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Report: Conn. Courted Bushmaster Parent Company 8 Days Before Newtown Massacre

Mar. 20, 2013 12:11pm Becket Adams

Conn. Was Working On Wooing Freedom Group Right Before Sandy Hook Massacre

Candles at a memorial near the Newtown Firehouse, Dec. 16, 2012, in Newtown, Conn. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post/Getty Images)

Eight days before Adam Lanza used a Bushmaster AR-15 rifle to go on a murderous shooting spree that claimed the lives of 26 people, including 20 children, Bushmaster’s parent company was offered a sweetheart deal to relocate to Connecticut.

“On Dec. 6, Freedom Group, based in Madison, N.C., was offered a low-interest, $1 million loan to move 25 executives and its headquarters to Stamford, Conn.,” the New York Daily News reports. “No deal was finalized.”

“The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development is pleased to provide this revised letter of intent … in support of the Freedom Group’s … $2,250,000 Headquarters project in Stamford, Connecticut,” department Deputy Commissioner Ronald F. Angelo Jr. wrote on December 6.

“One of Governor (Dannel) Malloy’s top priorities is to create a business-friendly environment that attracts investment, spurs job growth and helps industries become more competitive in the global marketplace,” the letter added.

Eight days after this offer was extended, Lanza went on his crazed rampage.

Unsurprisingly, once it was reported that the clearly troubled teen used a Bushmaster AR-15 rifle, the deal was nixed, according to documents obtained through a Freedom of Information request by the Hartford Courant.

” … this letter provides official notice that (the department’s) offer of financial assistance, as outlined in our letter of intent dated December 6, 2012, is hereby withdrawn,”Angelo wrote in a letter to Freedom Group four days after the massacre. “The department will not be supporting the Freedom Group’s proposed project.”

In fact, since the December 14 shootings, Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) has loudly called for stricter gun control laws in the state, arguing that the federal ban on so-called “assault weapons” should not have been allowed to expire.

“I think when we talk about the assault weapons ban that was in place in the U.S., to have allowed that to have gone away …,” Malloy said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

“These are assault weapons. You don’t hunt deer with these things,” he added, attacking the product manufactured by the company his state had so recently courted.

A Sandy Hook memorial. (Getty Images).

Angelo told the Courant that the Newtown slaughter heavily influenced the decision to can the deal.

“It was a significant tragedy that was fresh on everybody’s mind,” Angelo told the Courant in a telephone interview. “If you take that into account along with the very unknown structure and unknown condition of the Freedom Group because of the (announced) sale of that entity by its parent, it’s too much of an unknown, too much of an unpredictable” situation.

It’s worth noting that Connecticut is not exactly squeamish when it comes to firearms.

Indeed, as the NY Daily News reminds us, “Connecticut has a storied history of gun manufacturing, including the iconic Colt brand based in West Hartford.”

“The National Shooting Sports Foundation … is based in Newtown,” the report adds.

Connecticut Gov. Dannell Malloy gives a statement about the shooting during a press conference at Treadwell Memorial Park on Friday in Newtown, Conn. (Photo: Jared Wickerham, Getty Images)

And the people of Newtown, Conn., don’t seem to be shying away from guns either.

“Applications for gun permits have jumped in Newtown since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, which sparked a renewed debate about stricter gun control laws and a surge in gun sales around the country due to worries about new limits,” the Associated Press reports.

“Newtown in recent years has issued about 130 gun permits annually. Police say the town received 79 permit applications in the three months since the Dec. 14 massacre, well over double the normal pace,” the report adds.

“A good percentage of people are making it clear they think their rights are going to be taken away,” said Robert Berkins, records manager for Newtown police.

–

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Comments (42)

BudgetAnalyst
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 8:02pm
There was a long gun found in the trunk at the Newtown shooting but it was not an AR-15. News video was broadcast showing them taking it out of the trunk. It is curious that this video has not been rebroadcast. This is a separate video from the clip where the reporter admits that an AR-15 may not have been present. The school also had internal video surveillance but this has not been released to the public. Lanza clearly did not use a long gun of any kind during the shooting at the school. If any rifle bullet injuries occurred, they were not caused by Lanza.

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Sargeking
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 5:03pm
We haven’t seen one picture of the supposed Bushmaster rifle that was used or any crime scene photos. I believe that’s because of two factors. No “rifle” was employed and no more than three or four people were killed. The coroner has a lot to answer for and he will answer the questions that will be brought forth by other authorities and experts. He will answer or end up in jail. He’s running scared and all of the Libs are running VERY scared! They should be. The biggest lies in modern history are unfolding right before our eyes, even if the Libs try to hide the evidence. Wait and see!

