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P.O.
Box 299 Geneseo Illinois, U.S.A. 61254 Tel 309-944-6939 fax 309-944-6949
info@armalite.com
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
CONTACT:
March 28,
2007
Mark Westrom (309)944-6939
Gun Ban Zealot Fails to Answer Questions about Illinois Made Rifles
Springfield, IL -
During a hastily called news conference this morning, former gun ban
lobbyist, now State Senator, Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge) incorrectly
portrayed an Illinois manufactured ArmaLite AR-50, a bolt-action .50
caliber rifle. This embarrassing display by the anti-gun zealot was an
attempt to sway public opinion within the State House to pass SB-1471, a
.50 caliber gun ban.
As Kotowski
incorrectly described the use of the .50 caliber rifle, he stated this
rifle was designed and manufactured for law enforcement and military
applications. In contrast, Mark Westrom, President of ArmaLite, an 85
employee Geneseo, Illinois based company, stated correctly that the AR-50
displayed was, in fact a target rifle used by legitimate, law-abiding
citizens for hunting, target shooting, and collecting, not by
law-enforcement or military, to which ArmaLite has never sold an AR-50.
“Senator Kotowski was
here today to simply portray our rifle as a weapon of choice for
terrorists and easily obtained by anyone. I exploited one of his many
mistruths by explaining that this rifle is a target shooting model, and
has no military specifications,” said Westrom.
Westrom continued,
“Our manufacturing and distribution is stringently monitored by the
Federal Government, with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and
Explosives enforcing compliance with stringent laws and regulations that
control manufacturing, distribution and sales to ensure only law-abiding
citizens acquire these firearms through legal channels.”
Also during the press
conference, Kotowski expressed little remorse for the economic and social
impact that SB-1471 would have on the Illinois economy. If SB-1471 became
law, 185 jobs in the Quad Cities area would be moved out of state to
prevent the manufacturer and suppliers to ArmaLite from committing
felonies proscribed in this bill.
As a former lobbyist
for an Illinois based gun-ban organization, Senator Kotowski should know
that your word is your credibility. It is obvious to all in attendance,
that Senator Kotowski is using mistruths and not the facts to promote his
anti-gun crusade.
“If he’s willing to
be this dishonest and misrepresent our rifle, I wonder what other facts he
is omitting or not telling his colleagues.”, added Mark Westrom.
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ArmaLite, a
privately-held 85 employee firearm manufacturing company based in Geneseo,
Illinois that combined with their supplier companies (who employ 100 jobs)
supplying parts to ArmaLite would be forced to move out-of-state. This
move would place their 185 employee’s with tough choices to leave their
homes to continuing working for these companies who except for the .50
caliber AR-50 supply many of the firearms our Armed Forces and Law
Enforcement (Illinois State Police and US State Department for example)
use to defend our country and communities on a daily basis.
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