The good news is that the firearms company ZEV Technologies, fed up with anti-gun policies in Washington state, is relocating to Riverton.
The not-so-good news is that’s Riverton, Utah.
Just because Wyoming wasn’t chosen this time around doesn’t mean it hasn’t already scored some big wins in courting firearms companies.
That includes Weatherby, a premier sporting arms company, setting up shop in Sheridan in 2019, after 74 years in California.
And there are likely to be more opportunities as gun companies continue to seek out “Second Amendment-friendly states,” said Rep. Art Washut, R-Casper, and Luke Thorkildsen, the chief operating officer with Weatherby Inc. in Sheridan.
But the competition will be stiff, they noted.
Utah was one of the states Weatherby considered relocating to before settling on Wyoming, Thorkildsen told Cowboy State Daily.
States’ gun policies are a major reason companies have cited for relocation. And ZEV Technologies, which makes performance handguns and AR-style rifles, was no exception.
The move from Washington state was driven by the brand’s desire to conduct its business in a state that respects Second Amendment rights and fosters a positive business environment for 2A-affiliated brands.
For years, no such environment existed in Washington,” according to a statement issued by the company.
A message sent to ZEV Technologies, inquiring why the company chose Utah over Wyoming, wasn’t answered by publication time.
‘Red Carpet Hospitality’
Then-Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead played a key role in bringing Weatherby to Wyoming, Thorkildsen said.
After deciding to leave California, the company was considering several states, such as Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Montana, Arizona and Oregon, he said.
Given its current political climate, Oregon would probably not be an option today, Thorkildsen said.
“Eight, 10 years ago, when this process first started, Oregon wasn’t quite what it is now,” he said.
Mead went the extra mile, personally reaching out to Weatherby president Adam Weatherby, Thorkildsen said.
“He (Mead) called Adam and said, ‘Hey, we’re going to get you to Wyoming, no matter what it takes,’” he said.
When Adam Weatherby and other company representatives came to Wyoming, they were shown around practically every corner of the state, he added.
“Some of the other states didn’t have that same level of red carpet hospitality,” Thorkildsen said.
Wyoming’s business-friendly tax structure was also a huge plus, he added.
“Wyoming makes a whole lot of sense from a business standpoint, we don’t have a state income tax,” Thorkildsen said.
Wyoming’s unflinching support of the Second Amendment and other conservative ideals sealed the deal, he added.
Adam Weatherby at the time likened the 50 states to a train headed off a cliff, with California as the locomotive in front, Thorkildsen said.
“Wyoming and Alaska were dead last, at the end of the train, and Alaska wasn’t an option,” he said.
Housing And Workforce
Washut said that he, Gov. Mark Gordon and other state officials frequently try to convince firearms companies to come to Wyoming.
That includes attending the annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) show, usually hosted in Las Vegas, and meeting face-to-face with company executives, Washut said.
Firearms and firearm accessory companies appreciate hearing about Wyoming’s gun-friendly culture and business-friendly tax structure, he said.
The challenge comes when discussing the availability of a workforce and housing here, Washut said.
“Typically, those conversations come around to: ‘Do you have the workforce? Or, if we have to bring in our own workforce, do you have housing for them?’” Washut said.
Wyoming’s community colleges can help fill the workforce gaps, with programs like machining, that provide students with the skills that gun companies are seeking, he said.
The Shooting Complex Advantage
Thorkildsen and Washut said the forthcoming Wyoming State Shooting Complex will also give Wyoming a competitive edge.
Washut co-sponsored the legislative bill that authorized the shooting complex. A groundbreaking ceremony for the facility, outside Cody, is scheduled for Saturday.
He said that attracting firearms and firearms-related companies to Wyoming is one reason why the shooting complex is being built.
"The idea was that the shooting complex not only would be a good place to shoot and to host competitions, but that it would contribute to Wyoming’s economic development and it would continue to emphasize our pro-firearms stance,” he said.
Thorkildsen agreed that the shooting complex might snag firearms companies’ attention.
“Having a facility like that, that’s able to host a larger group, that’s definitely a big deal,” he said.
Weatherby, Ruger, Winchester and other major firearms companies send representatives to the yearly Outdoor Sports Group editorial roundtable, he said.
The last roundtable was hosted at the Cameo Shooting and Education Complex near Grand Junction, Colorado, Thorkildsen said.
It’s just the sort of event that the Wyoming Shooting Complex will be ideal for, he said.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