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- DoseofReality
  Posted on March 21, 2013 at 3:11pm
  Go to newtown and tell the other 22 or 23 families that their kids were a figment of their imagination. All the pictures and memories were just implanted by the government in a conspiracy to take your guns. You are a sick, twisted excuse for a human being you know that?
  
  Report this comment
righthanddrive
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 4:50pm
Maybe this should become the lesson learned when the elections come around again for the Guv’s seat? Killing the Constitution’s Second Amendment and killing economic growth because of the action of a mentally deranged person is not leadership.

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Secret Squirrel
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 4:40pm
Typical politician.
Shaking your hand while stabbing you in the back.
Obviously, he has no core beliefs.

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- RIDEMODELS
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 5:02pm
  If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.
  
  The AR is not a weapon of choice, it is a weapon of necessity…….it was this administration who let murderers and rapists out of jails because they could not afford to keep them inside.
  
  George Bush did not let the crazy people out of jail, this Democrat president did.
  
  Report this comment
edie1945
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 4:00pm
Looks like Gov. Malloy lacks honesty and integerity. Back slapping one day and maligning the next. Just remember all readers: People kill People….NOT GUNS OR ANYTHING ELSE.

An uneducated populace falls for anything. It is error alone that need the support of government…truth stands alone.

Blessing to the 26 Angels.

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AZsparrow
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 3:08pm
I get so tired hearing that assault weapon term used, even by pro-gun people. Try Modern Sporting Rifle (look it up) or something else more fitting not playing into progressive gun grabber hands. Plus they are great hunting rifles, I’ve used an AR Platform myself numerous times to hunt with, from varmints to Javalina. In recent years as with older designs when they were newer, they are being made in more available calibers, such as .308, 7mm-08, and so on that are common for larger game like Deer etc. Ergonomic design, new materials, but still just a semi-automatic rifle like any other, just looks different from what most are used to seeing in the field. The same thing happened when bolt actions started replacing trap-doors and lever guns, and they are becoming more popular as time goes by is all. So don’t buy into that no good for hunting line, it’s a lie.

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midnightsun
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 2:45pm
The AR15 was found in his car, he did not use it in the school. Geesh, how many times do we have to go over this?????

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- DoseofReality
  Posted on March 21, 2013 at 3:12pm
  So all the police, forensics and coroners who were there are lying – but you know the truth right?
  
  Report this comment
Landon410
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 2:16pm
I’ve emailed my state reps (Nebraska) about offering these companies stuck in liberal hell to move to Nebraska for more freedom.
Set up shop between Omaha and Lincoln and draw from 1,000,000 people to work in your plant, move to NE Nebraska where everyone already owns one or two or five of your products and know how to put them together all ready and grew up fixing engines and machines….

WE WILL TAKE YOU!!!

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micko77
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 2:08pm
What possible difference could it make, at this point…. oh, wait- I think I paraphrased Hillary.. anyway, whether the gun in the trunk was an AR or shotgun, the point of the article is the hypocrisy of CT. I live in IL, with Springfield Armory, Armalite, Rock River Arms, Lewis Machine Tool and others within 50 miles of where I sit, so I have similar sentiments… Les Baer saw the handwriting on the wall several years ago and crossed the river to IA; he doesn’t wake up each morning wondering if this is the day he’s a felon. I’d be fine with ALL the gun mfg. moving to more friendly environments. Let IL, CT, MA and the rest find out what it’s like to have their utopia of no industry. Take all the competitions out of CA, the gun mfg. states, and other “hostile territory”. I still can’t figure out why the major competitions stay where they are excoriated for guns, lead, freedom, etc. That is all. Carry on.

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- rightinCT
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 2:32pm
  Send me the name of a good Realtor, because when our (CT) gun manufacturers go … we’ll be following.
  
  Report this comment
- Marine_Warrior
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 2:47pm
  Magpul has announced it is moving out of Colorado because of the gun control law changes, so I think we will see a lot of this taking place in the next few months.
  
  Personally I feel any state that attempts to ban guns doesn’t deserve to have the revenue or employment that the firearms industry produces benefiting their state.
  
  Report this comment
- RIDEMODELS
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 5:27pm
  Colorado is pandering to the younger hipsters, with weed problems etc…..they do not need guns and legal weed in the same place…….and this type of move does not care about guns, because the kids will be duped into creating digital movies etc……My prediction is that Colorado will be the new Pixar home…..These companies like their people subdued by marijuana use etc, that way they can pay them poorly and they will work like rats in a sweat shop…….Plus the older producers like the younger girls to pick from, this is what I think is in the works.
  
  and a pot head only cares about making the bigger and better Bong…..Like lab rats.
  
