“This boils down to a small, so-called gun-rights activist website that took the majority of things out of context, to make it sound like Rock River Arms and Springfield Armory were IFMA. We did not have control over all actions. IFMA acted autonomously on our behalf . . . Now, we are left with partial truth and fake news driving wedges between the different parts of our firearms community.” – Rock River Arms GM Sarah Larson in Rock River Arms blames the messenger because they can’t handle the message [via thegunwriter.com]

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116 COMMENTS

    • May I suggest that RRA keep an eye on the news. Their collusion came out weeks ago and only now they act like they care. You know, this childish press release might support their case that they truly are clueless.

      Which in turn also supports the case that their time has passed. Get your chapter 11 papers in order Rock River. We’re not coming for you.

      • I would recommend chapter 7 Liquidation! See ya “RRA” & “Springfield”

    • This is what I wanted to say, as well. I was willing to entertain the small possibility that the lobbyist acted autonomously, but their shift to an attack pattern is just weird.

    • We didn’t do anything? We know nothing! Our owner was just the treasurer, the guy that signed every single check that left the IFMA! How could he know where that money was going?

      What’s that you say? You have to write the company or individuals name on every check so that they can cash it? Well Sh!t, I pay all my bills online. Hmm, so that’s how checks work? I guess you learn something every day?

      Damn were screwed:(

      Good job RRA, you managed to move lower than SA! That took some doing as I would have never thought that another bottom existed below Rock Bottom! What a strange phrase?

      • Very well put. No company authorizes thousand of dollars to be spent on their behalf without know where that money is going.

  4. Okay Rock River Arms. Here’s your chance. Prove you were’nt in control and tell us who was and why? Getting away from this is literally that simple!!

    Pointing your finger and blaming others is why you are in this mess. How pathetic!

  5. How do you take her companies political donations to Madigan and Cullerton and their PAC’s “out of context”?

    Just admit that’s what they wanted to do, I can respect honesty and never patronize them again.

    • I have more respect for MSNBC than CNN. At least MSNBC doesn’t deny they’re a liberal organization with an agenda. CNN tries to hide it. I would have a lot more respect for RRA if they said “we f’d up, won’t do it again” than anything else.

      DS Arms is in Illinois, were they consulted by IFMA? Probably not. If that’s true, then IFMA doesn’t represents all manufacturers in IL, just the ones on their board and that pay the bills. If that’s true, than RRA knew what the F was going and can go shove it where the sun don’t shine.

      Prove that they didn’t know, otherwise in my eyes they probably did. Innocent until proven guilty and all, but the evidence is piling up……….Occam’s razor – all things being equal, the simplest explanation is usually the correct one.

      • ArmaLite wasn’t worthy of being represented by the IFMA either, and they are less than 2 miles away from SAI. An ownership change for both SAI ans RRA is the only thing that will save them at this point.

  6. I thought the leadership of SA and RRA occupied the top 4 positions in IFMA, including Treasurer! Don’t tell me they didn’t know.

    • Right. One of the Larsons (the family that owns RRA) is/was the Treasurer of the IFMA for years. You’re telling me the IFMA donated to anti-gun politicians, the Democratic Party Victory Fund, etc etc, for all those years and RRA didn’t know? Even though, as Treasurer, one of the owners of RRA was almost certainly signing the checks to distribute the 100% Springfield- & RRA-provided funds from the IFMA to those politicians and political groups?

      All of this “even though we’re the ones running the IFMA and funding the IFMA and signing the IFMA checks and, though we created this lobbying group specifically to serve our own political interests and we’re the sole parties running it, we had no idea what they were doing and all of their actions for the last few years were against our wishes and we’re just finding out about it now because of the ‘fake news’ from the ‘small, activist website.'”…. Yeah…Okay…

      • It actually reminds me of the fake George Bush military service records that CBS pimped so hard.

        To quote CBS news executive Jonathan Klein during the 2004 Killian documents affair: “You couldn’t have a starker contrast between the multiple layers of checks and balances at 60 Minutes and a guy sitting in his living room in his pajamas.”

        Well…..as it turns out the pajamahadeen were 100% right and CBS a bunch of liars/bottom feeders. So when a big company comes out with no evidence against little guys who have a bunch of evidence……..it just makes me want to dig harder.

        But then again….Hillary never emailed classified info and Obama let me keep my insurance.

