Smith & Wesson Ditches People’s Republic of Massachusetts

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.