National Review On Remington

BY Herschel Smith
10 years, 8 months ago

NR:

Ilion has a spa; a shoe shop; a trio of pizza joints (Franco’s, Sorrento, and Lombardo’s); a McDonald’s; a bowling alley; and a few more of exactly the sorts of places that you’d imagine you’d find in towns of its size. Pretty much all of the businesses rely on Remington for their livelihood. “That little shoe shop, for example,” Kollitides says, pointing, “makes all of our safety shoes.”

And so Remington tends to get its way in matters civic. “They moved the town so we could expand,” I’m told by plant manager Paul Merz. “See that factory building there? That used to be the center of town.” Later, I’m shown photographs of houses literally being picked up and transported down the street to make way for the plant.

They moved the Erie Canal, too. In 1827, the company, seeking access to the new waterway and to the expanding domestic market, switched from its original location in the Remington family forge at Ilion Gulch to a new position closer to the canal. Business boomed. Eighty-eight years later, the tables were turned: To facilitate the company’s growth, the town altered the canal’s path. “Ilion has molded itself to Remington,” Kollitides smiles.

[ … ]

I ask the predictable question: Despite the plant’s history and the cohesion of the town, do New York State’s business environment and sweeping new anti-gun legislation tempt the company to move? Some disgruntled gun enthusiasts believe that manufacturers should leave states that are hostile to their interests. Remington produces many weapons that are now illegal in New York State.

In answer, I am referred to a statement that was released immediately after Governor Cuomo signed the disastrous SAFE (Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement) Act in January. It reads: “Remington will not run or abandon its loyal and hard working 1,300 employees without considerable thought and deliberation. Laws can be overturned and politicians voted out of office, but the decisions we make today will affect our people, their families and entire communities for generations.”

Charles C. W. Cooke got taken to the cleaners in this article.  He rolled over and failed to address the hard issues or press the hard questions.  He soft-pedaled one of the best questions, and was satisfied to be referred to a press release.

Every union shop knows that the company needs to operate.  That’s a horrible answer, and it doesn’t change the fact that union shops destroy companies.  Remington has recently announced expansion in North Carolina, not by any stretch a union shop state.

The labor pool will be just as good and cheaper than a union shop.  And Remington no more believes that New York is reconcilable with constitutional rights than you and I do.  Their press release kicks the can down the road and fails to deal with hard issues.   The notion that gun control can be reversed in New York is a fiction.  The answer is to move and leave New York to the consequences of its actions and decisions.

Their union shop knows the company needs to operate.  But it doesn’t, not really.  The bottom line will decide whether Remington can stay in Ilion.  As for me, I have begun to look for alternatives to that nice Remington 700 series rifle I wanted.  Too bad.  If they relocate their entire operation to the South, I might reconsider.

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Comments

  1. On July 11, 2013 at 12:11 am, DAN III said:

    I grew up in western New York state. Left when I was 17. Never looked back. The state is a beautiful state as geographics go; it’s primarily rural and a most beautiful place to visit on a warm, autumn day. The fact remains that it’s population is primarily Marxist. They believe is bigger .gov and what is yours is mine.

    I have no pity for those New Yorkers who cry they aren’t all bad Marxists. But they have done nothing to rid themselves of the Cuomo family, the Bloomberg debacle and their long-serving, career politicians from across the state. Now, the inhabitants of New York City are getting ready to install another pervert Marxist as their mayor….Anthony Weiner.

    Will they ever learn ? No.

  2. On July 11, 2013 at 5:37 am, Charles Curran said:

    It’s not only NYS, but all of New England. The recent election in Mass further points out that those folks are ignorant. I love Maine, to visit, not to live.

  3. On July 11, 2013 at 10:35 am, James Harris said:

    I’ve no doubt that, in general, the People’s Republics of New England and New York are so marxist that, for me, living there would be intolerable.

    But — just to clear up some ignorance for someone whose time there is limited — I attribute marxist/socialist tendencies to most large population centers — anywhere. So — are the People’s Republics of just prisoners of their city populations? Or are the rural folk marxist/socialist also?

  4. On July 11, 2013 at 10:42 am, Herschel Smith said:

    That’s a great question, James. It could be the former, but take note, New York is a union shop. Why? Why would people be willing to pay their hard earned money to extort companies (and eventually destroy them like the auto unions destroyed Detroit)? Why would they be willing to be subject to an overbearing, corrupt leadership with no choice but to join?

    I think it’s a mixed bag.

  5. On July 11, 2013 at 4:14 pm, Mark Matis said:

    I bought a 700 in 30-06 several years ago. Do not plan to get rid of it, but will not buy another Remington product.

  6. On July 12, 2013 at 7:48 pm, jj said:

    I too was waiting for the right time to buy a 700. I will not buy Remington now.

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