By Janelle Billewicz ·

Smith & Wesson Ditches People’s Republic of Massachusetts

Last updated: November 30, 2021 · Originally published: October 4, 2021

The Massachusetts legislature in session c 2021 colorized

Do Svidaniya, Massachusetts!

Unless you live under a rock, you already know that Massachusetts’ gun laws have the men and women of the Kremlin shaking their heads and saying, “damn, that’s harsh.” What’s interesting about the People’s Republic of Massachusetts is that, as one of the first places English colonies grew, it’s also where our historical armories were situated. These days, of course, Massachusetts has decided that maybe the English had the right idea after all … and they’ve spent the last century waving white flags of surrender at the United Kingdom. The English no longer seem very interested in empire-building, more’s the pity for MA, but the state has been very busy doing everything in its power to make sure the English will feel right at home if they ever decide to sail back to our shores.

That’s the backdrop for today’s stunning news: One of our oldest and best-respected gun manufacturers, Smith & Wesson, has just announced that they’re moving to a far more 2A-friendly state, Tennessee. Smith & Wesson has been quite open about why they’re doing this: Massachusetts is currently considering a new set of gun laws that would make it illegal for S&W to manufacture about 60 percent of their product line.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the firearm industry trade association, noted that the announcement from Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc., of their plan to move their headquarters and a large portion of their operations to Tennessee is just the latest of a series of firearm and ammunition manufacturers moving to states with strong Second Amendment traditions.

“This follows a pattern of firearm and ammunition manufacturers that are migrating to states that respect the contributions of the firearm industry and respect the Second Amendment rights of those who purchase their products,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “The decision to expand production by any firearm manufacturer is indicative of the strong and vibrant market of lawful gun ownership. Firearm sales have been at record levels for more than 18 months and this investment in the future shows that the leading firearm manufacturers see a market with continued room for growth.”

Smith & Wesson’s new Tennessee home is familiar with firearm manufacturing. Earlier this year Troy Manufacturing announced it was moving production from West Springfield, Mass., to Clarksville, Tenn. Beretta U.S.A. Corporation moved production from Maryland to Gallatin, Tenn., in 2016 and Barrett Firearms is headquartered in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Smith & Wesson will add 750 jobs to the state and invest over $125 million to build a new state of the art facility. The firearm industry already employs nearly 7,800 people in Tennessee through direct or indirect jobs and contributes over $1.07 billion in economic impact. The firearm industry pays $130.5 million in federal and state taxes annually and contributed an additional $22.1 million in excise taxes that benefit wildlife conservation.

Smith & Wesson’s announced expansion into Tennessee is the latest of states that respect the rights of law-abiding citizens attracting firearm and ammunition manufacturers to move or expand. Here’s a fuller list of the states and companies that are now rejoicing in better job security and American manufacturing … all thanks to the anti-gun idiocy of the states they originally called home.

  • Alabama

·Remington Outdoor Company moved much of its production from New York to Huntsville.

·Kimber expanded production to Troy, over Yonkers, N.Y. It later relocated the corporate headquarters to Alabama.

  • Iowa

·Les Baer moved from restrictive Illinois to LeClaire, Iowa, in 2007.

·Lewis Machine & Tool Company (LMT) left Illinois after 40 years to relocate to Iowa in 2019.

  • Mississippi

·Olin Corporation’s Winchester Ammunition moved from East Alton, Ill., to Oxford in 2011.

  • North Carolina

·Sturm, Ruger and Co. expanded production in Mayodan in 2013.

  • Pennsylvania

·Kahr Arms moved their headquarters to Greely, Penn., from New York after the state rushed through passage of the SAFE Act.

  • South Carolina

·American Tactical Imports relocated 100 jobs and its manufacturing from Rochester, N.Y., to Summerville, S.C., in 2013.

·PTR Industries left Connecticut for Aynor in 2013, where it set up shop.

