It used to be that if you needed help – with your rent, your gas bill, your grocery bill, or your abusive spouse – figuring out whom to call for that help was nearly as complicated as the problem itself.Congressman Marlin Stutzman says if Maryland doesn’t want firearms manufacturer Beretta USA, Indiana does.
Rep. Stutzman, R-3rd, sent a letter to Beretta’s president, Ugo Gusalli Beretta, citing Indiana’s “pro-business, pro-gun environment.”
Maryland’s General Assembly is considering a ban on assault rifles, which the National Rifle Association has called an “all-out assault on your right to self-defense.” Beretta makes weapons that would be banned under the law, and company officials have testified against it. Beretta employs about 400 people at its companies in Maryland.
“Hoosiers would proudly welcome Beretta’s operation with a noticeably different tone and more competitive tax and regulatory structure than what you must navigate in Maryland,” Stutzman wrote. “In particular, northeast Indiana offers a low-cost, strategic location for manufacturers like you, and the Hoosier workforce is well equipped to meet your needs.”
Stutzman, who authored a bill to ensure that individuals who legally carry a concealed weapon in their home state may also carry it in any other state that allows concealed carry, wrote that Indiana would embrace a gun maker, calling Beretta a part of “the arsenal of democracy.” Beretta has produced more than 500,000 side arms for the U.S. military and more than 1 million firearms for retail sale.
“As you may know, Indiana has no plans to ban your products and I can tell you that Hoosiers’ respect for the 2nd Amendment remains steadfast,” the letter said. “Hoosiers treat our manufacturers respectfully, and your company would be free to carry out regular warranty and repair processes as you see fit.”
