Further proof that Texas is awesome, and every gun company here is as well. Mark LaRue, owner of LaRue Tactical, maker of semi-auto AR-15 rifles that are as accurate as a bolt action and used by law enforcement organizations across the country, just announced via Facebook that he will begin restricting LEO sales to the same level that civilians are able to purchase. So, basically, if you want a LaRue tactical OBR in New York its going to come with a fixed stock, no pistol grip, no flash hider… the works. Even for the police. Presser after the jump . . .

[via Facebook]

Updated Policy for State and Local Agency Law Enforcement Sales:

Due to the recent and numerous new Anti-gun/Anti-2nd Amendment laws passed and/or pending across our country, LaRue Tactical has been forced to reconsider how we provide products to state and local agencies.

Effective today, in an effort to see that no legal mistakes are made by LaRue Tactical and/or its employees, we will apply all current State and Local Laws (as applied to civilians) to state and local law enforcement / government agencies. In other words, LaRue Tactical will limit all sales to what law-abiding citizens residing in their districts can purchase or possess.

State and local laws have always been a serious focus of this firm, and we are now dovetailing that focus with the constitutional rights of the residents covered in their different areas by the old and new regulations.

We realize this effort will have an impact on this firm’s sales – and have decided the lost sales are less danger to this firm than potential lawsuits from erroneous shipments generated by something as simple as human error.

Thanks in advance for your understanding.

Mark LaRue

Oh, and also he just donated $12,000 to The Calguns Foundation.

Have I mentioned that he sells guns? Because you know, they’re awesome. Ted Nugent likes them, even. This one has had me salivating for months now, for example . . .

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139 COMMENTS

  7. I was always interested in LaRue anyway but they just earned my business for a long time. Even with no guns available I am still going to buy something soon. Maybe one of the following bottle openers so I can use it on a beer to toast them.

      • Sorry, drinking bourbon tonight. It’s a noble gesture and very symbolic, but ultimately futile. I respect his decision to make a stand though.

        • True, it may be a futile gesture in the end. However, a man has to look himself in the mirror every morning. Many men take a stand knowing in the end it may prove futile. Other men don’t and spend their lives wishing they had stood for something. This country would be so much better off with more stand-up men.

    • Maybe, maybe not. It’s the honorable thing to do regardless. It has to start somewhere. Other vendors may see the good press La Rue is getting in the industry media and follow suit. Either way, they’re getting my business.

    • “Meh, those Departments will just buy from another vendor.”

      Yes but those sales will on the public record, yes? And those companies that make those sales will hear from us, yes? no? maybe? And those companies may lose sales in the civilian market, yes? no? maybe?

      I think we’re seeing a trend that more and more companies are seeing the importance of standing together. This too important to be weak in the knees…

  15. Every manufacturer of all types of firearms should follow this policy. If a state passes ammunition restriction the ammo suppliers should join in.

  17. That is Epic!! yes yes said a few times already..
    Now if we can get all the arms makers to follow suit, which I doubt.
    If they did plus restrict military too, that would be hilarious! Talk about putting pressure, it would be a choke hold..

  18. This is pretty good. Our policy is “No sales to NY, period”, but this is more broad. That’s a good thing. Wonder what my higher-ups would think of this…

  22. I always thought LaRue was a little spendy but after this, I’m going to probably buy something from them.

  23. I’d say I’ll definitely buy from him, and I likely will in the future, but my next few purchases will have a large measure of “who has it” factored in. I’ll try to give him my business, but I’ll have to go where I can for the immediate future.

  24. I’ll say it again:

    To ensure that law enforcement agencies represent the standards of the communities that they serve, no agency whose representatives, agents, employees, or contractors carry weapons shall use, issue, or carry any weapon category, type, brand, model, caliber, or capacity, or any ammunition, accessories, or attachments for such weapons, that are not legal or available for the common citizens of that jurisdiction. State and local law enforcement agencies must comply with the restrictions applicable to the residents of their state or municipality, Federal agencies must comply with the relevant Federal laws. Officers of a State agency operating in a municipality with stricter availability laws will still only be restricted by the relevant State laws. Likewise Federal officers operating in a State or municipality with stricter availability laws shall only be restricted by any relevant Federal, nationwide, restrictions.