    • Yeah, I guess I can see how a very, very important bill was moving through the Illinois legislator and your lobbing group…huh, man never said a word to you about how it would protect you if it passed…then all of a sudden you were made aware when the word got out and now you’re outraged!! Yeah, sure.

      I remember when Obama said he heard about the Clinton email scandal from the media…oh, and Lois Learner IRS scandal too…he was just simply in the dark, like you, RRA…right?

  7. Yeah. Not buying it. Obvious damage control is obvious. RRA, wanna know what would actually work with your customers? TRUTH.

  8. That’s not going to help… Even if it were true that they were just that incompetent, the delivery is clear they just want to blame everbody but themselves

  9. Denial and obsfication is not how a company wins back trust. This comment leads me to believe that the boycott of RRA Is working and hurting.

  10. Then I hope you can make revenue from “Fake Sales”.

    RIP RRA and SA

    Your accounting should be much easier from here on out.

  13. Both RRA and SAI must be boycotted into bankruptcy, if for no other reason than to serve as a cautionary tale for other future would be sell outs. The bigger picture, beyond Illinois, is that giving these fascist anti gunners this win gives momentum for duplication in other states.

  14. I’m glad I mostly assemble my own ARs these days … and since I’ve assembled more or less what I want, there’s no danger of me accidentally buying a RRA upper without my knowledge or consent.

    Or at least that’s how that works according to RRA. Right hand, meet left hand.

  15. Her comments aimed at 2A activists are just dripping with contempt. She fails to realize that there are millions of us who feel these are rights that we are willing to fight, die and kill for. Also, these are the same people who were her former customers.

    • Remember Dick Metcalf at Guns and Ammo? Like ‘ole Dick, Rock River and Springfield have hoisted themselves on their own petard—and now they’re finding that getting down isn’t nearly as easy as getting up there was. Being pissed at TTAG is becoming a point honor. Still, you just have to wonder about the conversations that took place—and they obviously did—when they decided to cut such a smarmy deal with the Illinois politicians. If anything, Rock River’s position is a lot more vulnerable than even Springfield’s. With the abundance of alternatives in the marketplace, who needs to buy their guns?

  16. The first thing to do when you are stuck in a hole is to stop digging. Blaming others at this point is stupid. If I were RRA, I’d say “We are sorry. We made a terrible mistake. Here’s how it happened. Here’s what we have done to make sure it will never happen again. Here’s how we will fight to try to remedy our mistake.” I was almost starting to think they were coming around when they severed ties with IFMA and appeared to have started publicly fighting the bill. That would have been a first step down the long road of repairing their reputation and public trust. Now they pull a stunt like this. TTAG is not just an activist website, its one of the largest and most respected gun related websites out there. And for RRA to create a shell organization to pull this crap and then deny it was them, there’s just too much evidence out there for the truth to be covered up. Keep digging RRA. I’m done with you.

  17. I call a big BS on Rock River. That is pure crap trying to cover up their involvement. They are feeling the pain of all of us not buying their stuff anymore period and then to rag on the truth about guns for putting it to him. God bless ttag and all of its members wouldn’t it to Springfield Armory and Rock River they probably soon will be going out of business.

  18. Someone hand her another shovel – I think the edge is wearing off the one she’s using! Talk about not knowing when to shut up…geesh! I’m guessing Chuck didn’t make her General Manager for her intelligence…

  19. “partial truth and fake news driving wedges between the different parts of our firearms community.”

    Ms. Larson provided no evidence to sway my belief that all of the wedge driving was done by Rock River Arms and Springfield Armory. She provided no evidence that IFMA was anything but a shell organization designed to prevent us from knowing what those two companies were doing. No other companies have been mentioned as contributing to IFMA.

  20. I’d like to know if SA & RRA were the only manufacturers in IFMA. If they are then this statement is garbage. If you’re the head, or a partner at the head, of an organization and that organization is responsible for major malfeasance then YOU need to take responsibility for it, while you may be able to say that you had no direct knowledge you cannot say you are not responsible. And this blaming the ones who brought light to YOUR mistakes is not the way to make your potential customers willing to buy your products.

    • Yes, there are 4 board seats. RRA and SA take up 3 of those 4 board seats, the other is their paid lobbyist. Classic shell. It’s them, just them, and all them.
      They are liars using their customers’ money to help, at best, make it more expensive for people to exercise their second amendment rights in IL, and at worst, deny them altogether.

