Hornady Halts Ammo Sales to NY Government Agencies

When news surfaced that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration urged insurers and financial institutions to reconsider business relationships with the National Rifle Association and firearm-related companies, legendary ammo manufacturer Hornady was swift to respond.

“Today, the State of New York did one of the most despicable acts ever perpetrated by any state by asking New York banks, financial institutions and insurance companies to stop doing business with the gun and ammo industry,” Hornady President Steve Hornady wrote. “While it may not make a difference to New York, Hornady will not knowingly allow our ammunition to be sold to the Government of the State of NY or any NY agencies. Their actions are a blatant and disgusting abuse of office and we won’t be associated with a government that acts like that. They should be ashamed.”

Hornady’s decision stems from letters sent from New York Department of Financial Services Superintendent Mario Vullo warning of “reputational risk” of doing business with Second Amendment-related firms, and “…urges all companies and banks doing business in New York to join the companies that have already discontinued their arrangements with the NRA, the gun industry, or other promoters of guns…,” according to the New York Daily News.

The announcement means the company’s highly acclaimed Critical Duty ammunition—specifically designed for law-enforcement and duty use and so reliably effective that it is used by the FBI—will not be available to agencies in the Empire State. The restriction will also affect wardens from the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

The latest figures available, from 2008 tabulated by the US Bureau of Justice Statistics' Census of State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies, indicate there were more than 514 law enforcement agencies with 66,472 officers in New York state. The figure has undoubtedly grown since then.