Gun manufacturer targeting move to LeClaire

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By Mary Louise Speer | Monday, April 16, 2007 9:43 AM CDT | () comments

LeCLAIRE, Iowa — A Rock Island County custom gun manufacturing company is fixing its sights on moving operations to LeClaire by next fall.

Les Baer Custom of Hillsdale, Ill., recently celebrated 25 years of creating precision firearms.

But Illinois state legislators are proposing two bills that could ban semi-automatic weapons in Illinois. Rather than close up shop, Les Baer Sr. wants LeClaire city officials to give preliminary approval to a development proposal and land purchase offer at tonight’s meeting.

“Our main market right now is the competitive shooter and law enforcement. We deal with every armed forces branch of the United States and do a lot for SWAT units and police departments,” he said.

Baer began his gunsmithing business in a small shop in Pennsylvania in the mid-1970s, he said. He employs 14 at his location in Hillsdale and plans to hire at least eight more people after moving to LeClaire.

He is proposing to purchase a 2.82 acre, commercially-zoned parcel of land from the city and build an assembly and distribution center there. The site is near Interstate 80 and U.S. 67 in west LeClaire between the Mississippi Valley Welcome Center, 900 Eagle Ridge Road, and wastewater treatment plant, 1800 Iowa Drive.

The company builds custom 1911 pistols, AR rifles and custom parts from the design phase, he said. Trained gunsmiths assemble the firearms by hand to ensure each meets standards. He sells weapons all over the globe with a sizable amount of sales to customers in Germany and Thailand, he said.

However, two bills being considered in the Illinois General Assembly would put him out of business. Senate Bill 16 would make it unlawful for any person in Illinois to “knowingly manufacture, deliver, sell, purchase, or possess or cause to be manufactured, delivered, sold, purchased, or possessed a semi-automatic assault weapon, an assault weapon attachment, any 50-caliber rifle, or 50-caliber cartridge.”

Illinois House Bill 873 reflects the same provisions and stipulations.

Baer said he would rather move his company now instead of waiting to see if the bills pass.

The proposed building is about 14,000 square feet and would have 24-hour security, he said. Weapons testing will take place in a sound-proof chamber made of concrete with a rubber backstop, he said. People standing outside would be unable to hear the sound, he added.

LeClaire city officials say they will welcome the newcomer.

“As far as the type of business it is, it’s primarily assembly and distribution, and it’s a nice mix for that area because most customers do not come to the facility,” LeClaire Police Chief James Pfeiffer said.

Based on the company’s history, Pfeiffer is confident the company will be able to operate safely and maintain the necessary high levels of security.

“The business is a great addition to the community. It’s going to add to the economic base and add jobs,” he said.

City officials could approve a site plan as soon as May, City Administrator Edwin Choate said. The new development will expand and diversify LeClaire’s commercial tax base and supplement the work force, he said.

“There’s no outside activities. It’s all contained within the building,” he said.

The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2450 or newsroom@qctimes.com.