As Maryland inches closer to passing extreme gun control legislation, the decision to move elsewhere is becoming an appealing option for gun manufacturer Beretta USA. Since the legislations is expected to pass and Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley will, of course, sign the bill—the company must decide if it’s worth operating in an increasingly hostile environment and one that would most certainly affect the company’s bottom line.

Beretta claims that the law that would forbid 10-bullet magazines would make the manufacture of their 9mm 13-bullet magazine illegal in Maryland. Beretta says it moved one of its factories to Virginia the last time Maryland tightened its laws.

If Beretta does move and takes its approximately 400 jobs with them, Indiana Representative Marlin Stutzman wants that place to be Indiana. Stutzman sent a letter to President of Beretta USA, Ugo Gusalli Beretta, urging him to consider Indiana’s “pro-business, pro-gun environment.”

Dear Mr. Beretta,

I am writing you today to invite you to consider relocating your U.S. headquarters to Indiana.  I agree wholeheartedly with the testimony of your counsel, Jeffrey Reh, before Maryland’s Senate Judiciary Committee on February 6^th, 2013.  Like you, I was disappointed to learn the Governor of Maryland is strongly advocating for the adoption of S.B. 281, a bill that would create a business environment hostile to firearms manufacturers.

As Mr. Reh explained in his testimony, the Beretta family has a long history of showing strong commitment to the communities where its business is located.  However, as he pointed out, “that commitment is not one-sided…and deserves the respect of a corresponding commitment from the local community and from the state government.”

You would find your commitment to local communities reciprocated in Indiana. Hoosiers would proudly welcome Beretta’s operation with a noticeably different tone and more competitive tax and regulatory structure than what you must navigate in Maryland.

Indiana’s government, from the state legislature to the Governor, is focused on job creation and is well-prepared to streamline the relocation process for you. In particular, Northeast Indiana offers a low-cost, strategic location for manufacturers like you and the Hoosier workforce is well equipped to meet your needs. That’s why my district is home to everything from Chevy and Vera Bradley to the leading manufacturers of orthopedic devices and RVs.

Many of our newest employers, such as Android Industries—an automotive manufacturer that cited our pro-growth environment for its decision to invest $8.87 million in Fort Wayne—were originally operating in states where political grandstanding trumped common sense governing. As you may know, Indiana has no plans to ban your products and I can tell you that Hoosiers’ respect for the 2^nd Amendment remains steadfast.  Hoosiers treat our manufacturers respectfully and your company would be free to carry out regular warranty and repair processes as you see fit.

Stutzman faces competition from other states, however, including West Virginia and Virginia.