Sen. Gumm Says Legislation will Increase Opportunity to Attract Firearm Manufacturing Jobs to State

A bill now moving to the House of Representatives contains legislation that will put Oklahoma in a better position to attract high-paying manufacturing jobs—that’s according to Sen. Jay Paul Gumm. The Democrat from Durant said his legislation, which the full Senate approved on Wednesday, shores up his long-term efforts to attract a firearm manufacturer to the state.

“Murray State College is home to one of the best gunsmith schools in the entire country. It just makes sense to use that particular resource we have as a means to attract jobs and industry, not just to my district but to all of Oklahoma,” Gumm said.

Gumm had previously passed legislation encouraging the Commerce Department to begin work on initiatives to attract gun manufacturing facilities to the state. He has also successfully authored legislation to protect manufacturers who may locate in Oklahoma from frivolous lawsuits.

On Wednesday, Gumm successfully amended Senate Bill 1685, a bill by Sen. Randy Brogdon strengthening Oklahoma’s Second Amendment rights, to ensure efforts to locate a gun manufacturer in
Oklahoma would be a permanent part of the Commerce Department’s mission.

“A lot of gun manufacturers are in states that frankly are hostile to guns and individual gun ownership,” Gumm said “In Oklahoma, responsible gun ownership is part of our identity, and our laws and public policy reflect that attitude—it’s one that we should use to our advantage.”