Union official blames New York's assault weapons ban for Remington move to Huntsville, AL (updated)

SYRACUSE, New York - A union official who represents Remington workers here is blaming New York's SAFE Act for the company's decision to open a new plant and bring a reported 2,000 jobs to Huntsville, Alabama. The law bans sale of assault rifles in New York, including the AR-15 made by Remington.

"It can't be good," said Fran Madore, president of United Mine Workers Local 717, which represents 1,180 of the 1,300 Remington employees in Ilion, N.Y. "How can it be good?"

Madore told Syracuse.com that the company wants to meet with him today and he assumes it is about reports that Remington is planning a major plant in Huntsville. If Remington moves jobs to Alabama, Madore said he blames the SAFE Act passed by the New York Legislature after a man carrying an assault rifle killed 20 school children and six staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

An announcement on the Remington plant is expected today in Huntsville. The news has been praised by officials and the public in Alabama since leaking over the weekend.
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The law passed in New York permits gun companies to continue making assault weapons in the state, but it bans their sale. Remington has been making firearms in Ilion, N.Y., since 1816.
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more: http://blog.al.com/breaking/2014/02/union_official_blames_new_york.html (WARNING: your browser may slow down when you access this site ...)

related story: http://www.democraticunderground.com/117224806

ETA: Remington CEO George Kollitides: NY SAFE Act was 'not a driving decision maker' in move to Huntsville

This has been the big news in H'ville area lately. Word leaked out over the weekend, and was officially confirmed by the governor today (Monday).

It's amazing the lengths a company has to go to in order to continue to sell military-style assault weapons to the public, which is absolutely essential to its business model.