Hornady Draws Ire for V*X Mandate Letter Sent to Employees [UPDATE]

Oct 27, 2021 UPDATE: Hornady Reverses Course- Read More HERE.


The contents of a letter sent on October 11th, 2021, were made public and has landed the ammunition manufacturer Hornady in hot water. You may or may not agree with it, but this is my personal opinion on the situation.

biden white house

Joe Biden Workplace V*x Mandate:

Hornady Manufacturing Company is based in Nebraska-based and is well-known in shooting sports circles for producing quality ammunition. The most recent report shows Hornady employees more than 200 employees.

Steve Hornady addressed the company's stance on President Biden's workplace v*x mandate. The general guidance sent by the President is on the White House website and reads:

The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is developing a rule that will require all employers with 100 or more employees to ensure their workforce is fully vaccinated or require any workers who remain unvaccinated to produce a negative test result on at least a weekly basis before coming to work. OSHA will issue an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to implement this requirement. This requirement will impact over 80 million workers in private sector businesses with 100+ employees.

The threat to business owners of over 100 employees that fail to obey includes a fine of $14,000 per employee who doesn't accept the injection.

hornady mandate

Hornady Employee Directive:

In the letter from Steve Hornady, he tells his employees that the anticipated deadline to get the entire workforce in compliance is December 8th. To meet that deadline, employees need to capitulate by receiving their second dose of the shot no later than November 10th.

Steve Hornady urges all his employees to “please, please, please get the v*x.”

The letter explains that onsite pokes will be available to any employee who wants to keep their job. Steve says:

This is a good place to work, and I value the contribution each of you makes for this company. We are on track to have an even better year than last. We do not want you or us to be faced with career devastating decisions in the final days before this mandate is in effect.

I am not sure “an even better year than last” is an excellent justification to set aside trivial things like personal liberty and bodily autonomy. But that's just me.

In the second paragraph of Steve Hornady's letter, we find one possible reason for the company to follow Biden's tyrannical edict.

He says, “…it is possible even more requirements will be imposed, based on our contracts with the U.S. Government. The federal government has some additional leverage based on the contracts Hornady has with them.

hornady mandate letter

I get that Steve Hornady runs a business responsible for providing hundreds of employees with a paycheck. That is a heavy burden to carry, no doubt.

Will employees go without wages if the company bucks Biden's order? Maybe, if the mandate overcomes the current legal challenges.

However, we know that if an employee of Hornady doesn't want to get jabbed, he will, FOR SURE, go without wages.

I'm assuming Steve Hornady has deliberated on the topic extensively before making his decision, and this isn't something he hasn't considered.

Public Health:

It is my opinion that this mandate has nothing to do with public safety or health, any more than an “assault rifle” ban does.

If it were about public health, would it make sense to fire nurses and doctors during a health crisis?

If public health were a concern, we would disapprove of firing people who've developed antibodies naturally. Yet they are. Why?

It is always about people taking advantage of a situation to gain more power, sow division, make money, and exercise control.

Steve Hornady recognizes this fact and says that “it goes way beyond a health measure…” But “there is nothing we (and ultimately you) can do to avoid this.”

Decisions, Decisions:

I don't envy Steve Hornady's position, or hundreds of thousands of other employers are in because of a misguided order.

I also thank God that my employer isn't forcing me to choose between bodily autonomy and wages.

Every one of us has and will continue to face tribulation in life; it is a guarantee.

Sometimes it seems as though we face decisions where either choice is wrong, and either option is suitable. What can we do?

In a book called The Cruel Sea, Nicholas Monsarrat tells the story of the Captain of a British Naval ship in World War II.

difficult decisions

The Captain must make a decision. Either continue with the mission of dropping depth charges on a Nazi U-Boat which was wreaking havoc or stop and rescue floating survivors of a sinking ship.

Should he continue and attempt to destroy the U-Boat, which in the long run could save more lives, and after all was his initial mission, or stop to rescue who he could.

He decides to continue and attempt to destroy the Nazi U-boat. Was that the right choice? I guess it depends on who you ask.

What/Who Guides Your Decisions?

