Joseph Spector

Albany bureau

American Tactical Im­ports is leaving Roches­ter for South Carolina, blaming the move in part on the state’s gun-control law passed in January.

“As one of the gun in­dustry’s top importers and manufacturers of firearms and firearm­related accessories, ATI’s decision to relocate is two-fold,” the company said in a news release. “ATI believes it is imper­ative that a firearms im­porter and manufacturer do business within a state that is friendly to the Sec­ond Amendment rights of the people. “It is also important that ATI be close to the port-of-entry into the country for several of their imported products. The relocation to South Carolina ensures that both of these factors are met.” It was unclear how many jobs will be lost in Rochester because of the move, but the company said the relocation will have a $2.7 million im­pact on the Summerville, S.C., community and cre­ate an estimated 117 new jobs in the area. Summer­ville is near Charleston, thus providing port ac­cess. The move is slated for next month. The com­pany is receiving tax in­centives to leave, as well.

‘The people of South Carolina have welcomed ATI with open arms and we are excited about making our new corpo­rate home there,” said To­ny DiChario, the compa­ny’s president, in a state­ment.

Rockland County­based Kahr Arms an­nounced in July it was leaving New York for Pennsylvania, blaming the move on New York’s gun-control law. Remington Arms, based in the Mohawk Val­­ley, has also dealt with questions about whether it would move out of the state and has been wooed by other states. But the company hasn’t said it would leave. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is quoted in the press release touting the ATI move. “Today’s announcement is another testament that South Car­olina is a destination for job-creating invest­ments,” Haley said in a statement.

JSPECTOR

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