Tennessee Taxpayers Shouldn't have to Subsidize Profitable Gun Companies

  • by: Susan V
  • recipient: Tennessee Legislators

Since 2003, state and local governments have wooed gun makers to mostly southern states with over $120 million worth of taxpayer-funded incentives. One source told Mother Jones that some offers were so high gun companies could move their current operations for free.

It’s not hard to figure out why the firearm industry wants to leave several long-term locations in the north, and National Rifle Association’s former president Jim Porter made it clear that he hopes the moves will send “a very strong message" to politicians.

The message is that states that pass gun laws restricting sales on assault weapons are out, and gun-friendly and lax-labor-law or so-called right-to-work states are in.

According to MJ, after New York passed gun control legislation in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy, assault rifle-maker Remington, announced its plans to move its centuries-old Ilion factory to Huntsville, Alabama. This “$billion firearms conglomerate” would receive nearly $70 million worth of tax breaks, local grants and other incentives with local residents footing the bill. Same thing happened when Maryland strengthened its gun regulations in 2013, with Gallatin, Tennessee outbidding Charlotte, North Carolina in a Beretta factory deal.

With these taxpayer-funded deals, firearms companies get mega-buck incentives, low-wage workers and gun-friendly people. Governments in the new locations believe the cost of the incentives is outweighed by job creation and other community benefits, but no one’s talking about long-term consequences. As North Carolina’s hog-farm fiasco shows, sweet deals for companies sometimes come with kickbacks for politicians and can turn very sour when they pollute the surrounding air and water.

Tennessee taxpayers shouldn’t have to subsidize hugely profitable companies like Beretta. These companies are already set to benefit by moving to where low wages and lax labor regulation puts a burden on poorer members of the population.
Sign this petition to demand that Tennessee stop incentivizing arms manufacture and sunset existing grants and tax breaks to gun makers.


To Tennessee Legislators:


According to Mother Jones’ report on Tennessee’s incentives to bring Baretta to Gallatin, that company would receive $ 14. 4 million worth of grants and tax breaks to relocate. But there’s no guarantee most of those funding this move will receive any benefits, while Baretta certainly stands to prosper in more ways than one.


Furthermore gun factories have caused considerable pollution in the past and present. In Massachusetts Smith and Wesson’s main facility reportedly released thousands of pounds of toxic waste during the disposal process and older factories have left areas terribly poisoned with lead. What guarantees have Gallatin and Tennessee been given to ensure that wastes don’t pollute the environment and are properly disposed of?


While about 300 local people may get jobs at the new Baretta facility in Tennessee, personal property taxes, says Gallatin's economic development director James Fenton, will immediately increase. "We have seen a jump in local sales tax during the first phase of construction,” he told CNN, which is good for some, but a real burden for many.


Tennessee taxpayers shouldn’t have to subsidize hugely profitable companies like Beretta that can afford to relocate without those incentives. These companies are already set to benefit by moving to where low wages and lax labor regulation puts a burden on poorer members of the population.


Therefore, I, the undersigned, insist Tennessee stop expecting taxpayers to subsidize wealthy companies. Many are poor and elderly who will not benefit from new jobs but will be burdened by raised taxes.


Thanks for your time.

Sign Petition
Sign Petition
You have JavaScript disabled. Without it, our site might not function properly.

Privacy Policy

By signing, you accept Care2's Terms of Service.
You can unsub at any time here.

Having problems signing this? Let us know.