    This law shall apply to all government agencies excepting only the military branches (U.S. Army, Marine Corps, National Guard, Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard).

    Any resident of an agency’s jurisdiction may bring suit against an agency which is in violation of this law. Each proven violation shall result in a fine of $1000 per resident of that jurisdiction levied on the agency, payable directly to each resident.

    • Mr. Brown,
      Where is that from? Is it federal law? Sorry for being stupid but I’ve never seen this posted anywhere. And if it if viable why aren’t all the pro gun .orgs not funneling money into injunctions? More info please.

  25. Damn. Now I’m gonna have to save up for a while to buy stuff from Larue. What a classy company. So proud to be a (new) Texan…

    • Colt gets far too many government contracts. That might make it tough. Glock maybe. Smith & wesson more likely.

  31. Excellent!

    I just created an account with them, and placed an order.

    They have a new California Customer for life!

    Some might say they should also put some restrictions on the federal level as well, but not me, though. The states are our battleground(s) at the moment, and the state agencies should feel a pinch.

  35. Thank you LaRue for supporting the 2A! If I ever do consider buying an AR platform I will definitely consider your line.

  37. Good! Finally, the “Ronnie Barrett Option” is catching on.

    But, WhoTF made Feds/MIL ‘gods’?

    Why the hell do people routinely forget that they’re our SERVANTS!

    Hell, if I had my druthers, it’d be a law for every single public servant to clean up the dirtiest of public bathrooms, once a week, as part of their elected office contract, and put their entire asset (including all legal entities, ie. trusts, blind trusts, shell companies, etc.) into a public escrow for the duration of their service & if violated or conspire to violate their Const. Oath, forfeit it all to their respective constituency/district, just to remind them whoTF their masters are.

    This whole two class shit has got to stop. Might as well declare themselves the Shogunate.

    Yes, while we DO have a de facto caste system in America, now, do you really want to solidify it and make it de jure??

    The threat is also coming from the lunatic Fed govt statist controlfreak servant lackeys, not just the commie Fabian socialists and RINOs at state levels. When the likes of FeinSKUNK & Fucky Schmucker et al are pushing for a traitorous obliteration of our pre-Constitution universal Natural Right of Self Defense, high time the likes of Glock, S&W, Sig, FNH, Hk, and Colt invoke the “Ronnie Barrett Option” on their GSA contract prospects, as well.

    Yes, I ‘get’ that it’s highly unlikely that major Fed/Mil contractors would renege their corporatist Fed tit-sucking profit margins, we’re not talking Lockheed Martin, or aircraft carrier or submarine contracts here.

    If they really delude that ignoring the commercial market that’s 100’sX larger than their GSA contract, and give the finger to their own consumer base, in the long run, they’ll go the way of Jennings Arms.

    Time for the entire 2A industry, and I mean ALL: guns, ammo, component, accessories manufacturers, as well as training companies, to forge together and cast a concrete line in the proverbial sand.

    No further.

    • “Why the hell do people routinely forget that they’re our SERVANTS!”

      We don’t forget. Not gods either.

      Certain people seem to appreciate what we do and don’t mind speaking their minds. Given the slant of your comment (and others here on this site), I’m going to guess that you think all military are nothing more than closet nazis salivating at the thought of kicking your door down, but until then we’re just having a grand ol’ time pillaging the Middle East and simply enjoying this great boondoggle that’s called “deploying.”

      • “Certain people seem to appreciate what we do and don’t mind speaking their minds. Given the slant of your comment (and others here on this site), I’m going to guess that you think all military are nothing more than closet nazis salivating at the thought of kicking your door down, but until then we’re just having a grand ol’ time pillaging the Middle East and simply enjoying this great boondoggle that’s called “deploying.”

