{"id":5548,"date":"2023-10-10T13:30:37","date_gmt":"2023-10-10T13:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/?p=5548"},"modified":"2023-10-10T14:02:36","modified_gmt":"2023-10-10T14:02:36","slug":"businesses-flee-to-freedom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/businesses-flee-to-freedom\/","title":{"rendered":"2A Businesses Flee to Freedom"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Suppose you make firearms for a living. Would you prefer to do business in a state that honors the Second Amendment, and appreciates an industry which employs <\/span>more than 45,000 Americans<\/a>? Or would you rather do business in a state where politicians score brownie points for demonizing your product?<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

That question is hardly the head-scratcher of the year. Your answer to it explains why at least 20 gun, ammo, and gun accessory manufacturers have moved to pro-2A states over the past decade.<\/p>\r\n

Why Leave and Uproot A Business?<\/h3>\r\n

\"A<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Gun-friendly states typically attract gunmakers with tax incentives. Often, they have willing and qualified workforces, and make promises that semi-automatic rifles won\u2019t be made illegal (on a statewide level, at least).<\/p>\r\n

Gun manufacturers also receive greater protection against litigation when they headquarter in states where courts are inclined to honor the federal government\u2019s Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA).<\/a> That law prohibits civil liability actions against firearm manufacturers for damages resulting from misuse of their products. Conversely, judges in anti-2A states are less likely to deem the PLCAA applicable to civil litigation. There is precedence of this in places like\u00a0Connecticut<\/a> and Illinois<\/a>. The location of a gun manufacturer\u2019s headquarters may not grant it protection against civil liability in anti-2A states. However, it\u2019s always advisable to do business wherever local judges aren\u2019t categorically opposed to your livelihood.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The private sector also makes firearm manufacturers\u2019 jobs harder in anti-2A states. \u201cWe had a lot of stuff in New York that we\u2019re having a hard time even just getting credit card processors and insurers and everything else,\u201d said Kevin Elder<\/a>, communications manager for Dark Storm Industries. \u201cEverything is through the roof. Because we\u2019re guns, people don\u2019t want to take us on.\u2026 Our premiums are absolutely crazy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Let\u2019s take a closer look at how politics is shaping the gun industry. Here are the companies that have recently scaled back or abandoned operations in anti-2A states in favor of working where they\u2019re more welcome.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Beretta<\/h3>\r\n
\"Beretta
Beretta’s old factory in Maryland. (Image Courtesy: Washington Post)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The state of Maryland banned 45 types of \u201cassault-style weapons\u201d when Gov. Martin O’Malley (D-Md.) signed the Firearm Safety Act of 2013<\/a>. \u201cEvery state should regulate and do a better job of regulating guns \u2013 especially combat assault weapons,\u201d Gov. O\u2019Malley later remarked<\/a> while rationalizing his opposition to the Second Amendment.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Beretta, whose website literally features a store page titled \u201cAssault Rifles<\/a>,\u201d responded by relocating all manufacturing operations from Accokeek, MD to Gallatin, TN. Gov. Bill Haslam (R-Tenn.) welcomed Beretta to their new home.<\/a>\u00a0Haslam promised a better political climate in a state that takes great pride in the Second Amendment. Almost 300 Tennesseans received gainful employment because of Beretta\u2019s move.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Magpul<\/h3>\r\n
\"Magpul
Magpul gave away 30-round magazines leading up to Colorado’s mag ban that pushed them out of the state. (Image Courtesy: Denver Post<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Magpul isn\u2019t a gun manufacturer. They make fine firearm accessories, including the PMAG magazine<\/a> which is approved for use by both the Marine Corps and the U.S. Army. Needless to say, Magpul\u2019s management was nonplussed when Gov. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) signed legislation banning magazines that hold more than 15 rounds<\/a>. \u201cLarge-capacity magazines have the potential to turn killers into killing machines,\u201d said Gov. Hickenlooper.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Magpul abandoned Colorado in response, moving their headquarters to Texas and their production, distribution and shipping operations to Wyoming. Gov. Matt Mead (R-Wyo.) said The Equality State offers Magpul “a firm commitment to uphold the Second Amendment<\/a>.”<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Smith & Wesson<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\"smith
Smith & Wesson’s new 650,000 sq ft facility in Maryville, Tennessee.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n

