HJR 12-SUPPORT IN-STATE FIREARMS MANUFACTURING                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:09:20 AM                                                                                                                  
CHAIR DYSON  announced that the  next order of business  would be                                                               
HJR 12.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
TOM WRIGHT,  Staff, Representative Mike Chenault,  sponsor of HJR                                                               
12,  introduced the  bill on  behalf of  the sponsor.  He related                                                               
that  HJR 12  is based  on  a resolution  recently introduced  in                                                               
Montana. The  bill encourages and invites  gun manufacturers, gun                                                               
accessory  manufacturers,  and  suppliers   to  come  to  Alaska,                                                               
especially  from states  that are  passing  more restrictive  gun                                                               
laws. He gave  an example of a company that  stated it would move                                                               
from Colorado because  of the strict gun laws  that were recently                                                               
enacted.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
He  stated  that   a  number  of  states   are  considering  this                                                               
legislation, but none so far have passed a resolution.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DYSON thanked  Mr. Wright. He expected that  the bill would                                                               
pass out of committee.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
MIKE COONS, speaking  on his own behalf, testified  in support of                                                               
HJR 12. He said that Alaska  is a firearms-friendly state, with a                                                               
great workforce  and plenty of  room for  firearms manufacturers.                                                               
He  suggested  expanding  the resolution  to  include  ammunition                                                               
manufacturers. He spoke of Second Amendment rights.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
9:13:04 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR COGHILL asked if there  has been any discussion about gun                                                               
manufacturers applying for a business license in Alaska.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
MR. WRIGHT  replied that he  was not aware  of any. He  said that                                                               
the  sponsor has  invited  Magpul Gun  Manufacturers  to come  to                                                               
Alaska and has let them know  that Alaska is gun-friendly and has                                                               
a trained labor force.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DYSON  added that  Alaska has one  of the  best air-freight                                                               
connections in  the world and an  excellent marine transportation                                                               
system.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR. WRIGHT said New Hampshire  is also inviting gun manufacturers                                                               
to their state.  He pointed  out that ammo makers are included in                                                               
gun accessory manufacturers.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR DYSON  said the bill addresses  "firearm-related groups and                                                               
businesses."                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
9:15:02 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  GIESSEL moved  to  report  CS for  HJR  12, labeled  28-                                                               
LS0619\U,  from  committee  with individual  recommendations  and                                                               
attached  zero  fiscal  note. There  being  no  objection,  CSHJR                                                               
12(EDT)  was  reported from  the  Senate  State Affairs  Standing                                                               
Committee.