Photo credit www.hdwpapers.com
The domestic arm of Beretta, Italy’s respected gunmaker, is considering pulling up stakes from its 35-year home in Maryland and moving on to greener pastures.
The Aurora Theater shooting and the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre have started a war with clearly-defined battle lines. On one side, lawmakers are furiously drafting gun control bills to prove to their constituents they’re actually doing more than attending cocktail parties.
On the other side are arms manufacturers and gun enthusiasts who foresee the very real possibility of their livelihood being stripped away and their Second Amendment rights denied in the heat of passion.
Some armorers have banded together and vowed to refuse to do business with any state enacting strict gun control measures.
Beretta is taking an even more direct approach, telling Maryland: “Enact such measures at your own risk,” according to The Washington Post. Beretta is considering moving its operations to another state if Maryland infringes on the Second Amendment rights of Beretta’s clientele.
In the Obama age of high unemployment, this is no empty threat.
Firearms today are a growth industry building for expansion, but firms like Beretta face a dilemma.
“Why expand in a place where the people who built the gun couldn’t buy it?” Jeffrey Reh, general counsel for Beretta, told The Washington Post.
The Post’s Aaron Davis wrote:
Concern that the company will leave, and take its 300 jobs with it, is palpable among state lawmakers who worry it could be collateral damage from Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposed gun-control bill.
Among other restrictions, O’Malley’s bill would ban assault rifles, magazines with more than 10 bullets and any new guns with two or more “military-like” features. Gun experts said it’s a near-certainty that Beretta’s semiautomatic version of the ARX-160, now only a prototype, would be banned under O’Malley’s bill.
“I’m concerned. I think they’re going to move,” Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., told the Post. “They sell guns across the world and in every state in the union — to places a lot more friendly to the company than this state.”
Whether the company moves or stays is, I suppose, at least in part up to Miller’s Senate. For now, each firearm leaving Beretta’s Maryland facility is stamped, “Made in Accokeek.” Maybe next year they’ll be stamped, “Made in Laredo.”
Read more at The Washington Post.
About Michael Dorstewitz
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Maryland. You just float the contract out to someone else. Happens in business all the time. You can get any number of gun makers here. With the gun mania in this country, Smith & Wesson, or the Glock makers, or Ruger would be glad to move right in. Even if you kiss that company’s butt, Maryland, they could still move out if their management thinks its a good idea. If they threaten you, they don’t respect you. There is also the possibility of manufacturing 95% of the gun in Maryland and ship the pieces to Mississippi for the final 5% and completion. You know the gun enthusiasts will pay. They already are paying. If they are not good business partners, find someone else. Happens all the time. If you are not happy with the Italians, tell them: Arrivaderchi.
@ Ted…There is no “contract” with Maryland other than maybe some taxation considerations…and sorry to tell ya…gun ban states can hang up business with firearm and ammunition manufacturers locating there. No they will not respect a hostile location and will move to where their assets are safe, protected and welcome. Yes Mississippi would love to have any and all in this industry locate here. God knows we need the jobs.
Nope, Arkansas. We have Wilson Combat, Aurora Tactical, and a Remington ammo plant. Soon we’ll have Magpul. Then Beretta.
@ Ted. This is a matter of principle and sometimes all that matters is principle (i.e. 1776). Beretta should have left that socialist state years ago. I own a Beretta and will buy another if they move just to vote my approval. It’s an anti 2nd ammendment state due to the high crime in DC and Baltimore and unfortunately the good people out in the eastern shore and the western side are held hostage.
I am with you My Friend I have 2 Beretta And it is a Great Gun and I will buy another gun to stand with Beretta Because I support them to
what the F are you smoking Ted? No one is going to willing move to the peoples republic of Maryland…get a clue D**K
You must be stuck on stupid . What business would be stupid enough to relocate to md. If i could i would relocate to Texas right now and i am a life long Marylander . It is longer the state of the free
Ted, I’m surprised that Beretta ever settled in MD. Good luck in getting any other gun related business in here. The MD politicians couldn’t even get Northrup Grumman to expand here. Hello VA. They should be kissing Beretta’s posterior to get them to stay. Obuma=Owe’Malley.
