On Wednesday, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced a firearms manufacturer will leave the state of Virginia over new “anti-gun legislation” and relocate to Georgia, bringing a $22 million investment and employing hundreds of residents.
“Georgia attracts job creators from all over the country and world because we work with them, not against them,” Kemp said. “Our state’s pro-business approach, skilled workforce, and enduring support for constitutional freedoms make us an ideal home for manufacturers like Rideout Arsenal, and we look forward to their success here in the No. 1 state for business.”
Rideout Arsenal, the firearms designer and manufacturer launching the new facility, has announced it will be opening its doors in the South Georgia town of Thomasville.
“Today we welcome Rideout Arsenal to Thomasville. This includes new highly skilled jobs, new partnerships, new careers, and new momentum for our community,” Thomasville Mayor Scott Chastain said. “Most importantly, we welcome the Rideout family to our community.”
The new facility will be located within the Plantation Oak Industrial Park, with additional buildings planned throughout the next several years.
The company’s founders said the decision to locate in Georgia was made partly as a response to recent legislation in Virginia that could affect the business.
“This relocation was not something we originally planned to pursue. The reality is that recent anti-gun legislation in Virginia created a significant uncertainty for our company and ultimately forced us to look for a state where we could continue operating, investing, and growing with confidence,” Travis Rideout, co-founder of Rideout Arsenal, said. “We are excited to bring new jobs and manufacturing investment to Thomas County and are grateful for the warm welcome we have already received.”
The move comes after Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger enacted a slew of gun control measures into law, which blocked the sale of certain “assault weapons” in the commonwealth and imposed a ban on magazines capable of holding more than 15 rounds.
Spanberger claimed the legislation would make Virginians safer. “Firearms designed to inflict maximum casualties do not belong on our streets,” she said in a statement.
Spanberger, Kemp, and Rideout Arsenal did not respond to the Daily Signal’s request for comment.
The post Gun Factory Moves to Georgia Amid Virginia’s Anti-Gun Laws first appeared on The Daily Signal.
