A SENATE RESOLUTION inviting vendors and businesses that deal and manufacture small arms to relocate to our state.

     , read first time and referred to Committee on

     MADAM PRESIDENT:

    I offer the following resolution and move its adoption:

    A SENATE RESOLUTION inviting vendors and businesses that deal and manufacture small arms to relocate to our state.

     Whereas, All people are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, and among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;

    Whereas, The Constitution of the United States of America, in the second amendment, states: "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed";

    Whereas, The Constitution of the State of Indiana, in Article 1, Section 32, states: "The people shall have a right to bear arms, for the defense of themselves and the State";

    Whereas, All power is inherent in the people and all free governments are, and of right ought to be, founded on the people's authority and instituted for the people's peace, safety, and well-being;

    Whereas, The free, ongoing, and unencumbered

manufacture of modern and serviceable firearms and ammunition is necessary to protect these rights;

    Whereas, The constitutional rights of Americans to produce and bear arms for the protection of themselves, their states, and their country are being infringed;

    Whereas, Indiana has shown a commitment to reduce taxes; in 2011 the Indiana General Assembly passed a law to begin the reduction of the corporate income tax by 25%; passed the automatic taxpayer refund act; in 2012 began the elimination of the inheritance tax; and in 2013 is refunding $360 million to taxpayers;

    Whereas, In Indiana there is now a constitutional cap on business real estate tax and, according to the Tax Foundation (a national organization that advocates for low taxes and fair tax policy), Indiana has the most taxpayer friendly income tax of any state that has a personal income tax;

    Whereas, Indiana has universal reciprocity for every state's firearms carry permits, as well as a statewide preemption law that restricts local governments from limiting citizens' rights to defend themselves and to carry firearms;

    Whereas, In addition, Indiana is the first and only state to have a lifetime firearms carry license;

    Whereas, Indiana ranks first in manufacturing jobs and ninth in logistics jobs per capita; one in five Hoosiers works in these fields;

    Whereas, Indiana is home to a number of prominent engineering schools, not the least of which are Purdue University, the University of Notre Dame, and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology;

    Whereas, Naval Support Activity Crane, Indiana, is home

to Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, a center of excellence for special operations weapons, and Crane Army Ammunition Activity, a national leader in conventional ammunition and related components;

    Whereas, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, has the nation's leading component and system level products and industrial engineering of small arms for special forces, whose vision is "Crane will become the Department of Defense's premier engineering, acquisitions, and sustainment organization";

    Whereas, Crane Army Ammunition Activity's mission is "to receive, store, issue/ship, produce, renovate, and demilitarize conventional ammunition, missiles and related components to meet contingency requirements in support of the Joint Force";

    Whereas, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, has world-class and state-of-the-art evaluation facilities with existing mechanisms for private use agreements;

    Whereas, Men and women across Indiana are able, willing, and ready to be the dedicated workforce that makes companies relocating here some of the most competitive in the world;

    Whereas, Hoosiers are noted nationwide for their work ethic;

    Whereas, Indiana continues to significantly invest in infrastructure and education in every region of the state; and

    Whereas, The Indiana Economic Development Corporation has significant economic stimulus tools at its disposal: Therefore,

    SECTION 1. That the Indiana State Senate urges the companies that deal and manufacture the products that are protected under both the United States and Indiana constitutions to relocate to our state.
    SECTION 2. That the Indiana State Senate notes that the state of Indiana, being a highly attractive state in which to work and live, invites these companies to move to Indiana and finally be free to work and grow here.
    SECTION 3. That the Indiana Senate requests these companies to contact, as soon as practicable, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation to receive all the benefits available to them upon becoming an Indiana company.
    SECTION 4. That the Secretary of the Senate is hereby directed to send a copy of this resolution to vendors and businesses that deal and manufacture small arms.