Smith & Wesson is one of the oldest American firearm manufacturers. Its founders incorporated the company in Springfield, MA in 1852. In 2021 S&W announced they would leave their historic home state<\/a> in response to proposed legislation which would ban the manufacture of firearms that are illegal to sell in Massachusetts<\/a>, including semi-automatic rifles and shotguns.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cWhile we are hopeful that this arbitrary and damaging legislation will be defeated in this session, these products made up over 60% of our revenue last year, and the unfortunate likelihood that such restrictions would be raised again led to a review of the best path forward for Smith & Wesson,\u201d said CEO Mark Smith. S&W spent over $150 million relocating their headquarters<\/a>, distribution and some manufacturing to Maryville, TN. The company pointed to support for the Second Amendment as a key reason for the move. Tennessee gained 750 jobs as a result<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Kimber<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Many state governors deemed the firearm industry essential during the coronavirus lockdowns. Unsurprisingly, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y.) wasn\u2019t one of them. By dismissing a lawsuit alleging that Cuomo\u2019s closure order was unconstitutional, U.S. District Senior Judge Lawrence Kahn effectively green-lit Gov. Cuomo\u2019s decision to turn over 5,500 New Yorkers into non-workers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

At the time of Judge Kahn’s ruling, Kimber, which manufactures 1911 pistols and other quality firearms, had its headquarters in Yonkers, NY. In 2020 Kimber announced their decision to relocate all of their operations to the $38 million 80-acre facility<\/a> they had previously built in Troy, AL. Kimber\u2019s management said they selected Troy for its close proximity to engineering schools. They also attributed it to the prevailing pro-gun and pro-business attitudes in the great state of Alabama.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

“Kimber’s investment in Troy will create a significant number of high-paying design engineering and manufacturing jobs, and we are committed to helping the company find long-lasting success in Alabama,” Gov. Kay Ivey (R-Ala.) announced in her 2018 State of the State Address. Alabama will ultimately add 366 new jobs because of Kimber\u2019s move<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Olin Corp.<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Olin Corp. announced they would move their Winchester Centerfire Operations from East Alton, IL to Oxford, MS in 2010<\/a>. Olin\u2019s decision was precipitated by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers\u2019 repeated rejection of a union proposal that would have allowed their continued operations in Illinois.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.) publicly opposed the move. They pointed out that Illinois legislators had worked hard to secure large government contracts for Olin<\/a>. Ultimately, Gov. Haley Barbour\u2019s (R-Miss.) offer to give Lafayette County $25 million for the construction of a new 500,000-square-foot ammo facility was more compelling to Olin than the Democratic lawmakers\u2019 protestations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Stag Arms<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Stag Arms, which produces AR-style rifles and pistols, announced in 2019 that they would move all of their operations from New Britain, CT to Cheyenne, WY<\/a>. New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart remarked that Stag Arms\u2019 decision to relocate was unsurprising in light of Senate Bill 1160.<\/a>\u00a0That bill banned assault weapons in the state of Connecticut as of January 1st, 2014.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cNot only is Wyoming an incredibly hospitable place to do business, it is also a top destination for outdoor recreation, including hunting and shooting sports, which reflects its citizens\u2019 unwavering support for the Second Amendment,\u201d Elie Azar said<\/a>, who owns a controlling interest in Stag Arms. \u201cI am pleased to welcome Stag Arms to Wyoming,\u201d said Gov. Mark Gordon (R-Wyo.). \u201cWe have a deep-seated commitment to the Second Amendment that I will continue to uphold.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

PTR Industries<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\"an
Inside the PTR manufacturing facility. (Image courtesy: PTR<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n

Connecticut\u2019s crackdown on assault weapons didn\u2019t sit well with PTR Industries, either. \u201cThe disregard for public input \u2026 and the haphazard production of the legislation should be insulting to any citizen or business in CT,\u201d PTR said in a 2013 statement<\/a>. \u201cIt should be a shock to us all that such landmark legislation could be written in one week, and seen by no one (including the rank-and-file legislators) prior to its emergency certification.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

