same. Once that Jeanie is out of the bottle, all LE will be able to take advantage.

2) Even if the large mfg's DID get involved, as usual, the Gov't has the big stick. These companies as well as retailers cannot operate within the state without authorization (taxes, other regulation, etc.) The state can say "Well, if you won't sell LE what they want, Im revoking your [insert name of document here]. For example, an FFL needs a separate dealer license from CT (in addition to an FFL) to sell at retail.

3) In the worst case scenario, how difficult would it be for someone like Mike Bloomberg to create a company to manufacture firearms ONLY for sale to LE. He is also pretty "principled" that ONLY NYPD should posess guns in NYC. He would be able to operate a break even, and undercut any other mfg's anyway in the LEO market.

You know, I am pretty vocal about saying "Gun bans don't work to prevent gun violence"
They won't work to bend a state government to their will either.

Principled stand, but sadly, total fail.

The anti-gun contingent jumps on the manufacture's case immediately but it never occurs to them why a police dept. is looking to buy a .50 BMG semi-auto sniper rifle in the first place.

They don't have the first clue what it is.... Until YOU TOLD THEM!!!
SHHHHH!!!!!!

Finally, I get to ask the question that so vexes a horde of gun controllers. Perhaps they can answer this, since they are so used to asking this.

Sell? It was only an inquiry.

A public relations stunt playing to the gun nut Bubbas.

until then these 4 or 5 orders won't make a difference to the bottom line.


When Glock takes a stand for the citizens rights and refuses to sell I'll celebrate.