      I’ll say it again, when SSA and RA provide a free firearm of choice to every single resident of IL that can legally own one and requests one, I’ll believe they are sincere in their support of the 2nd. Until that time, I’ll trust the overwhelming evidence in front of me.

  21. There are times you need to stop talking.
    Pulling this fake news bs just sealed their fate. Put your big boy/girl pants on and own up to your backstabbing.
    On behalf of all ffl’s and gun owners in Illinois please allow me to retort. “Do we look like a b!tch?”

  22. first denial, now anger. maybe they’ll do us the solid of skipping bargaining and depression and move straight to acceptance. more dignity in it that way.

  23. What utter BS. Feel the pain your rat bastards. It will take decades for us to forgive, if ever…..

  24. I hope the rest of the employees at RRA and SA have come to the realization they work for traitorous rats.and start working diligently on finding new employment.

    Layoffs will be announced at both companies within 60 days.

  25. oh, well… ok then! no prob.
    more nonsense from the beautiful rock river- where the women love their dixon!

  26. My guess is RRA were focusing on juicy government contracts (law enforcement, military, various agencies etc) and in order to win those, had to ‘dance with the devil’ in shoveling funds to gun grabbing politicians.

  28. Christ. Hey Chuck, yer daughter is not doing you any favors. Pro tip: she is in over her head!

  29. Want to really hurt Springfield and Rock River? If you own their products—sell them. That takes a new gun sale away from them, which is sort of a double boycott. Not only are YOU not buying them, you’re preventing someone else from doing so as well.

    Find gun companies who have done the right thing and support them. If you’re carrying an XDS—sell it and buy something from Kahr. Kahr left NY State when they passed the SAFE act. If Kahr suddenly experiences a surge in sales–and if you tell them you bought their product because of their strong pro 2A stance—that’ll make a difference. And if you tell Springfield what you did it will add to the sting.

    • Kahr? Really? Thats like frying pan into fire. Not in politics but in quality and performance. When the XD has been a boon for the shipping industry in its constant being mailed back and forth between customer and repair facility, a Kahr is just asking for something that will never work.

      Just drink the damn koolaid and get a Glock.

      • I’ve had a Kahr P9 since 2001. No problems, not even a single malfunction, and it’s ridiculously accurate.

        It seems you don’t know what you’re talking about. Kahrs are made to tight tolerances, are thin and light, and have Walther barrels.

        Where are you getting your information?

      • Don’t know what you’re talking about, I have thousands of rounds through my CM9 without a single hiccup. It does have one idiosyncrasy – when chambering a round, you need to pull back and release the slide rather than drop the slide stop, otherwise the bullet nosedives and won’t feed. But since I learned that trick, I’ve never had a misfeed when doing it the right way.

        I agree with the above posters, Kahrs are very reliable and accurate. Plus, you gotta love any firea rms manufacturer that flips NY State the bird on their way out the door! Reason enough to support them right there, even if they made crappy gu ns. (Well… )

        • I’ve had two Kahr K40’s since about 1996. Never a hiccup. It is my backup. I bet the K9’s are even sweeter.

        • I always see people talking about owning CW’s, CM’s, P’s–does no one but me own K’s? They are the best Kahrs!

  30. So TTAG is fake news huh?!? Any sympathy for RRA and the Croatian importer has evaporated into the ether. Plenty of Illinois supporters I can buy from…thanks again TTAG for shining a light on these lowlifes.

  32. RRA and SA should admit their errors and write very large checks to the NRA.
    People give second chances but only under certain conditions.

    • RRA did apologize in their PR. She stated too that they have always donated to NRA.

  34. Rock River Arms GM Sarah Larson….Hillary, is that you??? Wait, next it’ll be the Russians fault!

  35. Sarah Larson wants us to ignore that man behind the curtain? Like that’s going to happen.

  36. So, whatever happened to the IFMA lobbyist? Has anyone seen his face? If the lobbyist truly acted without RRA’s and SA’s consent, wouldn’t they be dragging his ass out of hiding and forcing him to fess up?

    • That guy will probably shut up, take the fall, and live to die another day. Here in Illinois, politics isn’t much different than a Scorsese movie. Look up John “Quarters” Boyle. He was convicted of stealing thousands from Illinois Tollway Authority, took the rap, did the time, got out and got another government job. No one can say the garbage in Illinois doesn’t take care of their own.

  37. It’s hard to believe people this stupid can run a business. If there is one shred of evidence that SA and RRA were bamboozled by the smooth talking lobbyist, present it.

