When Gun Makers Betray Gun Owners: The Springfield Armory Controversy

Why the Springfield Armory Lobbying Scandal Still Matters Today

the Betrayal of Illinois Gun Owners

What Happened, How They Were Caught, and Why We Should Remember

In 2017, a political scandal erupted in the Illinois gun rights community—and at the center of it was one of the most recognizable firearms manufacturers in the country: Springfield Armory.

For decades, Springfield Armory had positioned itself as a champion of American gun owners. Their marketing leaned heavily on patriotic imagery, their founder had resurrected the brand in the 1970s with respect for the legacy of the original U.S. military armory, and their products were staples in collections across the country. But behind the scenes, a different story was unfolding.

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The Anti-Gun Dealer Licensing Bill

Illinois lawmakers were pushing Senate Bill 1657 (Dealer Licensing Act), which would have imposed strict state-level licensing requirements on all gun shops—adding additional layers of bureaucracy, fees, and compliance burdens that many small dealers couldn’t survive. It was a clear attempt to choke the firearms industry in Illinois from the retail end.

Gun rights advocates across the state opposed the bill, warning that it would destroy mom-and-pop gun stores, limit access to firearms, and erode Second Amendment rights.

Publicly, Springfield Armory and another major manufacturer, Rock River Arms, appeared to be on the side of the grassroots gun community. But the reality was very different.

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The Role of the IFMA: A Political Smokescreen

Springfield and Rock River were both founding members of the Illinois Firearms Manufacturers Association (IFMA), a lobbying group that claimed to represent the interests of the firearms industry in the state.

In a stunning betrayal, the IFMA—**with the full knowledge and financial support of Springfield and Rock River—**lobbied for an amendment to the bill that exempted large manufacturers from the licensing requirements. In other words, they were fine with the bill as long as it didn’t affect them.

Worse yet, when the amended bill gained momentum, the IFMA withdrew its opposition entirely, effectively greenlighting the legislation that would have devastated small gun dealers across Illinois.

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How They Got Caught

Gun rights watchdogs and grassroots groups in Illinois, including the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) and Gun Owners of America, noticed the sudden shift in momentum around the bill and began digging.

Documents and lobbying records showed that the IFMA had quietly pulled its opposition. When this was traced back to Springfield and Rock River’s financial support and board representation within IFMA, the backlash was swift and fierce.

Springfield and Rock River were accused of selling out the very community that had made them successful, protecting their bottom line while allowing smaller shops—and ultimately gun owners—to face crippling regulation.

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The Response and Fallout

Caught red-handed, both companies issued public statements attempting to distance themselves from the IFMA and deny involvement in the lobbying decision. They disbanded their relationship with the IFMA shortly after the scandal broke.

But the damage was done.

• Gun forums and social media exploded with calls for boycotts.

• Longtime supporters of the brand expressed anger and betrayal.

• Retailers across the country stopped carrying their products in protest.

The scandal became a textbook example of corporate betrayal in the 2A community—when profits were prioritized over principles.

Key players in the Springfield Armory lobbying controversy of 2017

1. Springfield Armory

Company Role: Major firearms manufacturer and co-founder of IFMA

Key Person:

• Dennis Reese – CEO

  • Longtime leader of Springfield Armory since its revival in the 1970s

  • Public face of the company at the time of the scandal

  • Issued a public letter in 2017 attempting to distance the company from IFMA’s actions, claiming they were unaware of the lobbying betrayal

  • Critics argue that, as a principal funder and participant in IFMA, the company could not credibly claim ignorance

Company Actions:

• Financially supported IFMA

• Benefited from a legislative exemption in SB1657

• Pulled support from IFMA and issued public statements only after public exposure

Fallout:

• Faced national backlash, boycotts, and damaged reputation

• Disbanded its relationship with IFMA after public outcry

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2. Rock River Arms

Company Role: Firearms manufacturer and IFMA co-founder

Key People:

• Mark Larson – Co-founder and co-owner

• Chuck Larson – Co-founder and co-owner

  • The Larson brothers helped build Rock River Arms into a respected firearms brand, especially among AR‑15 enthusiasts

  • Issued a joint statement in 2017 claiming that they were not directly involved in IFMA’s decision to withdraw opposition to SB1657

  • Claimed that Rock River had always supported the rights of small gun dealers

Company Actions:

• Co-funded IFMA

• Allegedly stood to benefit from the exemption in the proposed bill

• Attempted to separate from the lobbying group amid backlash

Fallout:

• Issued a similar public statement distancing itself from IFMA

• Also faced criticism and lost consumer trust

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3. Illinois Firearms Manufacturers Association (IFMA)

Role: Lobbying arm for Springfield Armory and Rock River Arms

Key Person:

• Jay Keller – IFMA Lobbyist

  • Represented IFMA in Springfield

  • Directly responsible for withdrawing opposition to SB1657 after securing carve-outs for large manufacturers

  • His lobbying activity, recorded in state documents, exposed the group’s actions and sparked outrage from grassroots gun rights groups

Involvement:

• Quietly negotiated with lawmakers to amend SB1657 to exempt large manufacturers like Springfield and Rock River

• After securing the exemption, withdrew opposition to the bill, which left small dealers and gun shops vulnerable

Impact:

• Exposed as a tool for protecting corporate interests at the expense of the wider 2A community

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4. Grassroots Gun Owners and Advocacy Groups

Role: The ones who uncovered the truth

Key Organizations & Individuals:

• Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) – Played a key role in analyzing the bill and alerting gun owners

• Gun Owners of America (GOA) – Amplified the scandal nationally and called for boycotts

• Thousands of individual activists and gun store owners used forums, YouTube, blogs, and social media to share what was happening
  (You can still go wtch those videos & read the blogs)

Involvement:

• Monitored legislative developments

• Uncovered IFMA’s political maneuvering through lobbying records

• Organized widespread backlash, boycotts, and public awareness campaigns

Impact:

• Forced public statements and damage control from Springfield and Rock River

• Helped prevent long-term legislative damage through pressure and visibility

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5. Illinois Politicians Who Backed SB1657

Key People:

• Senator Don Harmon (D) – Sponsor of SB1657

  • Advocated for tighter control of gun stores

  • Open to carve-outs for large manufacturers to split opposition

• Representative Kathleen Willis (D) – Supporter of the bill in the House

  • Known for pushing other anti-2A legislation

Involvement:

• Crafted the Dealer Licensing Act to add regulatory pressure on firearm dealers

• Accepted industry carve-outs to divide opposition

Impact:

• Used the divide within the firearms industry to push their agenda

• Ultimately failed when the bill was vetoed in 2018 by then-Governor Rauner

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6. Governor Bruce Rauner

Role: Vetoed SB1657

Key Decision:

• In August 2017, vetoed SB1657, citing the burdens it would place on small business and gun shop owners

• Praised by pro-2A advocates for preventing the law from being enacted

Impact:

• Prevented the bill from becoming law

• Framed his decision as support for small businesses and gun owners' rights