PTR made their move from Bristol, CT to Aynor, SC official with a ribbon-cutting ceremony<\/a> later that same year. In 2014 PTR presented Gov. Nikki Haley (R-S.C.) with a special commemorative rifle (serial number \u201cSCGOVNH\u201d) as thanks for South Carolina\u2019s outstanding support throughout their move.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cWe told them this community was going to wrap their arms around them and not let go,\u201d said Gov. Haley. \u201cWhat we did not expect is for them to become such a quick part of our South Carolina family. To do this commemorative rifle is not only good for the spirit of what we have been through in trying to get our relationship together, it\u2019s good for the spirit of South Carolina.\u201d PTR\u2019s relocation secured 140 new jobs for South Carolinians.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Colt Competition<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Colt also announced their interest in leaving Connecticut<\/a> in response to the state\u2019s sweeping anti-gun legislation. The old manufacturer’s West Hartford, CT factory remains operational to this day, although Colt Competition (which licenses their name from Colt) chose Breckenridge, TX<\/a> as the location for their new factory in 2013.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Colt Competition\u2019s decision to expand their operations to Texas was quite possibly encouraged by Gov. Rick Perry\u2019s (R-Texas) tweet to PTR: \u201cTexas is still wide open for business!! Come on down!\u201d Sadly for Colt Competition, declining demand for AR-15 rifles (which partially resulted from Donald Trump\u2019s election to Oval Office) caused their factory\u2019s closure the following year<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

O.F. Mossberg & Sons<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The headquarters of America\u2019s oldest family-owned gun manufacturer is still located in North Haven, CT. However, they no longer produce their fine shotguns in the Constitution State. As of 2014, Mossberg produces over 90% of their firearms at their factory in Eagle Pass, TX<\/a>, which presently employs over 450 Americans.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Mossberg\u2019s 116,000-square-foot addition to their Maverick Arms facility in Texas was made possible thanks in part to the Texas Enterprise Fund<\/a>. “This TEF investment in Maverick Arms will help create jobs and opportunity in Eagle Pass, while reaffirming Texas’ longstanding support of the Second Amendment,” Gov. Rick Perry said<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Heckler & Koch<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

New Hampshire bucks the New England trend of hostility toward the Second Amendment. The Granite State has not recently passed \u201cany meaningful gun safety laws\u201d (as anti-2A Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence puts it). Indeed, in 2023 New Hampshire defeated House Bill 351<\/a> which would have mandated how residents could legally store firearms.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Despite New Hampshire\u2019s 2A-friendly landscape, Heckler & Koch chose to close down their Newington, NH facility<\/a>. The company relocated to a new 50,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Columbus, GA in 2017. New Hampshire\u2019s rising energy costs, rising health care rates, and lack of right-to-work laws precipitated H&K\u2019s decision. \u201cGeorgia\u2019s pro-business environment and well-connected logistics network allows manufacturing companies to thrive in our state,\u201d said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Henry Repeating Arms<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Henry was founded in Brooklyn, NY in 1996 and moved to Bayonne, NJ in 2008. In 2013 the Garden State\u2019s \u201chigh taxes, regulatory burden, union stranglehold and anti-gun gestalt\u201d compelled owner Anthony Imperato to relocate Henry\u2019s production to the 138,000-square-foot facility his company had purchased in Rice Lake, WI in 2006<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cI am proud of what we\u2019ve accomplished in Wisconsin by saving jobs, adding jobs, and creating a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility,\u201d said Imperato. In 2023 the state of Wisconsin honored Henry by declaring the 45-70 Government All-Weather Lever Action Side Gate as the state\u2019s official state rifle<\/a>. \u201cSomething that pays homage to many generations of hunters is in no way political and should not be framed as such,\u201d said Rep. Treig Pronschinske (R-Wis.).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Troy Industries<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Retired Massachusetts State Trooper Steven Troy, Jr. founded Troy Industries in 2003. The company soon became one of the country\u2019s leading suppliers of small arms accessories<\/a>. Formerly headquartered in West Springfield, MA, Troy decided to relocate his company to Clarksville, TN in 2021.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cWhile Troy has enjoyed a very successful period of growth in Massachusetts, the changing climate for firearms manufacturers in the state determined the need for our relocation to Tennessee to ensure the continued success of the company,\u201d Troy said<\/a>. The move represented a $7.2 million investment in the state of Tennessee, as well as the addition of 75 new jobs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

