WASHINGTON, D.C. — NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, proudly announces the 4th Annual Governors’ Forum at SHOT Show® 2025 is shaping up to host several state governors to discuss the importance of the firearm industry to their states, Second Amendment rights of their citizens and their insights to challenges and opportunities ahead for gun rights in the United States.
Confirmed for the Governors’ Forum is (in alphabetical order of states):
Idaho – Governor Brad Little
Montana – Governor Greg Gianforte
Nebraska – Governor Jim Pillen
Nevada – Governor Joe Lombardo
Wyoming – Governor Mark Gordon
NSSF is hosting the Governors’ Forum, moderated by Sean Davis, CEO and Co-Founder of The Federalist, to discuss the importance of the industry to their state, the legislative landscape and what can and should be done to protect the industry from gun control special interests threatening the firearm and ammunition industry and Second Amendment rights. More governors may be added to the forum as schedules permit.
“These governors are the leading voices for protecting Second Amendment rights and the firearm and ammunition industry that provides the means for Americans to lawfully exercise those rights,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President & General Counsel. “NSSF’s Governors’ Forum provides a unique opportunity for SHOT Show attendees and industry media to hear directly from those governors, especially in a year when the nation will transition to a new Trump presidential administration. NSSF has regularly welcomed governors to SHOT Show, but the Governors’ Forum is a rare chance to hear directly about the issues and opportunities facing the firearm industry and Second Amendment freedoms to their states.”
NSSF’s Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show), will take place at the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas from Jan. 21-24, 2025. NSSF will host the annual Governors’ Forum at SHOT Show Wednesday, Jan. 22 from 1-2 p.m. at the Venetian Expo, Lido Room 3101A.
The Governors’ Forum is open to all SHOT Show attendees and media. Those interested in attending should register here to save their spot.
Below is a list of previous announced moves to relocate firearm business headquarters and expand production to new states:
Alabama
- Kimber expanded production to Troy, over Yonkers, New York. It later relocated its corporate headquarters to Alabama.
Arkansas
- White River Energetics, a primer manufacturer, announced it was expanding operations to increase production capacity from 14,000-square feet to 90,000-square-feet, and create 100 new jobs with a $70 million investment.
- SIG Sauer celebrated the grand opening of the Jacksonville Arkansas Ammunition center, a 210,000-square-foot facility in October 2024, which is expected to bring 675 jobs and a $500 million economic impact.
- Fiocchi USA established manufacturing operations in Little Rock in 2020 with a $15 million capital investment, creating 85 jobs, then in 2022 selected Little Rock for a new primer manufacturing facility with a $41.5 million capital investment and 120 jobs created.
- Vista Outdoor acquired the Remington Ammunition Facility in Lonoke in 2021, adding hundreds of jobs at the facility.
Georgia
- Remington Firearms announced it will establish a global headquarters, research and development and expand production in La Grange, Georgia. RemArms made their recent announcement that all Ilion, New York, manufacturing operations will move to La Grange as well.
- Norma Precision Ammunition announced in 2022 that the company would build a new ammunition production and distribution facility in Bryan County, north of Savannah. The announcement came just months after Norma Precision Ammunition announced it was establishing its U.S. headquarters, manufacturing site and warehousing and distribution operations in Chatham County.
- Taurus moved production to Bainbridge, Georgia, from South Florida in 2019.
- Daniel Defense opened their new headquarters and manufacturing location in Black Creek, Ga., in 2018.
Idaho
- Freedom Munitions consolidated production in 2024 to their Lewiston, Idaho facility which opened in 2022.
Iowa
- Les Baer moved from restrictive Illinois to LeClaire, Iowa, in 2007.
- Lewis Machine & Tool Company (LMT) left Illinois after 40 years to relocate to Iowa in 2019.
Michigan
- The Montana Rifle Company was acquired by Grace Engineering Corporation, a third-generation family-owned business and began production of the bolt-action rifles in Memphis, Michigan.