A better question is, how did the Captain live with the results of his decision?

If unchanging principles guide us, making decisions becomes more straightforward, even if the outcome is not pretty or will lead to personal trouble.

Whether it be the British Captain, Steve Hornady, or your decision to comply with the mandate or not, you must live with the ramifications of your choice.

The mandate should prompt us all to self-evaluate.

Look inside to see what is guiding you in big and small decisions. Trouble abounds when we use situational ethics to govern our choices. We should test to see if we are looking to preserve ourselves above doing the right thing.

Self-doubt and regret often go hand in hand with decisions made against our good conscience.

Therefore, though it may seem counter-cultural, I seek to align every one of my decisions with unchanging, Biblical principles and in seeking wise counsel. Taking advice into consideration with proper prudence, and seeking God's guidance in heeding the prompting of His Holy Spirit. This way, regardless of the outcome, I am at peace with the outcome come what may.

Disclaimer:

I am not attempting to presume the reasoning behind Steve Hornady's choice.

Agree or disagree; it's all good. Feel free to leave your opinion in the comments.

About Matthew Maruster

I follow my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who is the eternal co-equal Son of God. I currently live in Columbus, Ohio with my wife and daughter. I served in the Marine Corps Infantry. I was a Staff Sergeant and served as a Platoon Sergeant during combat in Iraq. After I was a police officer at a municipal agency in San Diego County. I have a Bachelors's Degree in Criminal Justice from National University. I produce the Concealed Carry Podcast and coordinate the Concealed Carry Instructor Network, and manage MJ Maruster Defense.

44 Comments

  1. Gabe on October 23, 2021 at 2:49 pm

    Well F’ Hornady products now.
    I’ll buy else where for sure.

    • Larry on October 30, 2021 at 8:25 pm

      All I can say is Let’s Go Brandon! This administration is drunk with power and feel for all who are fearing for their jobs! God bless America and may this administration rot in hell!

  2. Joshua DuVall on October 24, 2021 at 1:21 pm

    No longer buying from Hornady .

    • Sue Lemburg on October 26, 2021 at 8:08 am

      I have been employed at Hornady Mfg. for over 30 years. We have seen many struggles in the shooting industry. Steve & Jason Hornady have always fought for the best possible way to help their employees & our company. I feel that this will be no different. They will fight for our rights.

      • Dewayne Earley on November 3, 2021 at 12:27 pm

        They sold you down the river! And continue to lie to cover their proverbial butts. I will never purchase any products from your company because it is anti-american and bowed to a president that wants to completely remove Americans right to bare arms.

      • Pat Sargent on November 15, 2021 at 9:15 am

        The letter is clear that there priority is money not freedom. They are doing the opposite of fighting for your rights. They have told you there government contracts trump your liberty.

      • Bert Blue on February 15, 2022 at 4:18 pm

        Steve said there’s nothing you can do to avoid the shot. There’s nothing in this letter that show’s his tolerance of individual rights and freedoms of an employee.

  3. Ralph Daer on October 24, 2021 at 1:49 pm

    First of all, it is not the government’s place to tell us what to do medically because it’s illegal by federal law to practice medicine without a license. Any company that follows the dictatorship instructions of our government I will not be spending money with.

  4. Justin on October 24, 2021 at 2:59 pm

    The government would gladly kill every one of us who don’t capitulate to their mandate as demonstrated by having to choose between bodily autonomy or a job to support our families. If I were Hornady, I’d stay the course for existing contracts and when they are done I would no longer supply the US government with ammo (likely won’t be long before it is used on us anyway). If the government decides to use these mandates to change the rules, I’d argue breach of contract and sever support of this administration even sooner.

    • Robert Housholder on October 26, 2021 at 12:36 pm

      If this “Mandate” was NOT in the origenal contract, then the Mandate is committing Fraud and that is a felony. ALL contracts are to be on the up & up, ! Look into that !

  5. Carl on October 24, 2021 at 11:11 pm

    Matthew,

    What a class act you and concealed carry dot com are to bring this Information to light. Fearlessly telling the truth. “Just the facts m’aam” A lost art. Silent no more. Steeped in wisdom. The way of the warrior.

