Henry Repeating Arms Is The Latest Gun Maker to Leave Anti-Gun States

Another major firearms manufacturer is packing up and heading for friendlier territory. This time, it’s Henry Repeating Arms, which recently announced the relocation of its operations from New Jersey to Wisconsin. But this move isn’t happening in isolation—it’s part of a clear and growing trend within the firearms industry.

Henry's operation in Rice Lake WI

For over a decade now, gun manufacturers have been quietly—but deliberately—moving out of states with restrictive gun laws, high taxes, and increasingly hostile political climates. They’re setting up shop in places where they’re not treated like criminals for making legal products that millions of Americans use for sport, defense, and tradition.

I've been thrilled to see so many landing in my home state of Wyoming.

A Growing Exodus from Anti-Gun States

Henry’s decision to leave New Jersey follows a long list of similar moves by other top-tier firearm and accessory manufacturers:

• Smith & Wesson moved its headquarters from Massachusetts to Tennessee in 2023 after the state considered legislation banning the manufacture of certain semi-automatic firearms.
• Magpul exited Colorado in 2014 following a state ban on standard-capacity magazines, relocating its manufacturing to Wyoming and its headquarters to Texas.
• Beretta USA moved operations from Maryland to Tennessee after the state passed sweeping gun control laws in 2014.
• Stag Arms, originally based in Connecticut, moved its operations to Wyoming in 2019, citing the state’s support for the Second Amendment.
• Weatherby, a renowned rifle manufacturer, left California in 2018 for Wyoming, noting that California's anti-gun policies no longer aligned with the company’s values.
• Mossberg, while maintaining some legacy presence in Connecticut, expanded operations significantly in Texas, citing better business conditions and regulatory freedom.

These moves are more than just logistical shifts—they’re strategic and ideological. Manufacturers are tired of being regulated, taxed, and vilified in states that claim to support business while actively undermining the industry.

Why Wisconsin?

In Henry’s case, Wisconsin offers a dramatically different operating environment. The company had already established a facility in Rice Lake back in 2006, and now it’s doubling down by making it the center of its operations. CEO Anthony Imperato stated the move allows them to “meet the growing demand for our products while also improving efficiency and investing in a state that welcomes and supports manufacturers.”

Henry’s new expanded facility—now over 275,000 square feet—is not just a relocation. It’s an investment in the future, built in a state that aligns with the company’s mission and values.

Red States, Blue States, and the Firearm Economy

This migration trend tells a bigger story about how American industry reacts to political hostility. When states make it clear they don’t want firearms businesses around, those businesses leave. And when they do, they take with them jobs, tax revenue, and a rich cultural heritage tied to the Second Amendment.

States like Tennessee, Texas, Wyoming, Alabama, Georgia, and now Wisconsin are reaping the rewards—welcoming major employers, skilled labor, and economic growth in exchange for simply respecting constitutional rights and fostering a business-friendly climate.

Meanwhile, states like New Jersey, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maryland continue to lose not just companies, but credibility as places where freedom and industry can coexist.