Smith and Wesson and sales to Cali
We know that they (and Ruger) will no longer sell their pistols there due to the stupid microstamping law. But, will they sell them to CA police?
I wouldn’t read too much into their lack of a response just yet. I’m sure the legal team had a say in why not to sell to the public there. This issue is more a marketing/PR one. I’d give them a bit before I go blasting them.
February 10th, 2014 at 8:38 pm
The reason there has been statement on this from S&W or Ruger, is they have nothing to say that we are going to like. Unlike most of our friends in the industry, who are willing to sacrifice the bottom line to make a statement, these two companies are publicly held. They can not turn down business for the good of the cause. They have a fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders to maximize their return. If they so much as hinted they were turning away government business for political reasons, their management, board of directors and company would be sued out of existence for negligence.
They have no choice, they must play by SEC rules, not ours. For that reason we should cut them slack on things like this.
If, however, they start playing the wrong side of the game (their actions in the late 80s and early 90s come to mind) I say destroy them.
February 10th, 2014 at 10:40 pm
I’m not sure how I feel about that.
On the one hand, don’t treat cops like they’re better than me.
On the other hand, Californians have the state they want, if they want their cops to be treated better than they are, that’s their problem.
Will they learn a lesson when their faces are pushed in it?
But mostly, I just don’t care what happens in California.
Screw ’em, they’ve decided they don’t want to live in America.
February 10th, 2014 at 11:58 pm
Sure, S&W can make any decision it likes.
They can also DIAF if that choice includes California LE sales – either directly or through distributors.
February 11th, 2014 at 7:13 pm
Both S&W and Ruger have a history of selling out shooters to curry favors with government.
I _THOUGHT_ that had ended with S&W changing hands after almost getting put out of business, and after Bill Ruger died.