    They have to understand the business they are in, and it is not manufacturing can openers. People aren’t passionate about can openers, but gun owners are passionate about guns and their rights. I think that GREED got in the way of doing the right thing.

  39. Next thing you know, they’ll wag their finger at us and claim that they did not have sex with that lobbyist, Ms. IFMA.

  40. Illinois Firearms Manufacturers Association – Officers, Directors, Trustees and Key Employees:
    President – Dennis Reese at Springfield Armory
    Secretary – Tom Reese at Springfield Armory
    Treasurer – Chuck Larson at Rock River
    Executive Director – Jay Keller

  41. Serious questions:

    Is RRA claiming they have been libeled by TTAG and intend to file suit?

    Will TTAG be submitting any FOIA requests?

    • No FOIA requests are necessary. All of their campaign finance reports are public and links provided in other stories.

  42. Perhaps she was hoping for The Only When It’s Convenient Truth About Guns. Keep digging…

  43. Pappy used to say, ” Don’t sh¡t where ya eat.”

    This press release is a classic violation of Pappy’s rule.

    It’s possible the Larson’s could learn a valuable life lesson here. But they better learn it ASAP and get ta clean’n up their mess.

  44. I’ve already forgiven them. But, uh, I do think they are morons.

    You have to keep in mind that the large numbers of employees that work at Springfield and rock river arms won’t know anything about what happened. And they are the most affected by any boycott. I would encourage them to oust their superiors however, and I’d imagine Sarah would be on that list. RRA intent might be “fake news” but their actions most certainly were not.

    • BS! That’s like saying we should all pay 90% income tax because some of it goes for children’s programs. After all, think of the children…
      ArmaLite is just down the road, if they’re good workers they will find jobs.

      • I highly doubt a third-stringer like ArmaLite is hiring in the current market conditions…

        Your point is valid, though. Companies go out of business all the time. You’d die of dehydration if you shed tears over every job lost to corporate mismanagement and bad decisions.

    • That’s how boycotts work. If the only concern was the jobs of the employees, companies could get away with anything and the consumer would be hamstrung with misplaced guilt.

      SeaWorld is stopping their captive Orca program after public outcry and boycott. What would have happened if the only concern the consumer had was Billy the ticket taker?

      If Springfield and RRA’s bottom line is hurt and employees lost their jobs, that’s collateral damage.

    • I agree to an extent gentlemen, it’s just too bad that the workers at RRA have to pay for the Larson’s mistakes.

    • Already forgiven them? You must be a Cuckold (look it up) so they sell you down the river, sleep with the enemy. And you catch them and they blame you for catching them. You probably are the kind of guy that doesn’t want a reach around just is ok doing without. What a semblance of snowflake pajama boy. I will forgive them. Say. Never.

  46. Front page of today’s USA Today was 100% fake news. Is there such a thing as real news?

  47. I don’t own any firearms or parts from either RRA or SA. As a strong second amendment supporter, and shooting sports enthusiast, I won’t even consider purchasing any product either of these companies are associated with in any way, shape, or form. Regardless of the outcome of SB1657, both of these manufacturers no longer exist as far as I’m concerned.
    In my humble opinion, they’ve both out and out lied since this news broke. I don’t much care what any other shooting sports enthusiast buys. I’ve always subscribed to the theory that one should go with what serves you best and fits your budget. There are simply so many great choices out there today, at all price points, it’s never been better for the shooting sports enthusiast. (when it comes to product choices that is)
    The Anti’s are stronger than ever too. Illinois is also dealing with SB556, which is an all out ban on “assault rifles”
    This opening for SB556 only came about due to IFMA’s (RRA & SA) neutral stance on SB1657 (in exchange for their own exemption to the law) IMHO.
    I must give a HUGE KUDOS to TTAG for their outstanding reporting on SB1657. It’s above and beyond and deserves large respect.
    PLEASE HELP Oppose these hideous bills: Open an account at ILGA.gov and fill out Witness Slips opposing both of these ill conceived bills. If passed, these have the potential to go nationwide. If you need instructions on how to fill out a witness slip in opposition to SB1657 and SB556, go to illinois Carry dot com and see the Illinois Politics forum. They lay it all out and make it easy.
    Thanks TTAG and all my pro 2A brothers and sisters.

  48. JUST saw at least 10000 WITNESS SLIPS were submitted to oppose this abomination bill. Thank you TTAG and go to he!! Springfield AND ROCK River Arms.

