RemArms, previously known as Remington Arms Company, announced plans to shut down its iconic firearm manufacturing plant in Ilion, New York, by March 2024. This decision follows a settlement the company reached with families affected by the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting a year ago.
In a letter addressed to union representatives on Thursday, RemArms confirmed the closure of its Ilion operations at 14 Hoefler Avenue. The company stated that the decision to cease operations around March 4, 2024, was made after careful consideration.
Remington, recognized as the oldest gun manufacturer in the United States, was established in 1816 in Ilion. The company has faced financial challenges in recent years, including filing for bankruptcy protection twice. In 2022, it made headlines by settling for $73 million with families of the Sandy Hook shooting victims, a landmark case where a firearm producer was held financially accountable for a mass shooting. The rifle used by Adam Lanza, who tragically killed 20 children and six adults, was manufactured by Remington.
Regarding the closure, an automated response from RemArms’ media team emphasized the company’s expansion in Georgia, a state more supportive of the firearms industry.
Cecil Roberts, President of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), expressed his disappointment in a statement reported by The Hill. He urged RemArms to reconsider its decision and seek alternative solutions. Roberts described the closure as a betrayal to the dedicated workforce, especially during the holiday season, labeling it as “adding insult to injury.”
Roberts emphasized the critical role of Ilion’s workers in sustaining RemArms, particularly after Remington Arms’ bankruptcy between 2020 and 2021. He credited the workers’ commitment to high-quality firearm production as vital to the company’s survival. The UMWA, along with local leaders and the community, had worked diligently to keep the facility operational.
Roberts vowed to explore all legal avenues to retain the jobs in Ilion, expressing solidarity with the affected workers and their families. The UMWA is determined to pursue justice and safeguard the employment of its members in Ilion.
