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Colorado, Magpul and the Second Amendment Need Your Help

Monday, February 11th, 2013

While anti-gun legislation doesn’t seem to be gathering much steam on the national stage, it’s already taking hold like a cancer at the state level. This time it’s Colorado and our friends Magpul Industries have put out a call to those who support the Second Amendment to help in the legislative struggle for that state.

They issued the following statement:

In addition to the national battle to protect our firearms rights, many states are currently engaged in their own fights. Here in CO, a state with a strong heritage of firearm and other personal freedoms, we are facing some extreme challenges to firearms rights. We have been engaged in dialogue with legislators here presenting our arguments to stop legislation from even being introduced, but our efforts did not deter those of extreme views.

After the NRAs visit last week, several anti-freedom bills were introduced by CO legislators, and a very aggressive timeline has been set forth in moving these bills forward.

The bills include:
HB 1229, Background checks for Gun Transfers–a measure to prohibit private sales between CO residents, and instead require a full FFL transfer, including a 4473.

HB 1228, Payment for Background Checks for Gun Transfers– a measure that would require CO residents to pay for the back logged state-run CBI system (currently taking 3 times the federally mandated wait time for checks to occur) instead of using the free federal NICS checks.

And finally, HB 1224, Prohibiting Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines–a measure that bans the possession, sale, or transfer of magazines over 10 round capacity. The measures and stipulations in this bill would deprive CO residents of the value of their private property by prohibiting the sale or transfer of all magazines over 10 rounds. This bill would also prohibit manufacture of magazines greater than 10 rounds for commercial sale out of the state, and place restrictions on the manufacture of military and law enforcement magazines that would cripple production.

We’d like to ask all CO residents to please contact your state legislators and the members of the Judiciary Committee and urge them to kill these measures in committee, and to vote NO if they reach the floor.

We also ask you to show your support for the 2nd Amendment at the Capitol on Tuesday, Feb 12, for the magazine ban committee hearing and Wednesday,
Feb 13, for the hearing on the other measures.

Due to the highly restrictive language in HB 1224, if passed, and we remained here, this measure would require us to cease PMAG production on July 1, 2013.

In short, Magpul would be unable to remain in business as a CO company, and the over 200 jobs for direct employees and nearly 700 jobs at our subcontractors and suppliers would pick up and leave CO. Due to the structure of our operations, this would be entirely possible, hopefully without significant disruption to production.

The legislators drafting these measures do so in spite of the fact that nothing they are proposing will do anything to even marginally improve public safety in CO, and in fact, will leave law-abiding CO residents less able to defend themselves, strip away rights and property from residents who have done nothing wrong, and send nearly 1000 jobs and millions in tax revenue out of the state.

We like CO, we want to continue to operate in CO, but most of all, we want CO to remain FREE.

Please help us in this fight, and let your voices be heard!

We have included the contact information for the House Judiciary committee for your convenience:

House Judiciary Committee
Rep. Daniel Kagan, Chair: 303-866-2921, repkagan@gmail.com
Rep. Pete Lee, Vice Chair: 303-866-2932, pete.lee.house@state.co.us
Rep. John Buckner: 303-866-2944, john.buckner.house@state.co.us
Rep. Lois Court: 303-866-2967, lois.court.house@state.co.us
Rep. Bob Gardner, 303-866-2191, bob.gardner.house@state.co.us
Rep. Polly Lawrence, 303-866-2935, polly.lawrence.house@state.co.us
Rep. Mike McLachlan, 303-866-2914, mike.mclachlan.house@state.co.us
Rep. Rep Carole Murray, 303-866-2948, murrayhouse45@gmail.com
Rep. Brittany Pettersen, 303-866-2939, brittany.pettersen.house@state.co.us
Rep. Joseph Salazar, 303-866-2918, joseph.salazar.house@state.co.us
Rep. Jared Wright, 303-866-2583, jared.wright.house@state.co.us

Tags: Magpul
Posted in 2A, Black Rifle, Industry | 29 Comments »

Grey Ghost Gear to Launch Civy Pack Line Called G3

Saturday, February 9th, 2013

Idaho-based Grey Ghost Gear told us that they are launching a civilian pack line called G3. They will start out with three pack: Large 2218 cubic inches, Medium 1345 cubic inches and Small 375 cubic inches. These bags will be manufactured in the same factory that Karrimor uses so we are looking at great quality. In case you’re wondering, these will be made overseas, for the civilian market just like all of the other packs on the civilian side.

