I’m pretty sure that Magpul is not bluffing, here:

Colorado’s largest and most profitable manufacturer of high-capacity ammunition magazines has vowed to leave the state if lawmakers pass a measure banning the devices — a move officials with the company say could cost hundreds of jobs and upward of $85 million in potential spending this year.

Magpul’s threat has Democratic lawmakers scrambling to strike a balance that remains true to their goal of limiting the number of rounds a magazine can hold without frightening off businesses.

…and I don’t think that there’s an actual balance to be struck, either. The loss of Magpul’s hundreds of jobs (and $85 million’s worth of business per year) won’t cripple Colorado, but neither does Magpul need to stick around and operate in a state run by provincial yahoos who can’t comprehend that not everybody is as scared of guns as is the average Democratic legislator. Particularly since more than one state is actively offering to help Magpul with the relocation*: “As the debate unfolds, states have made overtures to Magpul, including offering to pay their moving costs. The company won’t name the states, but Wyoming and Texas have expressed interest in netting the $85 million the company projects it will spend in Colorado next year in payments to suppliers, subcontractors and service providers.”

It remains to be seen whether the legislature will take the hint; normally you would expect news like this to have an impact, but then usually state legislatures have not been taken over by religious fundamentalists suffering from an acute case of mass hysteria. I probably should want to see Magpul go – it supports the basic argument that there’s a reason why Republican-controlled states are doing better than Democratic-controlled ones in this anemic ‘recovery’ – but, honestly? I’d rather that the Colorado legislature got a rush of oxygen to the brain. It’s better for the country in the long run.

Moe Lane (crosspost)

*Entertainingly, more than one person has been making noises about letting Magpul go. I say ‘entertaining’ because I have yet to see one who seems to really get that money does not come from a magical tree. Certainly none of them have been able to come up with something that would replace all those jobs and all that revenue… and I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for that, either. The Internet is full of people who will be happy to tell you how they could do things better, while not actually ever doing them; and not all of them are like me (and thus, correct).