Beretta wooed by other states over strict Maryland gun proposal

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – As a far-reaching gun-control measure aims to ban assault weapons in Maryland, neighboring states are trying to woo away a Beretta factory, whose employees would be unable to buy some of its products.

Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, who represents the district where the factory is located in Accokeek and has received $12,000 in campaign contributions from Beretta since 2005, noted Friday that senators changed the bill with Beretta in mind, but he says the company still isn't happy.

"We have, I think, helped the company as best we possibly can in terms of them continuing to be able to do business in the state of Maryland," said Miller, who voted for the bill, although he expressed misgivings about it. "We've allowed them to manufacture. We've allowed them to sell, and we've cut back on their paper work."

But West Virginia and Virginia are looking to capitalize on the company's dissatisfaction with the measure.

On Thursday, West Virginia House Speaker Rick Thompson said he had written to Beretta to offer West Virginia as a suitable location because it's "where the people understand and care about your industry."

Thompson said his state has one of the highest gun ownership rates in the country, behind only Alaska, Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming. He also said that it would not support gun-control measures such as those being discussed in Maryland.  More

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