Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) has a message for firearms manufacturers and banks under attack from Chicago Democratic Mayor Rahm Emanuel: Texas welcomes you.
Cruz pilloried Emanuel’s gun-control efforts and invited executives to consider the warmer, friendlier climes of the Lone Star State in a Tuesday letter to the CEOs of Bank of America, TD Bank, Sturm & Ruger, and Smith & Wesson.
Emanuel pressured banks to stop extending lines of credit to firearms manufactures in a letter sent Friday.
Cruz responded that such actions "call into doubt the claims of President Barack Obama and Washington Democrats that they do not seek to strip Americans of our Second Amendment rights."
You may be understandably concerned that there are risks to refusing to comply with the demands of a politician who has earned the nickname, "The Godfather."
In Texas, we have a more modest view of government.
We do not accept the notion that government officials should behave as bullies, trying to harass or pressure private companies into enlisting in a political lobbying campaign. And we subscribe to the notion, quaint in some quarters, that private companies don't work for elected officials; elected officials work for private citizens.
In light of the reception you have received in the Windy City, please know that Texas would certainly welcome more of your business and the jobs you create. Texas value jobs and value freedom, and over 1000 people a day are moving to Texas (often from cities like Chicago), because Texas is where the jobs are.
Cruz also thanked the firearms manufacturers for their commitment to the Second Amendment and wrote that he would be "happy to personally introduce" firearm manufacturer executives to leaders of Texas financial institutions, should they wish to relocate.
Cruz also noted that Chicago was recently forced to pay more than $1.1. million in legal fees "due to your unsuccessful assault on the Second Amendment."
"Your continued anti-gun crusade may well cause some to wonder if the interests of the citizens of Chicago are being sacrificed in pursuit of a partisan agenda," Cruz wrote.
"Regardless, directing your attack at legitimate firearms manufacturers undermines the Second Amendment rights of millions of Texans," Cruz concluded. "In the future, I would ask that you might keep your efforts to diminish the Bill of Rights north of the Red River."