  6. Morgan on October 25, 2021 at 4:33 pm

    My wife is a 34 year RN. She is up close and personal with covid patients every work night for the last year and a half. She has also seen the adverse reactions to the so called “vaccine”. She will give up her career rather than take the jab. She is not easily rattled by much but is definitely afraid of the jab. I will not be taking it either. I may have a better choice of getting tested weekly to keep my job. Hornady is flat wrong on this. If this is true I will no longer buy from Hornady. I really feel for his employees.

  7. Jim on October 25, 2021 at 6:26 pm

    Thank you Hornady for showing your true colors and falling in line with the corrupt government we now have. I have been using Hornady products and reloading since 1963. I will no longer be using your products and Nosler and Sierra will greatly appreciate my business. I will not be subjected to illegal mandates pushed by a fraudulent government. The Federal government will eventually be in control of your company if you follow their agenda.

    • Ashleigh B on October 26, 2021 at 6:05 am

      Unbelievable! Bending the knee! Wake up!

  8. Todd J. on October 25, 2021 at 9:51 pm

    Steve Hornady you are screwing up ROYALLY! For many years, I only use the Frontier 5.56 Nato rds. NO MORE!

    The potato ONLY spoke about a mandate in a speech. My GOD Steve! There is NO Law or Executive Order (of which would be shot down by the USSC). The potted plant CANNOT make up laws! Period!

    Where is your backbone man?

    You lost my business.

    • Russ on October 26, 2021 at 6:42 am

      I have shot my last Hornady round and will be throwing the remaining ones in the trash. So long Hornady!

      • Tom on October 26, 2021 at 4:57 pm

        Guess I will use what little ammo I have left from hornady and when looking for new it will be another brand besides theirs. I am not gonna do business with a company that folds to making a employee take a shot to work. It should be their choice. We live in a free country….but some people are trying to change that. I haven’t had the jab and don’t plan on it. Hope hornady rethink this path they are traveling on.

      • Jack Smith on October 27, 2021 at 3:47 pm

        It makes literally zero sense to throw away perfectly good ammunition. Doing so does not harm Hornady nor does it teach them a lesson. On the other hand refusing to buy more of their ammo is a good idea. Throwing ammunition away that you already gave them your money for is just dumb and accomplishes nothing of any value.

        • Chris B. on April 8, 2023 at 10:52 am

          An even better choice would be to resell what he’d otherwise throw away, robbing Hornady of potential sales.

    • Robert on October 26, 2021 at 12:45 pm

      Biden never signed and EO yet with (Osha) so there is NO legal order to mandate.
      Do some research, It’s all unconstitutional and constant lies.

      • Jeff on October 27, 2021 at 4:38 pm

        I believe if you are considered “a contractor” for fed than you fall under the guidelines of federal
        Employees which is mandatory v*x.
        It sucks but hornady is in a no-win situation.
        Bad place to be

      • Wayne on October 28, 2021 at 8:54 pm

        This is why we have three branches of the government. Biden is executive but not legislative, so he can’t make a law. He’s not judiciary either, so he can’t enforce non-compliance with an unconstitutional mandate.
        I think we have lost sight of the fact that the government is “a contractor” for us…We, the people. If we continue to allow the “contractor” to dictate orders, executive or otherwise, we deserve everything they’re throwing at us. That’s what sucks…US, letting it get this far. It’s only no-win if you allow it.

  9. William on October 26, 2021 at 6:48 am

    When you sell your soul so readily for money or perceived security you aren’t much to begin with. As stated in another post here. Joey depends and his Marxist clown car are laughing at just how easy it has been to turn all the flaccid companies into compliant, quivering sheep just by having a press conference. Nothing in writing, nothing legally binding, just mocking and snarky words. “Please, please, please”. He sounds like a little girl and not a man. No more Hornady purchases for sure. Stand strong employees, you are not alone in this struggle as I know personally. LET’S GO BRANDON” and the same to flaccid little Stevie Hornady. Every act of submission further seals our fate to the “New World Order”.

  10. George on October 26, 2021 at 8:11 am

    Hundreds of employees make the hornady family very, very well to do. If they walk off the job, hornady will have to close and that will be the appropriate result.