  50. The Chicago politicians who took their money will be rejoicing the demise of these companies.

  51. Who is this Rock River chick? She sounds a lot like Hillary, what with all of her excuses….

  52. Well the fake legislation, that they fake fought, just passed the very real IL House Judicial-Criminal Committee and was added to the real IL House schedule (no date posted yet). I wonder if this will have fake or real consequences for IL gun owners and FFLs? /s

  53. At this point I feel like using the term “fake news” in any public statement or interview is a bad idea. That term has somehow morphed beyond all original intent and, accurate or not, should be treated as a third rail of intelligent discourse.

    That said, the damage has likely already been done on this topic. I almost feel bad for them at this point, since every negative thing is going to be thrown at their feet now regardless of whether it would have happened with or without their ignorance/negligence/shadiness.

  55. I could buy that the lobbyist acted autonomously on the singular issue of this particular bill.

    What I can’t believe/stomach is that they’ve been donating to anti-gun politicians for years (as TTAG reported, with evidence). At the very least that’s a sign that they were paying absolutely no attention to how their lobbying dollars were being spent and in doing so they aided the enemy.

    That kind of, at least, incompetence is unacceptable and turning around and blaming TTAG for your inability or unwillingness to properly police your lobbying arm is, quite frankly, disgusting.

  57. Maybe I’m missing something but it seems like deliberately giving money to organizations that oppose the very core of your business is an unlikely scenario for any business in the free market. It would be akin to the pharmaceutical companies coming out in vehement support of Cannabis legalization.
    I can more easily believe it was gross oversight on their part. I also happen to believe that both companies have probably donated more money to the NRA and the like than the people who are so offended, combined.
    I’m sure your boycott will be short and as productive as the boycott of Ruger years ago, and Bill Ruger surely threw us under the bus pre ban, yet he was virtually canonized upon his death(no disrespect intended) Give it some time and see if reparations are made. Otherwise all that will be accomplished is 2 less options for quality firearms at a reasonable price.

  58. First, talk about taking information out of context, you cannot quote a quote that is not a quote. This is not what she said.
    Second, Sarah Larson is not Chuck Larson’s daughter. Get your facts straight.

    • “Second, Sarah Larson is not Chuck Larson’s daughter. Get your facts straight.”

      So, who is she, Sylvie???

  59. CYA, smoke screen for plausible deniability, or another way of saying Damage control, but F**k em, they want to dance with the Devil now pay the Piper, chapter 11 around the corner!

    • “…chapter 11 around the corner!”

      I would seriously doubt that for both companies. Their bottom lines will take a hit but, for numerous reasons, they’re not going to go under due to this.

  62. you guys that bought this bullshit from this lying blog are pathetic. Learn to practice critical thinking before you allow yourself to be manipulated by this click bait outfit.

    • Please, sir, can you provide me an explanation of the error of my ways? I fail to understand how this issues can be anything but what it seems. So clarifying your interpretation of the facts is certainly welcome. Otherwise you are just solidifying the popular beliefs here through your spittle-infested diatribe.

    • Sounds like you’re either a corporate shill or apologist. Either way, back under your bridge!

    • One of the finest exhibitions of stupid I’ve seen in a troll comment on this site to date, and that’s quite a list of exhibits. Well done, Mr. or Mrs. Bullshit!

  63. Somebody smack the PR person with a rolled-up newspaper.

    NO! NO, that’s a BAD spokesperson! That’s not how you do it!

  66. This is “deflection” at its best. You will never get us to believe that you did not know what was going on. The hole gets deeper and deeper. As stated before, the Board of Directors needs to start cleaning the house within, starting with the CEO and their strategists. That would be step 1. Sep 2 would be to strengthen your Charter and Statement of Ethics. Step 3 – leave the State if this passes. Step 4 would be to throw lots more money to the 2nd amendment cause nation wide. Step 5 – prove to us that you are loyal to gun owners and not bottom line profits or lobbyist.

  67. I sold my Springfield XDS last week and I’m damn glad its in my rearview mirror as I drive into the future & a Glock 19

  68. “We’re the Victim of Fake News!” No, that is what you and SA are trying to push on us.

  69. You friggin traitors. We will never forget what was done in Illinois. And my whole family will never buy either companies products ever again. Turn on us and guess what, we will make you a memory.

  70. There is a concept called ‘Murder will out.” It essentially states that the truth will come out eventually. RR just discovered the accuracy of that concept.

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