National Rifle Association President and Alabama native Jim Porter told the Birmingham Business Journal (BBJ) Tuesday that he believes more gun manufacturers will follow in Remington’s footsteps and move to Alabama. He even alluded to some projects that may already be in the works, although he declined to get into specifics.
“I think Remington is doing what Mercedes did for us in the automobile business — it opens the doors to opportunity,” Porter said in a brief video interview with the BBJ. “There are a lot of things that we’re working on now for the state.”
Porter cited Alabama’s low tax, low regulation business climate and pro-Second Amendment policies as two of the main reasons gun manufacturers are looking to relocate to the Yellowhammer State.
“We’ve been fortune to have the most pro-gun state and the most pro-business state in the country,” Porter said. “I told (Remington CEO) George (Kollitides), ‘You will not make a better business decision in your lifetime other than to come to the State of Alabama. You will have the support of the Administration. You will have the support of the population. Everybody in the state is going to be lining up to work for Remington, to put on one of those green t-shirts.’ Through that we were able to get them to come down to Alabama and find a place that they absolutely love. And as you can see now, they have integrated a lot of their separate businesses into the facility there in Huntsville. They’re going to end up over the next couple of years with over 2,000 jobs being generated.”
Porter also expressed optimism that Alabama will continue its recent run of high-profile economic development successes.
“It’s absolutely fabulous,” Porter said of the Remington deal in particular. “And in my view there are a lot more opportunities out there that are available.”
Check out more of Yellowhammer’s Remington coverage:
1. Remington Arms moving 2,000+ jobs from NY to Alabama
2. Remington moves Bushmaster production line to Alabama
3. VIDEO: Alabama’s ‘We Dare Defend Our Rights’ motto played role in landing Remington
4. Ted Nugent: ‘God bless Alabama and God bless Remington!’
5. Birmingham Attorney Jim Porter Elected NRA President
Follow Cliff on Twitter @Cliff_Sims