FN America<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"<yoastmark<\/p>\r\n

FN America, a subsidiary of Belgium-based FN Herstal, is headquartered in McLean, VA. They did, however, break ground on a Richland County, SC production facility in 1979. In 2023, FN announced that they will expand their facility in Columbia, SC.<\/a>\u00a0The move came shortly after announcing the construction of their second facility in Liberty, SC.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cThe record growth that our company has had these last several years has enabled us to invest in our South Carolina manufacturing footprint with our soon-to-be new facility in Liberty and now the expansion of our Columbia facility,\u201d said Mark Cherpes, president and CEO of FN America.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

FN\u2019s Columbia expansion represents an $18 million investment in the Palmetto State. It also meant 102 new jobs for residents. FN didn\u2019t exactly migrate to a pro-2A state. After all, they were already doing business in South Carolina. However, their actions do demonstrate that gunmakers will stay in states where they feel welcome and supported.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

ArmaLite<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

ArmaLite: the \u201cA\u201d in AR-15. The historic American company called Geneseo, IL home until 2018, which was when they relocated to Phoenix, AZ<\/a>. Strategic Armory Corps, which owns ArmaLite, explained that ArmaLite moved so it could be closer to its sister companies (McMillan Firearms, Surgeon Rifles and AWC Silencers). Their official explanation notwithstanding, it is probable that Strategic Armory Corps also saw the writing on the wall: in 2023, Gov. JB Pritzker (D-Ill.) signed legislation banning assault weapons.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Interestingly, Genesco, IL recently earned investment from one firearm manufacturer: Springfield Armory. It announced the groundbreaking of a new facility there in 2021<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Remington<\/h3>\r\n
\"remington's
Remington’s headquarters in LaGrange, Georgia. (Image Courtesy: Remington<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Remington Arms was founded in Ilion, NY in 1816. New York\u2019s strict gun control laws drove the country\u2019s oldest gunmaker away from their birth state just over 200 years later. \u201cFar-left progressives in New York, starting with disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo, made it clear their mission was to destroy the Empire State\u2019s iconic firearms industry,\u201d Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) said<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Gov. Ron Desantis (R-Fla.) tried luring Remington to the Sunshine State with a $25 million incentive package<\/a>. Ultimately, Big Green chose peaches over oranges. In 2021 they announced they would move their global headquarters and other operations to LaGrange, GA.<\/a>\u00a0That means a $100 million investment in Troup County, as well as more than 850 jobs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

“We are very excited to come to Georgia, a state that not only welcomes business but enthusiastically supports and welcomes companies in the firearms industry,” said Ken D\u2019Arcy, RemArms CEO.

Of course, Remington ammunition<\/a> is now part of the Vista Outdoor family of products. They predominantly manufacture Remington ammo in its 1200 acre Lonoke, Arkansas facility<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

It is worth noting that Remington hasn\u2019t abandoned New York altogether. They recently reopened their factory in Ilion (as rural a town as it gets — where bars play Lynyrd Skynyrd all night, every night). The company reemployed 230 previously laid-off workers in the process.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Sturm, Ruger & Co.<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Ruger remains headquartered in Southport, CT. Though, they have focused on expanding their operations in gun-friendly states: Newport, NH, Prescortt, AZ and Mayodan, NC. Ruger\u2019s move to North Carolina<\/a> was their first major expansion in over 25 years. Originally announced in 2020, it represents a $10 million investment expected to bring 60 new jobs in a small rural community.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Parting Thoughts<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"aRecent mainstream politicization of Second Amendment rights is having a significant impact on America\u2019s financial landscape. The U.S. firearm industry is worth $28 billion<\/a>, and contributes $51.3 billion to the economy each year. By pushing gunmakers down south, blue states are sending capital and jobs to the very places they hate the most: red states.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

We aren\u2019t qualified to guess at the long-term ramifications of the gunmaker exodus to gun-friendly states. What could ultimately happen if red states monopolize firearm production? It makes one wonder. But one thing is for certain: if blue states are determined to eliminate American commercial production \u2013 and civilian ownership \u2013 of firearms, then their only hope of doing so is by exercising the powers of the federal government.<\/p>\r\n

\n
\n \n
\n

Share this article with your friends!<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n