By Joseph P. Tartaro | Executive Editor
Some states like California, New York and Connecticut apparently couldn’t care less about the value of the gun industry, not only in tax revenues lost, but in jobs for their residents, while others have competed aggressively to attract relocating companies as well as assisting existing resident firms to grow.
Most of the welcoming states have been in the Southern US, but Western and Central states like Idaho, South Dakota and Wyoming have also been active in courting the firearms industry. Wyoming is a good example of the latter, making headlines by luring Weatherby of California as well as firms from Colorado.
Now Wyoming officials have stepped in to help Gunwerks break ground on its new facility in Cody, which was reported on March 26.
According to a release from the Wyoming Business Council, the new Gunwerks building will house the manufacturing of the company’s long-range shooting systems—rifles, optics, rangefinders and ammunition. The facility is also set include retail and warehouse space and a test shooting tunnel.
Gunwerks was founded in 2007 in the community of Burlington, Wyoming. In 2016, the company moved into a light manufacturing incubator in Cody.
Last fall, the Wyoming Business Council, the state’s economic development agency, awarded the city of Cody a $6 million grant and loan package for the construction of a building on a five-acre site.
“The most significant impact of this project is getting us the necessary space available to expand,” said Aaron Davidson, the CEO of Gunwerks. “In the past three years, in our current facility in Cody, we’ve been able to add three significant product lines.
`In order to grow those product lines, we need to be better able to vertically integrate our rifle manufacturing, and this new space will allow that room to grow.”
The proposed building will be deeded to Forward Cody, a local economic development organization, and leased to Gunwerks. Those lease payments will go toward future economic development projects.
“We’re excited after a long planning process to be on the cusp of building something that has been a priority target for Forward Cody for many years,” said James Klessens, the CEO of Forward Cody. “We’re excited to get this project in the ground and for the benefits it will bring to the Cody community.”
By 2025, Gunwerks has committed to creating more than 50 high-paying jobs and to purchasing more than $5 million in equipment for the facility.
“This Gunwerks project represents a very strong backing by the state of Wyoming in the firearms industry for the state,” Davidson said.
The expected completion date is Feb. 1, 2020.
Celebrities & Shooters
Chuck Norris
The gun industry promotes the shooting sports in various ways while they are promoting their own brands, sometimes with celebrity spokespersons like the late R. Lee Ermie was for Glock Inc.
On April 8, Glock, which had just been awarded a tender from the Singapore Police Force has awarded for the purchase of more than 6,000 pistols, followed up by announcing that legendary world champion martial artist, actor, producer, philanthropist and entrepreneur Chuck Norris would be the company’s new spokesperson. Norris would be making his first appearance at the Glock booth at the National Rifle Association‘s annual meetings and exhibits in Indianapolis the weekend of April 26-27.
“Chuck Norris revolutionized and ushered martial arts into the American mainstream just like Glock revolutionized firearms by inventing and commercializing polymer-based pistols and the SAFE ACTION® System” said Josh Dorsey, vice president of Glock, Inc. “Having him represent the Glock brand brings two iconic names together that are mutually committed to perfection and their fan base. We couldn’t be more excited about this partnership.”
The collaboration will include traditional, digital and social campaigns as well as public appearances.
“I’m honored to partner with this world-renowned brand,” said Norris. “The values that I have built my life and brand on—tough, real, constant and powerful—are echoed in everything that Glock does and creates.”
Almost the same day, Winchester Ammunition Division of Olin Industries announced that Desirae “Desi” Edmunds and Zach Kienbaum, two of the most decorated sporting clays target shooters in the world, have been added as members of Team Winchester. Both will represent The American Legend, competing exclusively with the famous Winchester AA® shells.
“To work with a legendary brand like Winchester is an opportunity of a lifetime,” said Edmunds. “I know that Winchester Ammunition will allow me to compete at the highest level in the shooting sports for a very long time. Winchester Ammunition is among the very best and I am proud to represent this iconic brand.”
Edmunds began shooting at age 14, in Anchorage, AK, through the local Fish & Game program. Over the next several years, with her parents and local support, she began to shoot more leagues and weekend tournaments at her home club Grouse Ridge in Wasilla. Harry Brunnhoelz Sr., owner of Grouse Ridge, gave Desi her first shooting lessons.