        Now, now, when you ASSume…

        Haven’t typed here enough for you to be able to gauge or to truly discern what my real political/geo-political world views are.

        But, considering what you just replied with, I can tell you, you’re pretty much wrong. LOL. But, no bigs.

        But, from what I HAVE typed so far, if your above sentiment is all you got out of my particular comment regarding how the 2A related industry should draw a line in the sand like Ronnie Barrett, the CEO of Barrett Rifles fame did, and you actually thought that was my commentary on the nature of military and its deployment overseas, apparently, you’ve missed the whole point.

        Nice try though.

      • Addendum: to parse my personal political/geopolitical philosophy here, would be rather more long winded than necessary, or am usually prone to. lol.

        Suffice it to say, if you’re an active, current, or former member of the Military, or LE, or even a politician who STILL take your Constitutional Oath seriously, y’all are my brethren, as far as I’m concerned.

        http://oathkeepers.org/oath/

  38. Decision made: My next purchase will be from LaRue (I need a scope mount). And once I get the jack…something from Ronnie Barrett….another American patriot. Yes, S&W and Ruger need to follow suit.

    I can’t wait till the next election. In the meantime, send some spare coin to the pro-2A organization of your choice, and keep writing those Congress Creatures. It’s getting weird out there……

  39. I’ve been planning on purchasing a .308 AR for a precision rifle build for some time. I was planning on going with a Crusader Weaponry rifle for the sake of buying local, but the .308 OBR just moved to the top of my list.

  40. Excellent, I was wondering who would be the first, hopefully of many, to step up and do this.

    As for buying from them, they sell everything from morale patches to really nice rifles cases as well as the rifles.

    I might suggest we all buy their bumper stickers and give them some free advertising.

  42. “This policy does not apply to Military / Federal Agencies”
    It’s a good start I guess. Sorry for being negative.

    • No offense, but I want the military guys humpin’ gear in Jackedupistan to have the best hardware money can buy.

  44. I hope this catches on, the way it did at the former PA show. It is a counter to the municipalities that are pushing companies to “toe the line” if they want to bid on contracts.

    • A gun company doing business w/police in an anti gun state almost HAS to do this. While LaRue is awesome from an RKBA standpoint for doing this, there’s also legal justification. If the UPS guy drops off an order of high-cap magazines to Joe Blow’s doorstep by mistake, who’s liable?

      Even if other gun companies only care about the $$, sooner or later their legal departments may require them to follow LaRue’s lead .

  46. I’ve been drooling over one of their free floating quad rails, I think Mr LaRue just sealed the deal. I’ll have a totally tricked out Armalite and no bullets….

  47. What we need now is a start-up ammunition manufacturing company that only caters to civilians. I will place seed money for this venture.

    • I’d actually love to start an ammo company, but I live in CA, and opening a business here is damn near impossible.

  48. Not as if I needed a reason, but I just added another gun to my list. I do not own anything from them, but that will change as soon as possible.
    Thank you for your support of all of the good people in states with morons for lawmakers.

  51. Let’s hope Mr. LaRue is a trendsetter.

    BTW:
    Why do the police need 30 rounds in their ARs? They have backup. They have radios. If things get too hot, they can leave like they did in the LA riots.

    • That puzzles me too. Everybody knows you don’t need thirty rounds to bring down a Toyota if you actually know how to shoot a truck.

  52. I was on the fence, but this pushed me over. Just ordered a new tactical light/laser for my PS90. Thanks LaRue!!

  54. I’m going to look to buy something from LaRue in the very near future. Thank you for standing with your fellow patriots. Your honor and commitment will not be forgotten.

    The rest of the gun manufactures should take notice, because WE, your customers, are taking names and making our lists of those naughty and those nice. LaRue is on the nice list. CheaperThanDirt, they are on the naughty list.

