Inside the Beltway: Remington gun factory to close, New York’s hostility to 2nd Amendment blamed

NEWS AND OPINION:

A New York Republican calls this “tragic news” — and she remains distressed about the loss of a historic and significant business in the Empire State.

“Due to New York State’s radical anti-Second Amendment policies and disastrous business climate, they have run Remington Arms, the country’s oldest gun manufacturer, out of New York State. The Ilion Remington plant opened its doors in 1828 and is one of the largest employers in Herkimer County in NY-21,” Rep. Elise Stefanik said in a written statement shared with Inside the Beltway.

New York’s 21st Congressional District borders Canada and Vermont — and includes the Adirondack Mountains, the Thousand Islands region and Fort Drum‚ home of the Army’s legendary 10th Mountain Division.

“It is because of New York Democrats’ unconstitutional gun grab policies that the oldest gun manufacturer in the country has been run out of the state. I have spoken with local officials and Remington Arms union members in United Mine Workers of America, and Local 717 about how we must stand up to New York’s failed unconstitutional gun bans. Gov. [Kathy] Hochul must stop her unconditional assault on the Second Amendment now,” Ms. Stefanik said.

The historic site will be shuttered in three months.

“RemArms, the current version of Remington Arms, will close its Ilion facility in early March, according to a letter the company sent union officials,” noted a report from the Utica Observer-Dispatch newspaper.

“The Company expects that operations at the Ilion Facility will conclude on or about March 4, 2024. The Company did not arrive at this decision lightly,” the aforementioned letter said, according to the report.

THE MILITARY OPTION

It was a candid conversation. Host Shannon Bream had a question for Gen. Charles Q. Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in an interview on “Fox News Sunday.” 

“What is your message to the next generation being open to joining the military, to wearing the uniform — and even more broadly, to be excited or encouraged about being part of this?” she asked the Air Force officer during an interview at the Reagan National Defense Forum, which took place in Simi Valley, California.

“The first thing I highlight is just the great opportunity — and the fact that we as a nation talk about the value of service, whether it’s in uniform, or working as a civilian, or whether you’re in Department of Defense, or some part of our government, or in your community,” the general replied.

“I think about the opportunities, and the things that young people will have the opportunity to do if they were to join our military. We’ve got to talk about that. And partly the reason I say that is because I believe young people always aspire to be what they see or know about. If you don’t know about the opportunity to serve in the military, you may never pursue that career field,” he continued.

“And so, I’d say from my own personal experience, this whole thing was my dad’s idea, supported by my mom, and I quote, ‘Four years in the military will not hurt you,’” the general observed.

Gen. Brown is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flight hours primarily in the F-16, including 130 combat hours. He also has flown 20 additional fixed and rotary-wing aircraft and deployed or directly supported Operation Southern Watch, Operation Northern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Odyssey Dawn, Operation Unified Protector, and Operation Inherent Resolve, according to his official biography.

WORD OF THE DAY

“Out-MAGA.”

Democratic National Committee spokesperson Sarafina Chitika came up with this one in a written statement released Saturday.

“Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis are desperately trying to out-MAGA each other with incredibly unpopular and dangerous agendas that would devastate hardworking families in Iowa and all over the country,” she said.

“Ronald and Donald spent years as each other’s biggest cheerleaders — now they are lacing up their clown shoes, competing to see which of them can wreak more havoc on American families by undermining affordable health care access, banning abortion nationwide, ending Social Security and Medicare as we know them, and reviving Trump’s failed Muslim travel ban. At the end of the day, Trump and DeSantis are running on the same anti-freedom MAGA agenda voters have rejected again and again — and it will cause their downfall next year,” Ms. Chitika declared.

PHRASE OF THE DAY

“Abandon Biden.”

This telling two-word edict about President Biden emerged Saturday — and by Sunday morning it had inspired 17,300 posts on X — and lots of news coverage.

And what is the backstory here? Headlines from the last 24 hours offer some insight: “Swing-state Muslim leaders launch campaign to ‘abandon’ Biden in 2024” (Politico); “U.S. Muslims pledge to ditch Biden in 2024 over his stance on Israel-Gaza war” (Al Jazeera); “Group of swing state Muslims vows to ditch Biden in 2024 over his war stance” (Associated Press); “Muslim-American voter group vows to ‘Abandon Biden’ over Gaza war” (New York Post); “Muslim Americans face ‘Abandon Biden’ dilemma – then who?” (Reuters); “Muslim American leaders launch campaign to ‘abandon’ Biden in 2024” (Yahoo News); and “U.S. Muslim leaders say they’re pulling backing for Biden in 2024 race over Gaza stance” (the Times of Israel).

POLL DU JOUR

• 86% of U.S. voters say it is “very important” for 2024 presidential candidates to talk about inflation.

• 80% say it’s very important for them to talk about affordability of health care.

• 75% say it’s very important for them to talk about Medicare and Medicaid.

• 70% cite access to mental health care, 65% cite immigration as important topics.

• 65% cite gun violence, 64% cite prescription drug costs.

• 53% cite the national opioid crisis, 52% cite abortion.

• 49% cite the future of the Affordable Care Act.

• 48% cite climate change, 44% cite aid to foreign countries.

• 22% cite COVID-19.

SOURCE: A Kaiser Family Foundation poll of 1,016 U.S. adults conducted OCt. 31-Nov. 7 and released Friday.