I posted recently about how Les Baer is leaving Illinois (now confirmed) because of the foolish, liberal, feel good anti-gun legislation coming out of the statehouse. ArmaLite is also considering leaving. These exits are the result of many years of threatened draconian gun control legislation but were lately spurred by an AWB (”assault weapons ban”) bill and another, a limit on magazine capacity moving swiftly through the current state legislature and that assuredly will be signed by the Governor. These bills not only prohibit the sale of such items but the manufacture of them as well.

Now there’s further proof that these bills are going to cost jobs:

Inside the Springfield Armory on Monday, there’s a look at the hands-on craftsmanship sparking this Geneseo business since 1974. The kind of work that created 165 jobs there and some 500 around the Quad City area at other gun-related companies.

But gun manufacturers and local legislators are warning that the $20 million payroll will disappear if legislation passes to limit the number of bullets in a gun magazine. Already passed in the Illinois Senate, it could come up in the Illinois House next week.

“It really leaves us no other choice but to leave,” said Tom Reese, Springfield Armory co-owner. “It would be virtually impossible for us to operate our business.”

That’s why downstate politicians and gun makers are speaking out. They’re voicing strong opposition to a proposal that would ban gun magazines containing more than 10 bullets.

“If Chicago has a problem, let Chicago take care of it,” said State Rep. Pat Verschoore, (D-Rock Island). “But leave the downstate people alone.”

First of all, if a gun is criminally used, it makes no difference what the capacity of the magazine is since, as we saw with the Va Tech mutant, Cho, he had time to slam in one magazine after another as he made his way from classroom to classroom with no law abiding, armed student or professor available to (possibly) stop him. That’s generally the case with common street thugs assaulting unarmed citizens as well. It only takes one bullet to kill.

Secondly, unfortunately, anti-gun liberals and legislators are unlikely to care that they are costing their state good paying jobs and tax paying businesses. For them, this is all about symbolism. There’s a gang problem in Chicago and “By Golly, we’re doing something about it!” Which is ridiculous, of course, since criminals by definition aren’t going to obey ANY law, much less one that limits the tools of their trade. Never let it be said, though, that a bad law ever prevented political posturing.

Here’s a safe prediction: Whatever new gun control laws are passed by the Illinois State House, they will not affect the violent crime rate one whit. Criminal control laws might, but that would take courage and money for law enforcement.