Beretta Responds to Gov. O’Malley’s Signature of SB281 – Your Gun Rights

Beretta
Beretta

Maryland – -(Ammoland.com)- This morning, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signed into law SB281, a bill that will severely limit the Constitutionally-protected rights of American citizens in the State of Maryland.

Following the signature of the Bill into law, Beretta has issued the following statement, regarding our company’s position regarding the law, and our willingness to remain in the State of Maryland.

You may also wish to read this article, outlining our future plans to remain in a state that has chosen to cripple its citizens’ Second Amendment rights.

“The firearm companies owned by Beretta Holding in Maryland—Beretta U.S.A. Corp., Benelli U.S.A. Corporation and Stoeger Industries, Inc.—have all been deeply concerned about Governor Martin O’Malley’s effort this year to impose broad new restrictions on the rights of Maryland citizens to buy firearms, as well as on the types of firearms and firearm magazines they can acquire.

The Companies have submitted comments before the Maryland legislature and to the press condemning these efforts and stating that the Governor’s anti-gun activity is causing them to evaluate whether they want to remain in this State.

Notwithstanding some media reports to the contrary, those efforts have had some beneficial effects.

Through the Companies’ legislative efforts and with assistance led by Delegate Joe Vallario and others provisions were stripped out of the final Bill that would have required an immediate move of certain operations out of Maryland. The parts of the legislation that remained, though – and that were not deleted notwithstanding the Beretta Holding companies efforts to do so – remain offensive not only to our companies as firearm manufacturers, importers and distributors and as investors in jobs, taxes and income within the State of Maryland, but also to those of us who, as Maryland citizens, will now be encumbered with obstacles to our exercise of our Constitutional rights, such as a requirement we now be fingerprinted like a criminal before we can buy a handgun, without providing a commensurate benefit in reducing crime.

The resulting law that passed is not acceptable, even with the improvements we were able to obtain.  In short, the law that finally passed went from being atrocious to simply being bad.

The question now facing the Beretta Holding companies in Maryland is this:  What effect will the passage of this law–and the efforts of Maryland government officials to support its passage–have on our willingness to remain in this State?

In that respect we are mindful of two objectives:  We will not let passage of this legislation prevent us from providing on-time delivery of our products to our U.S. Armed Forces and other important customers.  We also will not go forward in a way that compounds the insult made to our Maryland employees by their Governor and by the legislators who supported his efforts.

Prior to introduction of this legislation the three Beretta Holding companies located in Maryland were experiencing growth in revenues and jobs and had begun expansion plans in factory and other operations.  The idea now of investing additional funds in Maryland and thus rewarding a Government that has insulted our customers and our products is offensive to us so we will take steps to evaluate such investments in other States.  At the same time, we will continue our current necessary operations within Maryland and we are thankful for and welcome the continued support of our employees as we do so.”

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SBman

I am planning on getting a pocket pistol real soon. I’ve shot 4 new small single stacks in the last month and remember shooting the Beretta nano 4-5 years ago, it looked and felt weird but I shot it very, very well. Plan on re-shooting and shooting a few more new ones in 1-3 weeks (range rentals). Just want something small to “very small” that I will be able to carry. My double stack M&P9C is too big sometimes to carry and the M&P 9 Shield wasn’t that much smaller really than my M&P9C with IWB carry. Now the Beretta… Read more »

MissAnthropy

I think this whole “loyalty to their employees” is a smokescreen. These leftist politicians aren’t being elected in a vacuum. A substantial number of their employees probably voted for this crap.

Corey W

Everybody should go to free state petitions and fight this matter. Tell all of your friends to sign it as well. It’s time for us to stand up and tell this government to shove it. Don’t let them lie to you or brainwash you through the news.

ElderAmbassador

Time for Beretta to move on. There are many States that welcome lawful businesses so just choose the one you like best and make the move. You must make the move in a way that does not interrupt the flow of your products to out military, but I suggest that your citizen customer base understands your need to “shake the dust of Maryland” from your company.

Seanoamericano

A friend of mine was about to purchase a silver pigeon and a 92 F until I showed him this article and changed his mind.

DannyG

Whew! I’m glad I bought me a Taurus 92. I’m not going to reward a company that sits there and accepts the lashing it’s master gives it. Move or suffer the consequences.

rob

I will not buy or own a Beretta as long as they stay in Maryland.

Tony A

I will not buy another Beretta product until they leave Maryland. magpul did the smart thing and they got more revenue.

Buck

Not enough , Berettta , Benneli , and Stoeger and all there products will never be allowed on my property , ever , nor will I associate with those that patronize these foreign ant-American companies .

Steve

If Beretta won’t leave Maryland, I’ll sell mine and I won’t by another until they do!! They got what they wanted, What about the gun owners!
Boycott Beretta make them re-think betraying gun owners!
The only way to deal with the anti gun idiots
is to hurt their tax base and increase their unemployment rate! Maybe then the idiots that voted them in will regain control of their minds and vote them out!!

Frederick Denson

Time for Beretta to move. The only thing liberals understand is power and money. If you cant remove the power, then take your money away from them.

sid

Think you should move, But move slow so you can protect as many workers in the state, don’t need more good folks out of work. So start moving

Robert Scroggins

Beretta blinked and has lost credibility. So much for standing up to the anti’s. The only way to win this war on the constitution is to hit the anti’s in the pocketbook.

vincent

Get out Maryland!! Why continue to arm the oppressors? When Beretta provides the means for MD LEO to attsck and terrorize law abiding citizens, the company becomes part of the problem. And why continue to pay taxes to the DNC machine?!

Tenring Rob

If they stay,they are rewarding the state of Maryland with taxes paid. You cannot serve two masters, either move or lose the respect and business of many shooters. I will not buy a product from Remington since the absurd law passed in New York. They have a history there and while I appreciate that but I cannot contribute with revenue from my purchase going into state coffers. I will not support gun control at any level and buying a product from them would be doing that. That includes their ammo and outdoor equipment line.

Matt

I think they should stay if possible. Why do we automatically run every time an illegal law is passed? Stay and get in their faces. I say buy a Beretta if they stay.

Florida

as a cc instructer I will not recomend a Beretta to anyone as long as it stays in Maryland or sell or rent one to anyone wishing to see new gun. Beretta you are either for gun rights or not you cannot play all sides of the game

JusBill

And Maryland lowers her head in shame. The mayor of New York City dictates Maryland law.

The Free State is no longer free…