Desi competed in her first Nationals in 2004 and her first US Open in 2005. These were the beginnings of many more years of travel for sporting tournaments. Since moving to Houston in 2012, she has registered more targets than ever before. Desi shot her first World event in 2012 and since then, has amassed multiple National & World Championships for herself and her country, including World English Lady Gold in 2015 and 2017, and World FITASC Lady Bronze in 2018.
Kienbaum started shooting sporting clays competitively in California with his dad in 1990. He grew up shooting at his local club, River Road Sporting Clays, which hosted some of earliest sporting clay and FITASC competitions in America. He competed heavily throughout his junior years and into the Open class until 2001, winning countless accolades along the way. In 2007, he moved to Southern California and began coaching and shooting full time at Triple B Clays Shotgun Sports Park. In 2012, he moved to Houston, TX, and began traveling extensively to competitions around the world. Zach has been shooting on an international level since 1995 and has accumulated countless championships as an individual and for the USA. Kierbaum has registered multiple National Championship and US Open Main Event HOA podium finishes, including 2018 National Sporting Clays Champion.
New Shooting Facility
Desirae Edmunds
After more than three years of planning, design and construction, the all-new McIvor Shooting Facility opened to the public on April 6. Members of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) and the Foundation of the Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (FMWFP) built the public shooting range facility in north Mississippi with support from Winchester Ammunition.
“For decades, Winchester has been a strong leader in supporting recreational shooting sports activities as well as working with others to help grow participation,” said Brett Flaugher, president of Winchester Ammunition. “With more than 50 million target shooters in the US, many of them here in the great state of Mississippi, we are very proud to be the major donor of this modern-day facility. The McIvor Shooting Facility could not have been built at a better time or, in a better location.”
The state-of-the-art shooting facility is owned and operated by MDWFP and includes shotgun, rifle, pistol and archery ranges.
“Now with the opening of McIvor we have three amazing shooting facilities located across the state, providing affordable opportunities for all to enjoy,” said John E. Taylor, chairman of the Foundation for Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (FMWFP).
The McIvor Shooting Facility features: a15-station sporting clay range, two skeet ranges, with a trap range overlaid in each, 5-stand range “Duck Flush,” 100- and 300-yard rifle ranges, a pistol range, a 3D archery range, plus a pro shop and golf cart rental.
The McIvor Shooting Facility is located near Sardis, MS, on the Charles Ray Nix Wildlife Management Area. This is just a short drive from Memphis, TN, and nearby Oxford, MS, home to the Winchester Ammunition rimfire and centerfire manufacturing facilities.
Zach Kienbaum
“This is an excellent example of how public, private and corporate entities can work together on meaningful projects to serve the public’s interest,” said Dr. Sam Polles, executive director of MDWFP. “Not only will this facility provide tremendous recreational opportunities for Mississippi’s sporting public, but it will also bring economic growth to this area of the state. It is a win, win for all concerned.”
And Winchester has added to its long-standing commitment to the shooting sports with the title sponsorship of the National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) Championship Tour, which includes eight events throughout the US featuring some of the most prolific sporting clays shooters in the world.
According to the most recent data from the National Shooting Sports Foundation, approximately 10.5 million people participated in sporting clays shooting, compared to 8.4 million in 2009, which is a 25% increase.
The NSCA Championship Tour includes: Western Regional at Coyote Springs Sporting Clays, Tucson, AZ, April 8-14; US Open at M & M Hunting Preserve, Pennsville, NJ, May 12-19; North Central Regional at Claythorne Lodge, Columbus, KS, June 12-16; South Central Regional at Providence Hill Farm, Jackson, MS, July 17-21; World English Sporting at Northbrook Sports Club, Hainesville, IL; Aug. 5-11; Northeast Regional at Cardinal Shooting Center, Marengo, OH, Sept. 4-8; Southeast Regional at Back Woods Quail Club, Georgetown, SC, Oct. 2-6, and 2019 National Sporting Clays Championship at National Shooting Complex, San Antonio, TX, Oct. 19-27.