  Report this comment
rightinCT
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:42pm
I’m from Connecticut and we are fighting so hard to get rid of this garbage proposals. Please forward this email, tweak it, get it out. Our state cries poverty and then flips the bird to companies because they are gun manufactures. Let it be known, besides aerospace in CT, GUN manufactures (that’s including all gun part manufacturers) are our biggest manufacturing businesses. What he’s doing is past bad business ethics, it’s just out right wrong.
BTW, we have also heard through the grape vine, CT wants to add a state property tax (we already have town property tax) which would, in theory, double if not triple our taxes. All the while he chases gun companies out of the state but holds his hand out to his own residents.
You can reach Malloy on Facebook and Twitter.

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- Cavallo
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:51pm
  You might start making your own plans to leave, just in case. It might not get better and you should plan on what level of fascism you are willing to tolerate before you jump the fence.
  
  Report this comment
- DTOM31
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:57pm
  New Hampshire is just a 2.5 hour drive from CT.
  
  Report this comment
thelema322
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:30pm
Are people still pushing that AR-15 in the car nonsense? The gun in the car was a shotgun, the AR was used in the school. It’s funny how you all distrust everything the media says except when it fits you story ( 1 mistaken report of rifle in car) and its infallible scripture…

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- Cavallo
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:49pm
  There were multiple reports that were inaccurate. From the rifle being in the trunk of the car to 4 handguns being found at the scene. It all comes down to a ghoulish media rushing to disseminate as much detail as fast as possible without verification. Then these reports become canonized in history. Then they don’t accurately report or retract what they already reported, they don’t persue details and answer questions, or when they do the information gets no attention or buried. The news media act like amateurs, most of them are lazy state worshiping hacks, who use google as their inside sources.
  
  Report this comment
- Dismayed Veteran
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 2:00pm
  Tell a lie long enough and it becomes somebody’s truth.
  
  Report this comment
- DoseofReality
  Posted on March 21, 2013 at 3:15pm
  Thelema – thats becasue the conspiracy nuts on this site take a few random stories during the confusion of that day and hold it as fact becasue it fits their agenda. Truth is not an important factor to most Blaze posters – whatever fits their agenda is truth to them.
  
  Report this comment
AmericaMustBeFree
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:00pm
Nothing will stop crazed evil men or women to kill.. whether it be with a gun, or a knife or any other object. The left are idiots! You wanna p-ss off American’s just try and take their guns!

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- JRook
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:39pm
  If this piece was written by a 6th graded for the elementary school paper it would be thrown in the garbage. The tying unrelated things together and presenting permit requests for 3 months as indicative of a trend is beyond weak. But then again starting with an agenda and backing into the truth requires a firm rejection of journalistic integrity and professionalism.
  
  Report this comment
- The Voice of Libertarian Reason
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:41pm
  It is really sad that the governor of CT doesn’t even know that the AWB is still in effect in his state, and the Bushmaster AR15 that was used (or ‘supposedly’ used according to some people) did not meet the definition of an assault weapon.
  
  When you have an AR15 with a fixed stock, no bayonet mount, no grenade launcher, and no muzzle attachement, it is not illegal under the AWB.
  
  Source: http://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/Chap943.htm#Sec53-202a.htm
  
  Report this comment
- Marine_Warrior
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 2:57pm
  Actually JRook, the permit requests went up in every state because of this, so they were stating fact. Also our amount of new and first time gun owners increased. I know because I work at one shooting range as a range master and use another on a weekly basis. We have been swamped with people wanting training, learning to shoot for the first time or buying their first gun wanting to learn how to shoot or how to shoot better.
  
  As far as the good governor claiming an AR isn’t used for hunting, that is false too. They are used here in my state. I own both .223/5.56mm and .308/7.62 versions and they are great for both deer and wild hog hunting.
  
  Report this comment
- zombieocracy
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 10:31pm
  JROOK: thanks for your 7th grade analysis! One grade ahead of Feinstein!
  
  Report this comment
warhorseone
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:47pm
For crying out loud get your facts straight. No AR -15′s were on the scene. A rifle with a wood stock was found in the trunk that evening. AR-15 s do not have wood stocks.

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- Eastinfection
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:10pm
  Get YOUR facts straight. Every report from cops and coronary officials say the AR-15 was the weapon.
  