  • Tennessee

·Beretta moved firearm production and engineering and design to Gallatin, Tenn., from Maryland in 2015 over concerns of increasingly strict gun control legislation.

  • Texas

·Mossberg expanded production in Eagle Pass, Texas, in 2013, instead of growing its New Haven, Conn., plant.

·Colt Competition moved from Canby, Ore., to Breckenridge, Texas, in 2013.

  • Wyoming

·Magpul Industries left Boulder, Colo., after the state passed magazine restrictions and moved production to Laramie, Wyo.

·Weatherby Inc.’s Adam Weatherby announced at SHOT Show in 2018 he was moving the company from California to Sheridan, Wyo.

·Accessories maker HiViz announced in 2013 they were leaving Fort Collins, Colo., over restrictive gun control legislation to Laramie.

·Stag Arms announced in 2019 they were opening their new facility in Cheyenne, Wyo., after leaving their former headquarters in New Britain, Conn.

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Janelle Billewicz
Janelle Billewicz has decades of firearm industry experience and has worked with some of the largest manufacturers in the world.
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29 Comments

  1. IF ENOUGH REAL AMERICANS LEAVE THOSE LEFTWING COCKSUCKERS HOLDING THEIR EMPTY WALETS, MAYBE THEY WILL WAKE UP. BUT I DOUBT IT.

  2. The best thing S&W could do for their shareholders and their gun audience. Who needs the aggravation of a state who doesn’t want you there anyway. I hope Massachusetts feels the pinch in loss of revenue and jobs. They deserve nothing less.

    1. Massachusetts is the only state that GEICO, and other insurers, will not service. Their no fault insurance laws hinder operations to the point that profitability is impossible. Hopefully they will eventually secede from the union.

  3. The Democrats keep putting all of the boarder jumpers and refugees into red states to eventually turn them 🤷‍♂️

  4. I’m still on the fence thinking about my idea of payback to the liberal government and how they think about guns and the 2A.
    Would be very interesting if all USA manufacturers of guns, ammo and equipment, refused to sell their products to any of them. Including police departments of certain cities and counties up to and including all Federal branches of service!!

  5. Great move. The gun industry is following the lead of many citizen leaving liberal states to brighter and more free shores. New York and California both lost representation in Congress due to that exodus. It’s likely to continue as dumbocrats know no other way but to tax, tax, tas, and more tax.

    1. The People’s Republic of Illinois also lost a seat In Congress. People are leaving in droves. I escaped in 2019!

    2. I think it would have been a better choice for S&W to move to freedom loving Wyoming.
      I read that Savage spokesperson said they were staying in Massachusetts. Don’t understand why, a bad decision. Sooner or later they will have to make the decision to move out of that demoncrap stronghold. Move to Wyoming Savage or at least part of your operations.
      And Savage model 99 collectors and shooters keep asking Savage about bringing back the Model 99 lever action.. too. I read some company official said they didn’t think they would sell enough and it would cost over a $1000 to make one. Well, Browning produces the BLR in various calibers and Henry has come out with their version. of a lever action firing 308 size cartridges., So why doesn’t Savage come out with a new version of the Model 99?
      And chamber it in classic cartridges and new cartridges for example:
      250 Savage
      260 Rem.
      270 Savage ( 270-300 Savage)
      7mm-08
      300 Savage
      338 Federal
      358 Win.
      357 Maximum
      375-308 wildcat
      401 WSL
      414 SuperMag
      445 SuperMag
      450 Bushmaster
      460 S&W
      458 Socom
      475 Linebaugh
      500 S&W
      500 Alaskan
      Some great cartridges and new ones to choose from.

  6. Please inform the folks at S&W, that I have just become the proud owner of TWO S&W SD9 VE’s just this weekend, and am extremely pleased to hear they haven’t become a victim of “The Regime”s “wokeness!

