WASHINGTON — Rep. Cory Gardner on Wednesday invited Gov. John Hickenlooper to tour Magpul, an Erie-based manufacturing plant that makes high-capacity magazines, tomorrow morning.
Gardner, R-Yuma, said the governor could benefit from the tour because, “as elected officials, I think it is important that we educate ourselves on how legislation can affect our constituents.”
Magpul is a manufacturing company that employs 400 people, including full-time workers and subcontractors, throughout the state. The company’s chief operating officer told The Denver Post it would leave Colorado if the ban on high-capacity magazines became law.
The proposal passed the state’s House of Representatives this week and Hickenlooper has given early indication that he would sign the law. It still faces the Democrat-controlled Senate for passage.
Hickenlooper’s office said Gardner’s shop didn’t check with the governor before putting out a press release announcing the visit.
Had they asked, Hickenlooper’s office would have said the governor is on a plane to the east coast, Philadelphia, New York and DC, for a series of meetings and the National Governor’s Association meeting.
Gardner’s spokeswoman Rachel George said staffers did reach out to Hickenlooper’s office before sending out a media release, but hadn’t heard back.
Erie is split and is represented by both Rep. Jared Polis and Gardner, but Magpul’s address is in Gardner’s turf, said spokeswoman Rachel George.