I’ve been a life long resident of MD and am giving serious consideration to moving out of the Peoples Republic. Lacko freedom and over taxation issues are quickly crossing the line in the sand. Freestate my foot!!! Now they’re going to tax us for stormwater run-off. They’re off their rockers in Annapolis about many a thing!!!!
Your absolutely correct ive lived here 55 years.im a sportsman and avid shooter. I am tired of tax hikes where is our money going. Jacking up taxes and now these assigned: gun laws. I am also going to leave. The people in this state need to stand up against the blood sucking wolves and say were not going to take it anymore.we voted for some of these A holes and they forget they are supposed to be for us working Americans.
Hey ted I think You Are a Idiot
me to rick
Calling all gun, ammo, and firearm related manufactures, FL more specially SW FL will welcome you with open arms !
Come on down to Charlotte County and get tax abatements, investment incentives, no state income tax, low property tax, great weather, and MORE !!
Plenty of open land at the airport development area !!
Both people and businesses vote with their feet. Way to go, Beretta!
You can come here to Michigan. We will gladly accept you. Plus, we could really use the jobs here.
Another vote for Michigan!! We love guns and I need a job!’!!
There are a lot of empty factories that are low rent . I think it would be a win win
As long as I got a job making barettas
Maybe when I used the word “contract”, I was wrong. Used “incentives”. When any company leaves part of a market, another can come right behind it and fill the void. If not in the gun business, something else. If the state makes the business move attractvie, business will come. Again, happens all the time. In place of the gun factory, there could be a place that makes plumbing fixtures, or plastic hubcaps, or whoppie cushions. Happens all the time. Just saying…
So wrong Ted, as a born Marylander I have Liberal friends from that state that are commenting on this news, it is not just the gun makers that are leaving MD, many business’s are getting the heck out of Dodge for tax reasons. MD is one of the most left wing ruled States in the Union, they are a safe haven State, and they have a tax system that punishes success, so don’t worry, NO GUN MAKER WILL FILL YOUR SO CALLED, VOID!!! PERIOD. And I’ll lay a bet down backing that up. VA is one of the benefactors of MD’s left wing ignorance.
Ted, While you may think that you are taking a stand that will make everyone safer you have to at least look at what the ramifications of your decision. The government is getting to big for its britches. If they are allowed to take your 2nd Amendment Rights away what will stop them from taking other rights that you probably hold more dear? I am sick of this Estrogen Overload crap that is coming from those that think that by getting rid of guns they will stop violence. Take a look at other crime statistics and see what the violent crime rates are by other means. You think by advocating one solution to this that it will fix everything. Have you ever looked at what someone looks like that has been beat to death by a club or other device? You are dead wrong on this subject and you need to get your Estrogen levels under control. Over 56 Million people died in the 20th Century because they had no access to weapons to defend themselves. I would guess that even if you were able to get any legislation passed it will be short lived as this may just spark a civil war. I urge you to look at the reasons why pro 2nd Amendment people are pro 2nd Amendment. There is no Utopia and there never will be!!
Good luck with that.
Meanwhile, Texas, with no corporate income tax, hardly needs to do as much as a hightaxland state like Maryland to attract and keep business.
And states like Wyoming or South Dakota have no corporate income tax nor any gross receipts tax (that Texas does have, unfortunately), though TX has a bigger workforce and is more likely to secede and become a successful independent republic than any place else in the US.
Key words, “If the state makes the business move attractvie”* They’re doing just the opposite Teddy boy.
keep drinking the koolaid ted it makes you sound smart
I noticed O’Malley claims to have decreased crime in Baltimore by 40%, although he has no sources or statistics to back it up: http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/14665-maryland-senate-passes-governor-o-malley-s-gun-control-bill. I’m sure with the new gun control laws, he’ll fabricate more statistics in order to get elected if he runs for president. They don’t call it Bodymore Murderland for nothing. And gun control is supposed to improve things? Perhaps when Beretta leaves, they can replace them with corporations to manufacture Man Purses. Move all the Man-ginas to this state and make gay marriage mandatory.
i sat good for you baretta. i wouldnt stay anywhere i didnt feel welcome. and no other gun maker will go there to think otherwise is foolish at best. this absurd agenda this “government” is pushing is gonna start getting more and more responses like this. and it is three years overdo as far as i am concerned. and from what i am hearing there are more and more businesses who are thinking doing business in this country is not worth it anymore. people need to wake up and see what the true intentions are of officials they elected. do so soon.
