Beretta gun company to move manufacturing from Maryland to Tennessee over weapons-control law

Beretta U.S.A. Corp. says concerns about a gun-control bill that passed in Maryland last year have made it necessary to move its weapons making out of the state to Tennessee.

The well-known gun maker announced Tuesday it will move to a new production facility it is building in Gallatin that is set to open in mid-2015.

Beretta general manager Jeff Cooper says an initial version of the gun-control bill passed by the Senate would have prohibited the company from being able to make, store or even import into Maryland the products it sells. He says while lawmakers reversed some of those provisions, the company is concerned restrictions could be reinstated in the future.

Beretta says it has no plans to relocate its office, administrative and executive support functions from Accokeek, Maryland.