Tags: G3, Grey Ghost Gear
Posted in Industry, Off-Duty, Outdooralamode, Packs | 6 Comments »

LaRue Tactical Issues New Sales Policy for State and Local Agencies

Friday, February 8th, 2013

Earlier today, LaRue Tactical issued this press release.

NEWS RELEASE:
02/08/2013 LEANDER, TX.

Updated Policy for State and Local Agency Law Enforcement Sales:

Due to the recent and numerous new Anti-gun/Anti-2nd Amendment laws passed and/or pending across our country, LaRue Tactical has been forced to reconsider how we provide products to state and local agencies.

Effective today, in an effort to see that no legal mistakes are made by LaRue Tactical and/or its employees, we will apply all current State and Local Laws (as applied to civilians) to state and local law enforcement / government agencies. In other words, LaRue Tactical will limit all sales to what law-abiding citizens residing in their districts can purchase or possess.

State and local laws have always been a serious focus of this firm, and we are now dovetailing that focus with the constitutional rights of the residents covered in their different areas by the old and new regulations.

We realize this effort will have an impact on this firm’s sales – and have decided the lost sales are less danger to this firm than potential lawsuits from erroneous shipments generated by something as simple as human error.

Thanks in advance for your understanding.

Mark LaRue

* * This policy does not apply to Military / Federal Agencies * *

www.LaRue.com

Tags: LaRue Tactical
Posted in 2A, Industry | 212 Comments »

Abbate Convicted of 1 Count of Child Molestation, Acquitted of 23 Others

Friday, February 8th, 2013

I was looking over my web stats last night and I noticed a lot of visits to a story on former GLOCK shooting coach William Abbate. He was arrested in 2011 for “child molestation, aggravated child molestation, enticing a child for indecent purposes, sexual exploitation of children and statutory rape.” After a couple of delays he was tried in Henry County, Georgia.

After two days of deliberation, a jury convicted him of a single count of child molestation. Specifically, that count surrounded an assertion that he provided a sex toy to a minor. According to the Henry Herald, Billy Abbate will be sentenced February 15 and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.

This isn’t over yet, while Abbate may been found not guilty of the vast majority of the charges in Georgia, he still faces similar charges in the victim’s home state of Virginia. What will happen there remains to be seen.

Tags: William Abbate
Posted in Industry | 6 Comments »

CORTAC And Survival Armor Join Forces to Bring the CTAV to Body Armor

Thursday, February 7th, 2013

You may have seen the ADS video on this lashup during SHOT Show. Basically, what’s happening is that CTAV maker CORTAC and Survival Armor have entered into an exclusive agreement to integrate the Cooling and Trauma Attenuating Vest (CTAV) panels into Survival Armor’s body armor carriers. CTAV is an “Advanced Impact Resistance Technology creates a “behind armor thermoregulated microclimate [that] promotes convection while vented panels improve heat dissipation.”

“We couldn’t ask for a better partner in this endeavor than Survival,” said Jeremy Harrell, President of CORTAC. “They are well known for ground-breaking advances in the industry, so teaming up with us to integrate the CTAV into their armor is the latest in a long list of pioneering efforts on their part and we’re pleased to be working with them.”

Until now, the CTAV has only been available as an after-market accessory purchase to be affixed onto armor carriers. By integrating the CTAV panels into armor carrier systems, CORTAC claims that users can have a CTAV experience with greater seamlessness and ease, while enjoying the strength and protection of Survival’s body armor.

“CORTAC and their CTAV product obviously took the industry by storm when it launched early last year and we immediately realized the game-changing impact they were making,” said Kurt Osborne, Vice President of Survival Armor. “We’re proud to be working with the folks at CORTAC and we appreciate their partnership.

Tags: CORTAC, Survival Armor
Posted in Armor, Industry | 2 Comments »

There’s Still Time to Pre-Register for GLOCK ID

Wednesday, February 6th, 2013

Just as SHOT Show opened, GLOCK launched pre-registration for their Online Community, GLOCK ID. Their initial goal was 10,000 members and having already exceeded that number, they’ve extended this pre-registration offer to 20,000.

“GLOCK ID pre-registration popularity has shown our fans are eager for more dialogue with each other and with GLOCK,” explained Josh Dorsey, GLOCK Vice President. “Expanding the pool of pre-registrants to 20,000 is an exciting step in the path to the launch date in just a few short weeks. Those who have pre-registered will have exclusive early access to the community, before it’s opened to the general public at a later date.”

GLOCK ID offers members several key components:

a virtual gun safe to keep track of range time, cleaning dates and more;
training lessons;
a community Q&A for peer discussion;
an engaging process for earning points and ‘patches’ to rank up and earn GLOCK rewards.

