Not that I blame them for moving, but good riddance to Smith & Wesson

When you think about the segments of the Massachusetts economy, what comes to mind is tech, finance, education, biotech, healthcare... But we still have some manufacturing, and we certainly have a manufacturing heritage.

Part of that heritage is gun manufacturing. My hometown of Worcester was home to Harrington & Richardson, makers of the M16. And Smith & Wesson, with headquarters in

Springfield, has been pumping out guns since the 1850s. But they won't be pumping out quite as many guns here as they used to. Last week, they announced that they were up-staking and moving corporate HQ and some manufacturing jobs to the more gun-friendly environs of Tennessee, "a location it chose in part based on that state’s 'unwavering support for the Second Amendment,' as well as lower costs of doing business." 

This decision will result in the loss of roughly 550 jobs. The employees impacted will be offered jobs in Tennessee.

(Smith & Wesson will be keeping some manufacturing ops going in Massachusetts in design engineering, metalworking, and a few other areas that sound high-skilled to me. These account for about 1,000 jobs.)

I can't really blame Smith & Wesson. 

It is cheaper to do business in Tennessee, and Massachusetts is no stranger to watching old-line industries - think clothing and shoe manufacturing - head South where there are few unions and a lax regulatory environment. We've been fortunate that we've managed to replace those industries with ones that are higher-skilled and more valuable. And, of course, the lower-skilled jobs that went South inevitably make another journey, overseas to find even cheaper places to make things.

The company said that part of the reason for their relocation is "quality of life." Whenever I hear this about a state like Tennessee, I have to think that lower housing costs is what goes for "quality of life." When compared to the measures that I think equate to "quality of life" - like education, healthcare, and vax refuseniks (Tennessee ranks near the bottom of all states in terms of percentage vaccinated) - Tennessee pretty much always ranks in the lower half. Massachusetts is always at or near the top of the heap.

Oh, well.

Anyway, as I said, I can't blame Smith & Wesson.

When it comes to guns, Massachusetts is hostile territory. We pass what must seem like stridently anti-gun legislation. Like not allowing the sale of AR-15's, which is a product made by Smith & Wesson. And there's a bill - not pending, but somewhere in the lawmaking chain - that would outlaw the manufacture of AR-15's in our state. 

What's a company to do if a state won't let you buy their product or even make it there?

Years ago, Massachusetts had a business development campaign with the theme of "You can make it, make it in Massachusetts." Well, not always. 

I'm also guessing that company executives might want to live and work in a climate that was more gun-friendly. I'm sure that when the execs tell people where they work there's plenty of eye-rolling, and maybe even an occasional "how can you?" 

That's unlikely to happen in Tennessee. 

I feel bad for those who'll be losing their jobs, who can't or won't relocate to Tennessee, no matter the vaunted quality of life to be found there. 

But does Massachusetts really want or need gun manufacturing?

Seriously, the only reason I can think of keeping some gun mfg here is that we just might want to keep some gun manufacture in the blue states like Massachusetts. The University of Virginia just released the results of a poll that showed that over half of Trump voters (52%) and a good clump of Biden voters (41%)  are at least somewhat receptive to the idea of splitting the country in two, blue states and red states. 

There are plenty of days when, as impractical as this idea is, and as dangerous as it could turn out to be, I'd be just fine with this. Truly, although I'd feel some concern for the leave behinds (in both directions), why not let the red states leave as long as they'd just leave the blue states alone. While we might fear them, I think that red state resentment of the blue states might just trump our fear. What do we do if Redstateistan decides to attack Bluestateia? They'll be armed and dangerous. And we won't go down without a fight. 

Things could definitely get ugly.

But let's not assume the worst case. Let's just say good riddance to Smith & Wesson. I don't blame them for leaving,  As a state, we don't like guns all that much. Smith & Wesson will no doubt be a lot happier in Tennessee.  And I'm a little relieved they've put their money where our mouth is.

Source of info used here: Boston Globe