Headline: Gun Manufacturers Consider Lorain County Move

by Chad D. Baus

WJW (Fox Cleveland) is reporting that Lorain County Commissioner Tom Williams has been working with two different out-of-state gun manufacturers to try to get them to relocate here.

From the article:

"We're trying to do something different. It's about jobs. We have some of the best workforce here in Lorain county in the country," Commissioner Williams said.

The gun manufacturers cannot be named since there are other cities being considered for relocation. But, Commissioner Williams said they could bring more than 1,000 jobs to Lorain County.

"Company one is a smaller company. It would bring 200 to 300 jobs. It would be the world headquarters that would locate here. Company two is a larger company. It would bring 800 to 1,000 jobs with a payroll of $85 million," he said.

Rebecka Hardwick of Amherst Township likes what this could mean for the area.

"We could definitely use a spur to our economy and I'm all for the right to bear arms," she said.

According to the article, when the Lorain Ford plant closed in 2005, it took hundreds of manufacturing jobs with it. Commissioner Williams said he believes it would make a perfect site for the larger of the two gun manufactures to relocate.

"It has the ability to manufacture and it is secluded enough where it's not going to impact the residents," he added.

Russ Barninger of Avon Lake agreed.

"Gun manufacturers or car manufacturers, I mean they're jobs. I don't see any problem with gun manufacturers. Any time we can get more jobs in Lorain County, I think it's a great thing," he said.

Commissioner Williams said Jobs Ohio and other area lawmakers are also working to bring the gun manufacturers to Lorain County. Many gun manufacturers, located in states that have recently passed draconian gun control laws, are looking to move to states that still respect the Second Amendment.

Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Vice Chairman.