Lawmakers hope to woo gun manufacturers to Indiana

A resolution that tries to tempt small arms manufacturers to come to Indiana passed the House on Tuesday.

The Senate Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure also passed an almost identical resolution the same day.

Senate Resolution 61 and House Resolution 63 aim to attract gun manufacturers to Indiana by touting the state’s tax climate and gun rights laws. The House resolution also directs the chamber’s clerk to a copy of the resolution to vendors and businesses that deal and manufacture small arms. The Senate resolution gives that duty to the Senate secretary.

The resolution also encourages manufacturers to contact the Indiana Economic Development Corporation to “receive all the benefits available to them upon becoming an Indiana company.”

Sen. Jim Tomes, the Wadesville Republican who authored the Senate resolution, said gun and bullet manufacturers are leaving their home states because of hostile economic and regulatory environments.

“There’s a growing concern with those in the industry of what the future lies for them in these states where the legislatures and the governing bodies or even the people are unfriendly or hostile to them,” Tomes said.

He said Indiana’s centralized location and the presence of Crane Naval Warfare Center are two assets that could put the state over the top in the minds of manufacturers.

“Point for point, I believe Indiana could match in state in the nation on why it would be beneficial for them to move there,” Tomes said.

The resolution passed 11-0 out of the Senate committee and passed the House by a voice vote. Tomes said he hopes the state will also attract industries connected to firearms, such as scope builders, powder makers and brass and copper manufacturers.