With so many states setting up gun laws to ban or restrict the ownership of assault rifles, some gun manufacturing companies are taking matters into their own hands – and moving shop.
Per this report from The Washington Post, over 20 firearms, ammunition and gun accessory companies have begun shifting their headquarters, moving out of Democratic-run states that have gun laws set up in favor of Republican-run red states. While this forces them to relocate and/or hire in new states and pay millions of dollars, it pays off in the long run – and could send a message to governments setting up strict gun laws.
John Harris, a Nashville attorney and executive director for the Tennessee Firearms Association, noted, “They’re going where they’re wanted” when it came to Smith & Wesson’s recent announcement to move its headquarters from Massachusetts to Tennessee after over one and a half centuries in business.
Massachusetts State Rep. Bud Williams noted that “I’ve been a big supporter of Smith & Wesson. But there’s too many mass shootings. I’m not going to be silent.”
Here to speak on this shift in business is a representative of the Second Amendment Foundation, who stand by U.S. citizens’ right to bear arms. Their expertise should be useful for this particular subject.
Q&A:
- Gun manufacturers are starting to make the move to more supportive states. How will this economically impact their former states as they work on producing stricter gun laws?
- What will this mean for the states that are receiving these manufacturers and their new headquarters? Could they see a surge in job rates and possibly the overall economy?
- Massachusetts State Rep. Bud Williams didn’t seem too bitter about Smith & Wesson leaving his state after being there since 1860. But could he possibly change his tune once the job market takes a noticeable shift? Or could he possibly see some backlash from private gun owners?
- Do you think we’re seeing a trend where even more gun manufacturers – and possibly shops – pick up their business and go elsewhere over the next few years?
- We’ve heard about states trying to ban gun shows as well. Why do you think some of these states have it out so badly to ban guns when people can still easily get their hands on them?
- We’ve seen a rise in concealed-carry citizens fighting back against active shooters and stopping them before they can cause further arm. Why do you think some state governments are tone deaf in looking at their effectiveness?
- Where can we learn more about the Second Amendment Foundation and its members?
- Those interested can visit http://www.saf.org/.
Second Amendment Foundation spokespersons available to be your guest:
ABOUT CHRIS CHENG (In Pacific Time)
Chris Cheng serves on the advisory council to the Second Amendment Foundation’s Board of Trustees. He is the History Channel’s Top Shot Season 4 Champion and author of the book “Shoot to Win.” Cheng is an Asian D&I advocate in the gun community, a former Google employee who went from self-taught amateur to pro shooter.
ABOUT CAM EDWARDS (In Eastern Time)
Cam Edwards is the editor at Bearing Arms-dot-com and hosts the popular podcast Cam & Company that focuses on Second Amendment news and information. Cam is originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and has worked in radio, television, and online media for over two decades. He currently lives on a small farm with his family near Farmville, Virginia, and is a member of the board of Citizens Committee to Keep and Bear Arms.
ABOUT MARK WALTERS (in Eastern Time):
Mark Walters is a member of the board of directors for the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. As a nationally syndicated host of two talk radio programs, Armed American Radio and Armed American Radio’s Daily Defense, Mark is heard on hundreds of stations weekly across the country. Mark is the co-founder of Armed American News and the recipient of the 2015 “Gun Rights Defender of the Year award.” In addition, Mark Walters is co-author of three books, including Lessons from Armed America, Lessons from Unarmed America, and Grilling While Armed.
ABOUT LEE WILLIAMS (In Eastern Time)
Lee Williams is also known as The Gun Writer and has been writing about the Second Amendment, firearms, the firearms industry, and the gun culture for more than ten years. He is the Chief Editor of the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Reporting Project and is a frequent contributor to Ammoland News and Armed American Radio. In addition, Lee serves as a board member of Florida Carry, Inc. He was also an editor for a daily newspaper in Florida. Before becoming a newspaper editor, Lee was an investigative reporter in three states and a U.S. Territory. Before becoming a journalist, he worked as a police officer. Before becoming a cop, Lee served in the Army. Lee has earned more than a dozen national journalism awards as a reporter and three medals of valor as a police officer.
ABOUT DAVE WORKMAN (In Pacific Time):
Dave Workman is an award-winning career journalist and senior editor of TheGunMag.com. He writes for Liberty Park Press, Conservative Firing Line, and is communications director for the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. He has authored Op-Ed pieces in several major newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, Seattle Times, and Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and co-authored seven books with Second Amendment Foundation Alan Gottlieb. Workman’s beat is firearms, from politics to the outdoors. He is widely considered an authority on firearms, concealed carry, and gun politics.
The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing, and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 700,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control.
CONTACT: To schedule an interview, contact Jerry McGlothlin of Special Guests PR Agency at 919-437-0001 or jerry.specialguests@gmail.com
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