Southern States Continue To Lure Gun Makers
BY Herschel Smith
4 years, 11 months ago
It took two decades of wooing, millions in tax credits and the gift of a free factory, but Georgia finally bagged its quarry. A Brazil-based gunmaker agreed to move from the Miami area to a small town just north of the Florida border.
Taurus Holdings is expected to bring 300 jobs to Bainbridge, population 12,000. In exchange, Taurus will receive a government-incentive package that’s worth more than the $30 million the company said in 2017 it was willing to spend to settle claims that it manufactured defective firearms.
Gunmakers are weathering tough times that render their business unappealing to many communities. But economic-development officials in sympathetic political and regulatory environments like Georgia are competing relentlessly for the industry’s relatively stable and high-paying manufacturing jobs. Tennessee, North Carolina and Wyoming are among the states that have attracted firearms companies with perks such as tax breaks, construction assistance and relocation costs.
The trend continues unabated. Now for the next step. Firearms manufacturers need to collectively refuse to sell firearms to all law enforcement agencies in states where citizens are denied their second amendment rights. Some manufacturers already do this. Unfortunately, the list is small. Readers can feel free to create the list in comments, with evidence for their laudable stand.
On December 23, 2019 at 6:52 am, Old Bill said:
It’s been a curiosity to me why more haven’t moved. Merely from a business standpoint, it’s so beneficial it would seem very attractive. What we see now is (I think) a result of the taxation/regulation becoming so bad that it’s a matter of survival.
As for those refusing to do business with anti-gun entities, that’s a principled stand that will only ever come from a family firm (I believe). Only individuals has principles; organizations never do (and for reasons too complex to list always migrate into the control of the UNPRINCIPLED ADMINISTRATOR). Any that do so are to be lauded and recognized, but the majority never will.
On December 23, 2019 at 8:01 am, ragman said:
Barrett has this policy and I’m sure there are many others. Stag recently announced a move out of CT. Tool Craft manufactures excellent AR15 bolt carriers and they are located in Marion, NC.
On December 23, 2019 at 4:10 pm, John said:
It reminds me of the scene from “Gone With The Wind” when Rhett Butler warns
the roomfull of angry, pro-war, Southern men that the North had “most of the
industries and the canon factories”. Well, that worm has turned.