Smith & Wesson Moves to More Gun-Friendly Tennessee

Smith & Wesson hosted its grand opening of the new headquarters located in Maryville, Tennessee Saturday. The gun manufacturer moved its facility from Springfield Massachusetts to seek a more 2nd amendment friendly state. 

The companies new building contains 650,000 square feet. Smith and Wesson announced their intentions to move its headquarters in 2021. Legislation in Massachusetts would have prevented the company from manufacturing certain arms according to company officials. 

CEO, Mark Smith made a statement to the crowd at the event Saturday. “From where I stand, the next 170 years of Smith & Wesson are looking pretty good, It is something special here in Tennessee."

Smith praised the Tennessee state government in planning the relocation and said the facility would create hundreds of jobs for the citizens of Tennessee. 

In 2021 Tennessee passed legislation to become a permitless carry state, which allows anyone 21 and older to carry handguns in certain places.