  Show me one saying differently- and not that stupid video from NBC News correspondent Pete Williams quoting his “anonymous sources”… you know, the one truthers always refer to that Williams later referenced saying that his sources were just “speculating” to him.
  
  F’ing Truthers…. don’t trust the media, but are willing to bet their balls on one media report that contradicts all the others.
  
  Report this comment
lincolnhenry1860
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:34pm
I was under the impression too, that the AR-15 was found in the backseat of his car. Now, no one wants to talk about that- funny how the TRUTH becomes the conspiracy theory under this administration. Just like Cass Sunstein wrote about and promoted. Just like the uh oh…. birth certificate…. oh wait, now I am a wacko bird!! Nothing I say now holds any merit!

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- DoseofReality
  Posted on March 21, 2013 at 3:17pm
  Yuo just dont know the facts – or are blatantly lying….neither one surprises me with this crowd
  
  Report this comment
Cavallo
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:30pm
A good percentage of people are making it clear they think their rights are going to be taken away,” said Robert Berkins, records manager for Newtown police.

Because the Leftists and Democrats have publicly stated that is what they want to do. They have introduced legislation around the country attempting to do JUST THAT!

Freedom Group should move to a more business friendly part of the country. There are hundreds of counties in the midwest that have more friendly business environments, as well as populations that appreciate the type of business they run.

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DTOM31
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:25pm
I’m so angry!!! I can’t even write a complete thought or comment.

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- RIDEMODELS
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 5:20pm
  Jerry Springer is filmed in Connecticut…..that should be enough for any normal thinking brain to make a rational and honest opinion about that place……I pray for the children every Sunday.
  
  We do not need new laws, we need current ones enforced…..I live close to a church and everyone knows I will protect them with every inch of my being….It helps a whole lot if you let God take the control, he will tell you what you should do.
  
  Report this comment
Zipit
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:21pm
It’s just like cigarettes! When democrats see an opportunity to increase revenues through taxes, those behaviors that they would normally be against, somehow become acceptable, and the subject then takes on a different, quieter tone!!!

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pragmaticpatriot
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:19pm
I understood that the rifle was found in the back seat of his car

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- LakeHartwellSailor
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:30pm
  Yep, I don’t think Lanza used the AR-15. But even if he did, it does not matter. A weapon is supposed to be deadly. It does not matter what kind of gun was used in any crime. The fact of the matter is the 2nd Amendment affords us the right to bear arms, it IS that cut & dry. And no one has the authority to tell me what weapons I can or cannot have.
  
  I also take issue with the comment in the story that no one uses an AR-15 to hunt. I have used my AR-15 to hunt with, as have many of my friends and neighbors. But I will be honest, I prefer my 30-06 bolt action for deer hunting. But never the less, if I want to use my AR-15 to hunt with, I CAN and I WILL.
  
  Report this comment
- Cavallo
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:08pm
  I think it was a shotgun they found in the trunk of his car.
  
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- JohnQTaxpayer
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:23pm
  The weapon in the trunk of the car was scary, so it is guilty of the crime, must be banned, destroyed, and never be permitted to be used again.
  
  All guns must be, from now on, NON scary.
  
  John Q’s gun test
  
  If ugly is standing at your front door and all you have in your hand is your “junk” you better hope it shoots bullets.
  
  If not good luck with that
  
  Report this comment
- Eastinfection
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 1:26pm
  if you dispute THIS report… show me something that contradicts it from cops, FBI, or EYE-WITNESS testimony…..
  You can’t because such testimony doesn’t exist. All the bullcrap you’re buying is from self-serving bloggers.
  http://www.greenwichtime.com/newtownshooting/article/State-Police-All-26-Newtown-victims-shot-with-4220548.php
  
  Report this comment
- RIDEMODELS
  Posted on March 20, 2013 at 6:33pm
  It is much easier for you to sneek a Glock 40 into a crowded situation than an AR-15…….All these kids played first person shooter games, so where is the equal blame on Hollywood or Game manufacturers??
  
  Not very fare to go after the Bill of Rights in this country, when we all know it was younger kids who could not tell the difference between a video game and real life, its all in the idea of responsibility and respect for human life.
  
  Maybe this Government is crooked and maybe not…….But I do know that the stock market is falsely inflated and MSLSD will never talk about that…..and that scares the poop out of me.
  
  Report this comment
richauthor
Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:17pm
It used to be called “cutting off your nose to spite your face,” but now it’s called LIBERAL DOUBLE-SPEAK.

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