email Beretta to welcome them to FLORIDA!!!
estore@berettausa.com
come to south carolina…fantastic incentives…if you dont believe me just ask …Boeing….BMW…..Michelion..Alcoa..we will be more than glad to accomidate you….. i dont thing any other arms manufactures will move to Maryland..and we have PSA here also..Palmetto State Armory and they make a version of the AR15..SO COME ON DOWN
Do they know Beretta makes the handguns for our army?
they dont care they are liberals they dont think.for them that is more reason to shutem down
We would love them here in Indiana they are more than welcome to come and set up in Greensburg Indiana
what is the big deal? they re talking about stopping machine guns auto or semi thats all . not guns in general, why are people so exaggerated? jeez those things are designed for war. not a house…its common sense
“what is the big deal? they re talking about stopping machine guns auto or semi thats all . not guns in general, why are people so exaggerated? jeez those things are designed for war. not a house…its common sense”
Marcello, please get some common sense before spouting off again on a topic you so clearly know NOTHING about.
Machine guns??? Banned decades ago for citizens. You must go through hoops to obtain one. Semi-automatic? That covers the vast majority of firearms out there.
Now shoo…
you say machine guns.. Beratta have never manufactured them in the USA. Semiauto? Forty percent of ALL rifles out there are semi outo, and I think its closer to seventy percent for handguns. SO.. you’re wrong. Maryland is talking about banning two thirds of the fiurearm types currently in production. BESIDES…. two more things. First, do you know anything about principle? The ocncept that one should do what is right because it is rught, and not because of cost, comfort, convenience… merely because it is RIGHT. Beretta are a company of high prrinciple, always have been. They make fine firearms, and would certainly want those who build them to be able to OWN and USE them.. as guaranteed by our nationsl Constitution. I ahve more than one, and if I lived in Maryland would leave before parting with them. Partly because I refuse to part with them, but mainly because it would be WRONG to remain in a place that trashes the Constitution. Or, maybe I’d stay and be part of the Paul REvere Militia that would rise up and take a stand against the state nanny meddlers bent on a stupid kneejerk solution to a problem largely created by…. government. Some folks have enough integrity to make a stand because it is the right thing to do. Beretta are that sort of folk. If Maryland overstep their bounds legallly, I’d cheer on Beretta to go ahead and leave.
Besides, your state does NOT honour the right to Keep, and Bear, arms now. A recent court case went against the state’s silly and capricious laws regarding allowing a person to carry a firearm concealed upon their person in public. The Maryland law was struck down…. but they still won’t let folks get their carry “Mommy May I” permission slips. If a state is that corrupt and petty, I’d have left long ago. I’d LOVE to return to California, I love the place… physically. BUT.. their rotten attitude toward business makes running a business there a pain, but the deal breaker is this: they will NOT allow me to bring in the firearms I now own without going through THEIR background check (I already had to to get them) AND registering them all with the state. Further, each local sheriff can do what Maryland does.. deny my request to carry a handgun in public for my ownd efense, and that of others round about me. I do not like self-appointed nannies mucking about in MY business. So, no California for me.. until the whole state government implodes, the first few rounds of “sorting things out” happen, and things begin to settle into some semblance of sanity and reason. As long as they continue to ban or restrict my arms, I will never live there. Berretta appear to hold a similar view of Maryland. I’ve already looked into moving to Maryland…. and I won’t do it. Main reasons? Two…. rotten attitude toward business, and their even more rotten attitude toward MY right to be armed. If I won’t move there, why should Beretta stay if this law is passed? Wake up…… if they ban two thirds of guns produced today, how long will it take them to work on, and enact, a ban on the rest of them? They do NOT observe the existing COnstitution. If they toss this part, they will toss that part before long. History proves that.
If some idiot is stupid enough to attack me, it WILL be war. To win at war, the secret is to neutralize the enemy. If all this gun control crap continues, Americans WILL be at war and the enemy is sitting in the White House in Washington DC.
If he thinks he will win, he’s barking up the wrong tree. He WILL lose and he WILL lose BIG TIME!!!!! I really feel he will not last the next 4 years….
me to