    • Bob Barker on November 15, 2021 at 6:07 am

      He just turned his back on the group that buys 95+ percent of his civilian ammo sales.He won’t be able to give a box away when this is done. If he had told them to go to hell he would be building more plants we would have bought his ammo exclusively for ever. Bad move Steve!!!!!

  11. NOG on October 26, 2021 at 8:50 am

    Hornady has chosen to align with the DC sewer instead of freedom loving Americans. I am sure the sewer will reward him well (or just stab him in the back). He might think he needs gov contracts, but I think he could have sold everything he makes to us peons, Funny, the same sewer that wants to close his business down by banning private ownership of fire arms or using EPA to ban lead use. Go figure. If Hornady is too weak to resist sewer proclamations, perhaps he should retire and turn the company over to someone with a ……backbone. I have used their Critical Defense ammo for years. Time to change that.

  12. NOG on October 26, 2021 at 8:52 am

    I forgot to add, in the book the captain lost his ship…….

  13. James Wood on October 26, 2021 at 9:38 am

    The SS and Gestapo was made up of people who all believed they were just doing their jobs – and they went along and sold their souls- People in German factories turned in their co-workers to report anyone who dissented – These owners of this company are no different – they will rue the day the buckled to the evil people behind the mandate – while the Government might have a leverage point – most shooters are not working for the Government and we are going to take back this country from these evil entities and we will remember long after and we wont accept your pitiful excuse

    • jim porter on October 30, 2021 at 11:25 pm

      amen brother. ceo’s of many big corporations are showing were their allegiance truly lies. they are placing there lust for profit and control before the very things that allowed them to become so succesfull in this country. freedom and liberty. company leaders like this are complicit with allowing a socialist government to take over and should get absolutely no support from freedom loving people. history does not need to repeat itself if we take the time to learn from it.

  14. Pureblood on October 26, 2021 at 10:24 am

    200 Employees? Split the company into a 3 different companies. Screw the feds and their unlawful dictates.

  15. KIR AMMO PRESIDENT on October 26, 2021 at 10:45 am

    If they enforce this, we will stop carrying their products on kirammo

  16. Brian on October 27, 2021 at 7:43 am

    Someone get this in front of Hornady, the .Gov cannot change existing contracts so you are fine for now. Before you sign any NEW contracts break off a new company just for .gov contracts staffed exclusively with volunteers who are already vaxxed. Problem solved.

  17. William on October 28, 2021 at 5:46 am

    Any word on who is going to provide the, “weekly testing” for those who do not wish to receive the vaccine?… Hornady?… The employee?… How much will it cost?… Who will pay?… These are important questions that should have been answered in that employee bulletin.

  18. Wayne on October 28, 2021 at 9:06 pm

    I dunno Steve. There’s a lot of people here saying they won’t buy your products anymore. If everyone shares the heck out of this, I would venture to guess that a large portion of your clientele would be gone. Can you survive on government contracts alone…& with what employees? Just imagine if you & other “contractors”, simply said no.
    Things to make you go, hmmmmm.

  19. Rollin Shultz on October 30, 2021 at 9:22 am

    Well I hope the many comments here indicating profit losses awakens them and gives then pause. I know it is hard to put an entire company AND its employees on the line to resist this government over reach, but that is what must be done by companies that have allegiance to American ideals. I suggest Hornady reject ALL government contracts immediately and reverse their decision and depend on their customer base to make up the differences. We have seen in the last two years, beginning with GOYA Foods how resisting the left can make a company even greater in its customer base and profits.

    The only power “we the people” have is how and where we spend our hard earned money. Every dollar we spend supports someone or something and its up to us to make wise choices. The times we live in now will make or break out country and how we spend our money will become a very important tool in setting things to their proper state.

    Everyone think about this: saving the country whole may nigh be impossible now, and we may in the RED states need to consider banding together and seceding from the FED and the District of Criminals to prevent election fraud and all manner of takeovers from literally eliminating patriots by selective enforcements of all kinds.