Mississippi
- Olin Corporation’s Winchester Ammunition moved most production from East Alton, Illinois, to Oxford in 2011.
Montana
- Ultimate Defense Technologies moved from Arizona to Billings, Montana, after meeting Gov. Gianforte at SHOT Show 2023 and opened their new firearm safety systems solutions headquarters in September 2024.
- Olympus Arms celebrated production expansion in Helena, Montana, after the company announced investment of $50 million with plans to add jobs for 60 employees.
- Brixtel Defense, an ammunition manufacturer, announced their relocation from Virginia to Dawson County, adding a $125 million investment in Montana and bringing 125 jobs, with plans for a total of 350 jobs.
- Alpha Loading Systems, an ammunition loading and primer machinery manufacturer, announced in 2023 it was expanding its footprint in western Montana and tripling its workforce.
- Shield Arms announced an expansion and move into a new $5 million 36,000 square foot headquarters and manufacturing facility in Bigfork that will also bring 30 new jobs to its existing 40 employee footprint.
Nebraska
- Hornady Manufacturing announced plans in November 2024 to expand their west facility to extend infrastructure to the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant, bring a $2 million investment and adding 29 jobs.
- Hornady Manufacturing took over management of the Heartland Public Shooting Park in May 2024, located in Grand Island, one of the largest public shooting venues in the Midwest, with plans to attract more patrons.
North Carolina
- Sturm, Ruger and Co. expanded production in Mayodan, North Carolina, in 2013.
Pennsylvania
- Kahr Arms moved their headquarters to Greely, Pennsylvania, from New York after the state rushed through passage of the SAFE Act. And pulling most of its manufacturing out of Worcester, Massachusetts.
South Carolina
- American Tactical Imports relocated 100 jobs and its manufacturing from Rochester, New York, to Summerville, South Carolina, in 2013.
- PTR Industries left Connecticut for Aynor, South Carolina in 2013, where it set up shop.
Tennessee
- Beretta moved firearm production and engineering and design to Gallatin, Tennessee, from Maryland in 2015 over concerns of increasingly strict gun control legislation.
- Smith & Wesson opened their new headquarters and manufacturing facility in Maryville, Tennessee in 2023.
Texas
- Mossberg expanded production in Eagle Pass, Texas, in 2013, instead of growing its North Haven, Connecticut, plant.
- Colt Competition moved from Canby, Oregon, to Breckenridge, Texas, in 2013.
Wyoming
- Governor Gordon’s Shooting Sports Task Force selected Cody, Wyoming as the home of the state’s new multi-million dollar state shooting sports complex in 2024.
- Delegates from the Wyoming Business Council met with Consorzio Armaioli Italiani, in Italy, in October 2024 to explore bringing Italian sporting arms manufacturing to the Cowboy State.
- Absaroka Valley Ammunition, in Sheridan, Wyoming, announced in 2022 it was expanding production with a goal of bringing 200-250 full-time jobs.
- Big Horn Armory celebrated the opening of the newly-expanded 43,396-square-foot-facility in Cody, Wyoming on 2022.
- Gunwerks celebrated opening its 43,000-square -foot facility in 2022 supporting 70 full-time employees in Cody, Wyoming.
- Kel-Tec CNC Industries announced in 2022 expansion to a 33,000 square-foot-facility in Rock Springs, Wyoming, bringing an additional 250 jobs.
- Magpul Industries left Boulder, Colorado, after the state passed magazine restrictions and moved production to Laramie, Wyoming.
- Weatherby Inc.’s Adam Weatherby announced at SHOT Show in 2018 that he was moving the company from California to Sheridan, Wyoming.
- Accessories maker HiViz announced in 2013 they were leaving Fort Collins, Colorado, over restrictive gun control legislation to Laramie, Wyoming.
- Stag Arms announced opened their facility in Cheyenne, Wyoming, after announcing in 2019 they were leaving their former headquarters in New Britain, Conn.
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About NSSF
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org.
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