  8. These 2A states need to be vigilant against the liberal politics that will be infecting their state houses. Austin is a perfect example, the liberals have to gain control to have control. They will surely set their sights on the states with congregated firearm companies. We the People are more important than ever to maintain the freedom and politics that insure the proper outcome.

  9. The further they divide us, the closer they come to civil unrest to get our rights back.

  10. The mindset of the typical Democrat is that of a spoiled, vindictive and ignorant child who demands his way and his way only. Failing to get it he will only redouble his efforts to single you and yours out for retribution. The only thing worse than a Democrat is a Rhino as he will stab you in the back when you need him the most. (Who doesn’t remember John McCain’s thumb down).

  11. It’s ironic that in these eastern states where the fight against tyranny started have now become the tyrants themselves.

    1. So true some of our Northern states have become a safe haven for cry babies, I live in Vermont and have seen 1st hand the effects of little changes in laws like magazine capacities! The minuet men would be pissed, freedom is not what it once was. God bless the 2A strong states!

  12. Glad to hear that S&W is dumping MA. Unfortunately, there were a few real craftsmen (craftspersons ?) who worked there.. I was able to tour the plant in 2011, . They took you to the range at the Performance Center and gave you various pistols and literally buckets of bullets It was very cool . You saw the WWII industrial era with the underground assembly area . The old plant also had its own air strip for the execs. I saw the hangar, They were finishing 442’s in there when I toured. . The old school employees will probably head up to Ruger in the NH hills and Walther in ME. Best of luck to you all.

  13. Considering the recent actions by New York, why don’t the all the firearms manufacturers do what Hornady did and refuse to sell firearms and ammunition to the NY state government or to the cities that support the NY rules. Why? because they are suffering from mental defect and/or disease.

  14. Hopefully liberals in New England enjoy higher property and state taxes to make up for the loss of corporate taxes and higher unemployment.
    Talk about cutting off your own nose to spite your face. smh 🤦🏻‍♂️

  17. We love the 2a in Tennessee. We welcome all of the gun manufacturing world to Tennessee. Thank you Smith & Wesson.

    Carl Drennan

  18. If you want to get rid of a business, just start increasing its taxes and/or regulation.
    There is no reason to stay in a place that doesn’t want you there. That goes for individuals as well.

  19. Don’t forget Armalite’s move out of ILLINOIS…… that makes 3 of the 5 manufacturers in a 20 miles radius who left ILLINOIS… only Sprungfield armory and rock river arms left.
    Now ILLINOIS wants to pass a law allowing the suing of gun manufacturers & dealers for gun crimes, wonder how that will work for SA & RRA ? Maybe their buddies at the state capitol will finally bite them too.
    And don’t look now, but many companies( not only gun makers) move out of states do to restrictive practices & mostly TAXES.

  21. Finally! The American gun industry has awaken & departed those Left Wing, radical & Liberal States where the 2nd Amendment, pro gun companies were being taxed & surpressed out of business!
    Of course the fake news media will blather on how “horrible” gun manufacturers are & are just aiding in violence in America….hog wash!
    Thank God those folks had a choice to move….only in America!
    Let’s keep it that way! Freedom of choice to keep & bear arms….FOREVER! Thank you to our founding Fathers.
    Amen & yea, verily!

  22. We true gun owners understand 1 law that law never point a gun at anyone unless you are defending yourself or your family members or proctoring the innocent. This administration it out of theirs minds keep adding new gun laws. Arrest the criminal add ten years to his or her crime involved with a gun. If criminal kills with a gun then they should be put to death

    1. Keith – you struck a cord with me and the truth of God’s Word in Ecclesiastes 8:11, where the wisest man to live (besides Jesus) records these words: “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.” – Solomon No wonder are prisons are so full!

  23. All those demoncrap controlled states are going to have a hard time shooting themselves in the foot with all these weapon companies moving out of their states, but they don’t seem to learn their policies don’t work! Lol

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