PTR Industries, a Bristol company that makes semi-automatic rifles, plans to leave the state because of the state's new gun control laws and the company is calling for other gun businesses to leave with them.
The company posted a statement on its Web site, as well as its Facebook page, saying new legislation was put together hastily and restricts the ability of parents to defend their children.
The company said the bill has ambiguous definitions, as well as insufficient considerations for the trade and conflicting mandates.
“The rights of the citizens of CT have been trampled upon. The safety of its children is at best questionably improved from the day of the tragedy that triggered the events that lead us here. Finally, due to an improperly drafted bill, manufacturing of modern sporting rifles in the State of CT has been effectively outlawed. With a heavy heart but a clear mind, we have been forced to decide that our business can no longer survive in Connecticut – the former Constitution state,” the statement says.
PTR Industries, formerly known as PTR-91 Inc., says it does not have a specific location in mind to relocate to, but will be “actively considering offers from states that are friendly to the industry” and plans to identify a new site within six weeks and complete the move by the end of the year.
“We have extended the invitation to join us in the move to all of our employees, as well as all of our vendors. We are pleased to say that we currently have commitments to move from a majority of our employees, which includes ALL of our management personnel, engineering staff and skilled gunsmiths,” the statement says.
The company has between 20 and 49 employees, according to the state Department of Labor’s Web site.
Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com