  55. I always buy mounts for my optics from LaRue, great stuff, great company and this announcement just made my day. It may be symbolic, it may have no serious effect on anything, but damn, it made me smile.

  56. I just bought some parts online from their website and then came and saw this and now I’m very happy. Sometimes life gives you a win.

    • I’m glad to hear this news but also concerned that Our Government will be buying guns from manufacturers in other countries. That would again take more jobs from our country and also fund Governments in other countries that ma come back and bite us in the ass. Don’t get me wrong. I’m in favor of LaRue’s decision but also concerned of the recourse it may benefits to other countries.

  57. Great products; great people; great principles. I’ve ordered before and always been happy. I’ll order even more now!

  58. “LaRue Tactical Plans to Limit Law Enforcement Sales to Civilian Standards”

    First off: The police are “civilians” to. And public SERVANTS at that.

    Secondly, BRAVO to LaRue! And a big THANK YOU. All firearm makers and companies that deal with arm-related stuff should put We the People First.

    There should be “Peace Officer Acts” passed on state-level that:

    1. Ban police agencies or individual officers from receiving any kind of weapon/weapon related equipment, and ban police agencies/officers from receiving any kind of funding for said equipment. Individual officers will be expected to bring their own personal arm to work.

    2. Ban any officer while, in the course of his or her duties, from receiving/using any weapon or weapon-related equipment that is not available to the common-man.

    Something along that.

  59. Frightening thought…. if most/all of the big mfgrs decided to stop selling/servicing the full boat hardware to LEO and gov’t does that not have the potential to alter the “in common use” interpretation of the Heller decision? My interpretation is that 5-10 million AR pattern rifles in circulation would be common use but pols and SCOTUS don’t always see things the way the man on the street does. I’m not saying LaRue, Barrett, etc. should stop what they’re doing… mostly just thinking out loud.

  60. I cant quite afford a Larue rifle but by god im buying a tshirt or a hat or something. This is the best move yet, every gun company should follow suit. 3 cheers for Larue lets do everything in our power to make sure their sales go up!

  62. Got my business! Next upper, lower, full rifle, or just replacement/upgrade parts will be coming from them. Love the Wylde chambers and 1:8 twists. Good stuff.

  63. Good for them. Civilian (ie not military) law enforcement should have the same restrictions as the rest of us.

    Of course even the toughest gun laws would not prevent some police departments from brutally murdering unarmed suspects, like the NYPD idiots that show that guy 20 times or so in the late nineties. But if it will save just one life, we should enact common sense controls that limit civilian law enforcement to civilian standards. Look at that yahoo out in Kaliformia who used to be a cop. His mistake appears to be trying to stand up to one of the most corrupt police depts in the US. Just think, the only thing that prevented that nut job from still having a badge and a govt-issued firearm was a shred of integrity many years ago that resulted in his dismissal.

  64. This is not a 2A stand, IMO, he’s only reacting to the risky environment in the marketplace created by the fascists.

  67. This is smart. Thank you LaRue!

    Imagine the panic if LE and government were kept to the same limits as civilians… if the current ammo shortage and some companies’ 1 case or “3 box limit” was to hit agencies like the rest of us, there would be more pressure on elected officials to stop passing or creating legislation that has been proven ineffective. And if more companies follow this move, it would help to stem the inequality between government/LE and regular citizens that the anti-gun crowd wants to create.

    But did I read correctly above? This won’t apply to the Feds and military? I’d like to see military units and guys deploying have what they need, but DHS and the Feds who believe they have the right to a ““Personal Defense Weapon” when they don’t want me to have one…well, they should be held to civilian standards as well. I’d urge LaRue to let the military units, Soldiers/Marines, etc. have access; but chop civilian Jo-Bob-Federal-Pants down to size and make him buy only what they rest of the civilians can. A DHS worker is no more military than is a LE officer – he just works for a bigger agency. So hold all LE agencies to the same measuring stick.