GLOCK ID members have the opportunity to contribute and participate with other GLOCK enthusiasts while earning points, which ultimately lead to GLOCK rewards that can only be earned by interacting with GLOCK ID and its members.

The ranks and rewards structure encourages competition and engagement. By participating in various activities (watching a training video, answering fellow members’ questions, logging time at the range, etc.), members of GLOCK ID can earn patches. Those patches translate into points, which then designate a member’s rank within the community. Finally, those rank levels determine tangible rewards from GLOCK.

id.glock.us/pre-register

Tags: Glock
Posted in Industry, weapons | 2 Comments »

Federal Court Affirms Hydrapak Victory Over Source Vagabond

Monday, February 4th, 2013

Hydrapak issued this press release regarding the United States Federal Appellate Court affirmation of the dismissal of a law suit brought by Source Vagabond in 2011 alleging patent infringement by Hydrapak.

Hydrapak, a leading global supplier of active-lifestyle hydration equipment, announced that the United States Federal Appellate Court affirmed its victory over Source Vagabond Systems in a 2011 patent-infringement lawsuit.

In a one-word ruling, the court “affirmed” the decision made in April 2012 by the U.S. District Court Judge Colleen McMahon, which dismissed Source Vagabond’s claims of patent infringement.

In a related decision, the Hon. Judge James L. Cott recommended a sanction amount of $187,000 in the favor of Hydrapak for the frivolous filing of the lower court case. This recommendation now goes to Judge McMahon for her ruling.

“Once again, the courts have validated the integrity of our work,” said Matt Lyon, President of Hydrapak. “We are thrilled to move forward from this chapter and continue to create superior hydration systems.”

Hydrapak, which has steadily gained market share in the military, industrial and law enforcement categories, recently announced two separate partnerships with top military designer and manufacturer, London Bridge Trading, and leading distributor and U.S. Prime Vendor Source One Distributors.

“By mirroring our successful recreation business model of partnering with industry and worldwide brands, Hydrapak continues to gain market share in the hydration category on the Military, LE and Industrial fronts,” Lyon added.

Source Vagabond’s 2011 lawsuit contended that the top closure system used in Hydrapak’s Reversible Reservoir II infringed upon Source Vagabond’s patent.

Even before the suit was dismissed last April, Hydrapak was awarded its own patent on its unique and novel closure method – a tacit acknowledgment of the company’s pioneering design and intellectual property.

www.hydrapak.com

Tags: Hydrapak, Source Hydration
Posted in Industry | Comments Off on Federal Court Affirms Hydrapak Victory Over Source Vagabond

Thales Appoints Todd Borkey as Chief Technology Officer and Strategic Initiatives Lead for US Communications Business

Friday, February 1st, 2013

Thales has announced that Todd Borkey is now on board as their CTO and Strategic Initiatives Lead. Congratulations!

Thales Communications, Inc., a global leader in the development, manufacture, and support of tactical communications products for warfighters and first responders, has appointed Todd Borkey as the company’s Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Strategic Initiatives. Mr. Borkey is responsible for leading the management of a diverse portfolio of businesses and products, including Sonars, Ship Combat Management Systems, Helmet Mounted Displays, Cyber Security, Training and Simulation, and Radars. This includes identifying additional business areas for company expansion in the U.S. defense and security market and leading the company’s initiatives to extend the scope and reach within U.S. markets for the products and systems of the global Thales organization.

Mr. Borkey is a proven business leader with extensive experience in general management, programs, and business development. He comes to Thales from DRS Defense Solutions, where, as Chief Technology Officer since 2007, he led the strategic planning, innovation, and IR&D process for its diverse $1.3 billion defense business. Prior to DRS, Mr. Borkey served as Director of Business Development for Northrop Grumman’s Government Systems Division. Earlier in his career, he held a range of engineering assignments at AT&T Bell Labs and Sandia Labs.

“Todd’s expertise and leadership will be instrumental in the continued growth of our company,” said Michael Sheehan, President and CEO of Thales Communications, Inc. “With the expansion of our capabilities and our product portfolio, we are well positioned to significantly increase our offerings, and our value, to our customers.”

Mr. Borkey received a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from the Stevens Institute of Technology and an undergraduate degree in Applied Mathematics.

www.thalescomminc.com

Tags: Thales
Posted in Comms, Industry | Comments Off on Thales Appoints Todd Borkey as Chief Technology Officer and Strategic Initiatives Lead for US Communications Business