  20. Jon Galt on November 2, 2021 at 9:08 am

    Just posted this to the Scrapbook section of Hornady’s website… I encourage EVERYONE to do the same:

    “It is with deep regret that I must inform you that I feel your business has betrayed the foundation and tenets that make these Unites States of America the great and stable country that it is. With your management’s decision to require all employees to meet an illegal mandate issued by an illegitimate government office and threaten the livelihood of the employees that have put in their time, effort, and expertise into making your products great, I must inform you that I will no longer purchase any of your products at any retail outlet. Today, I intend to take the entire stock of Hornady Whitetail InterLock cartridges which I currently have in my possession to the range, hand them out to all range participants who promise to cycle all of them downrange today, along with a copy of your shameless letter to your faithful employees. I will further tell anyone I meet at Cabela’s and other retail outlets about your shameful letter to anyone I happen to run into as I go to purchase brands of cartridges whose manufacturers do not engage in such shameful submission to illegitimate edicts from dictators who believe they can exceed the powers of their elected office without resistance from spineless corporate drones such that the management that saw fit to issue this edict to their employees.

    Good luck to your management. This will be the last communication I have with Hornady until I see a sustained effort to uphold the Constitution and the foundation that made it possible for Hornady to exist and thrive as a business. When the same people that issued the mandate that you choose to enforce on your employees today, comes to nationalize the equipment that you use to build your products in the future, there will no longer be any faithful customers such as myself to stand up for you.”

  21. Ruvim D on November 2, 2021 at 12:44 pm

    It seems like hornady forgot who the consumer base is, we are about freedom of choice and against tyranny. It’s sad to see a company comply with tyranny instead of standing up to it at this critical moment. Until hornady cleans up it’s act I won’t be buying their ammo anymore. We need more companies to stand firm against mandates and give the people the freedom to choose what’s best for their health as everyone has different health needs for some people the shot will help them and also for a lot of people the shot is unnecessary since natural immunity exists it’s up the the individual to make that decision not hornady and Biden

  22. Illtrylater on November 15, 2021 at 3:15 pm

    You are the only one bubby.

  23. jackie ow on November 15, 2021 at 6:24 pm

    “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

    ― Benjamin Franklin

  24. jackie ow on November 15, 2021 at 6:28 pm

    The author is too cozy with the enemy to be calling this a mandate from a president. His word choice should be that it is a dictate from a dictator. If you let con artists start by conning you with comfy euphemistic words, your enemy has already won the first battle.

  25. jackie ow on November 15, 2021 at 6:32 pm

    “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

    ― Benjamin Franklin

    Applied to modern times >>>>> The author is too cozy with the enemy when he calls this a mandate from a president. His word choice should be that it is a dictate from a dictator. If you let con artists start by conning you with comfy euphemistic words, your enemy has already won the first battle. Their specialty is mind control, and only suckers submit.

  26. Garry Rice on November 20, 2021 at 7:51 pm

    I agree with your approach. It is very sound to base important decisions on unchanging principles. Nevertheless, the best of us can go astray at times. I have some empathy for Hornady, as the federal contract requirements don’t have the testing option that the (now stayed) OSHA rule does. Let’s hope that the negative responses will prompt reflection and a change of heart. I would prefer to see a changed mind than to simply cancel him and kick Hornady to the curb.

  27. Kyle Kubkowski on December 11, 2021 at 11:02 am

    Any update on what happened with this?

    The CEO of a major company should know better, on many levels, but most assuredly the claim of the need to force this on the employees because the government has them on a leash with contracts. Contracts are a two way leash, binding and spell out the terms of engagement. I’d like to see the section of that contract that Steve believes allows unconstitutional, treasonous edicts by our public servants to abrogate the God given rights of his employees…
    It sounds to me like the government is using coercion to try to force a change in terms of a binding contract that has already been negotiated and executed and Steve has no concern for protecting his employees from such criminal activity. Again, he should know better.
    I hope Hornady can subsist solely off the government teat as they won’t be getting my business ever again.

    • Matthew Maruster on December 11, 2021 at 11:15 am

      Click on the link where it says ‘update’ and the post describes the company response to the controversy. I hope that helps.

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