  68. I’m glad to hear this news but also concerned that Our Government will be buying guns from manufacturers in other countries. That would again take more jobs from our country and also fund Governments in other countries that ma come back and bite us in the ass. Don’t get me wrong. I’m in favor of LaRue’s decision but also concerned of the recourse it may benefits to other countries.

  70. Due to cost I never considered a Larue tactical product.

    I will make sure to buy something from them now regardless of cost.

    Good job Larue

  74. We gun owners need to hold all gun companies to the same standards. Boycott companies that don’t hold states to the same standards as their citizens. If a company sells guns to cali agencies that aren’t available to its citizens we need to not buy their products that are legal.

  75. @Nick
    The check pictured on FirearmsPolicy.org is dated 2009, though the memo does read “Annual Contribution”.

  77. thank goodness they realise that LEO s and Military are supplied by American private companies who have the right to NOT supply them . the Citizens will buy what you don’t sell to the TYRRANNICAL GOVERNMENT . GREAT JOB GUYS !

  79. THANK YOU MARK LARUE AND THE FINE FOLKS AT LARUE TACTICAL. TRUE AMERICANS. GOD BLESS AND WATCH OVER YOU!

  80. First I would like to thank Mr. LaRue for the actions he has taken, I think it sends a strong message. I would also like to say anyone that has a LaRue Tactical on order, or is thinking of ordering the wait is worth it. I have a 7.62 OBR (16″) and I can not tell you how much I love this gun, I have shot 5/8” MOA @ 100 yds, and there customer service is great also.

  83. Now I’m going to have to buy an OBR 7.62 one of these days. I just need to figure out how to get the money for it.

  86. In these dark and worriesome days of political and corporate tyranny, Texas and Texans once again put it ALL on the line. American history is full of these accounts. Once again the Patriots of our great Nation will back up these fine Folks. Lets not be late…… like we were for the ALAMO or the next battle cry might be “Remember The Second Ammendment”. Whatever your reasoning, Mr.LaRue, GREAT job, you ROCK and very soon you are going to be spending MY money. Go Texas/Texans!

  87. I have worked in a local LE agency of over 1500 officers for over 25 years. Our tactical team has used many Larue products from accessories to complete guns for several years.

    Most line officers in state and local agencies, especially in our agency, are very pro-gun, pro 2nd amendment, and believe in the citizen’s right to be prepared to put government back into its place if it becomes tyrannical or otherwise infringes on rights.

    We only enforce the laws that the elected officials draft and enact. It is a shame that Larue has taken a stance against allowing state and local agencies the best tools for the job because of the poor decisions of the elected officials. We are definitely not the reason why or the ones to blame for current or future infringements of everyone’s rights. We are citizens as well and are just as upset about the current poor decisions being made at the executive and legislative levels as well as police department heads who claim to speak for all personnel in the agency.

    Why is Larue not applying the same rules to the Federal Agencies?

    • Steve:

      “We only enforce the laws that the elected officials draft and enact.”

      That’s the rub, isn’t it? First, because Law Enforcement not bring a court of law, they/you normally don’t go asking yourselves “say, does my enforcement of this law, or does my behavior, infringe on this citizen’s constitutional rights? (Course not. Ever seen evidence thrown out of court?) No, you do your job, and let the court system wort it out.

      “We are definitely not the reason why or the ones to blame for current or future infringements of everyone’s rights.” As the enforcement arm of the executive, your actions are closely tied to current or future infringements. That’s just the nature of the system. The problem with your statement is that it eventually leads you to “I was simply following orders” (or laws in this case.) This is the moral dilemma you may have to face one day.

      Second, because you too are the best tool for the enforcement of laws, even poor ones, a very useful way to send a message to the legislative and the rest of the executive is to make sure that you are in fact without those very tools that you feel you need, yet the legislature won’t let the citizens at large have. So, what happens next is that LE talks to their unions and fraternal orgs, and being the “very pro-gun, pro 2nd amendment, and believe in the citizen’s right to be prepared to put government back into its place if it becomes tyrannical or otherwise infringes on rights” types, you too send a message to the higher ups that this state of affairs won’t do.

