Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Mayor John Stephens of Ilion, New York, recently spoke on Fox Business‘ “The Bottom Line” about the departure of the iconic gun manufacturer Remington.
After over two centuries in New York, Remington is relocating to Georgia, taking approximately 300 jobs with it.
This move comes in the wake of New York’s 2021 gun liability law, which seeks to punish gun makers for the criminal actions of third parties.
During the interview, Mayor Stephens expressed the deep impact of Remington’s exit on Ilion.
“Illion is Remington and Remington is Ilion, and the financial loss is huge,” he said, highlighting the significant emotional and economic toll on the town.
Stephens noted the historical and nostalgic loss as a greater burden. He shared a personal connection, mentioning his father’s 37-year career at Remington.
“I think nostalgic and historic loss is a bigger burden to bear for us,” he explained. “I have lived here my entire life, my dad retired from there with over 37 years. So that’s a lot of what people are feeling is that loss of an identity…”
Generations have worked at Remington, making its departure feel like losing a family member.
That said, Stephens emphasized the absence of anger among the townspeople, despite the longstanding fears of Remington leaving for better 2A conditions elsewhere.
Stephens, a retired firefighter, dedicates most of his time to finding a new use for the Remington facility. He is working closely with county, state, and federal officials on this effort.
Fox Business host Dagen McDowell commended Mayor Stephens for his dedication and encouraged people to visit Ilion, acknowledging the town’s resilience and spirit in the face of adversity.
How do you think the departure of a long-standing company like Remington affects a small town’s identity and economy? More importantly, do believe Ilion will recover?
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