      I can’t explain why the double standard with federal agencies, although perhaps what they mean is that they won’t apply, say, CA standards to the Sacramento office of the FBI, but that is not to say they may not apply federal standards to all federal agencies.

      • As with many unions, LE unions often fail to represent the views of their members when it comes to politics. LE PACs endorse and support far-left politicians all the time.

        • I wish I had more time to proof and edit my comment; some sentences sure didn’t come across as intended.

          If unions are not representative of the membership, then the latter is not doing its job of electing its representatives right.

        • Which is the same problem we have with the population at large. Congress has a 14% approval rating, but most of them just keep getting elected.

    • I don’t understand why the “doesn’t apply to Federal Agencies and the military” is so confusing to so many. LaRue is simply stating that if they sell to local/state law enforcement in a state that has passed draconian gun legislation, then they’re only going to sell to local/state law enforcement what a civilian can buy in those states.

      On the other hand, federal agencies are not subject because first, the federal government has not (yet) passed draconian gun legislation and second, since people who work for federal agencies often have little choice where they work and members of the military have effectively none, LaRue is choosing to not punish those people in their jobs by subjecting them to the whims of whatever locale they are directed to work in.

      • Since you bring this up, I’m also wondering what will happen the next time (highly likely) I get stationed in California. In the past, CA DOJ issued a permit to bring in all my AWs, and magazines were OK as long as they were in pieces.

  88. The fact that some agencies will simply take their business elsewhere is not lost on LaRue. They mention it in their press release. This is all the more reason their action is an example of bold leadership over self-serving greed, and all the more reason they deserve our support.

    As a retired cop with over 20 years experience, I can attest to what one previous poster said about many cops being ardent supporters of the 2nd Amendment. However, I can also tell you that is rapidly changing. Policies designed to promote diversity over aptitude, in conjunction with a shifting cultural base from which to draw, have resulted in changes to a police culture that is now more admiring of big government and the false sense of personal power they feel when acting in the name of same. Fat paychecks, benefits and retirement packages (at least in those states with the most draconian laws) offer further incentive for officers to “go with the program”, certainly among those who were drawn to the profession by those perks in the first place.

    I hope there will be a principled stand by police if and when push comes to shove. But I have good reason to be cynical. Police already enthusiastically enforce hands-free cell phone laws, when almost every study has shown that holding a cell phone in your hand does not make it more dangerous (and scrambling to find and activate a hands-free device is clearly dangerous). Not referring to texting here, BTW. Ditto helmet laws and seat belt laws applied to adults, window tinting laws in the scorching heat of California’s central valley, and other money grabs.

  89. Someone needs to start a boycott Bill O’Reilly after his comments wanting a national gun registry. Posers on Fox who pretend to be on the right are more dangerous than a lot of liberals on the left to the 2A.

    • Being in the “left”, the “right”, a card carrying Republican or Democrat, a liberal or any other label, include a “gun nut”, is no indication off how that person will view any given issue within the gun control debate. There is much more granularity than that.

      I happen to favor universal background checks in the overall effort to prevent (or make more difficult the commission of) crime. I am not just talking about post-mass shooting knee-jerk reactions here.

      I want to make it as hard as possible for a prohibited person from getting their paws on a firearm. Any time, any place, a prohibited person buys a weapon without a background check is unacceptable. By mandating a background check for all sales, you are ensuring law abiding citizens don’t inadvertently sells to prohibited persons.

      Don’t like being a prohibited person? In the case of felons, they had a choice to make, and they chose the wrong one. Cry me a river, I say. Lead a good life, then you can petition for restoration of rights.

  90. This made my day! Way to go Mark! Love your products and the pocket constitution that comes with them amongst other things but this is a great idea and hope it catches like wildfire!

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