Governor Mark Gordon: Shot Show helps Wyoming attract firearms manufacturers and build workforce pipelines

At the Shot Show, Governor Mark Gordon said Wyoming’s combination of a pro-Second Amendment culture and business-friendly policies has helped attract firearms manufacturers and support local company growth. “Wyoming is definitely a pro-Second Amendment state,” Gordon said, adding that the state also makes deliberate efforts to be business-friendly.

Gordon told the interviewer that many exhibitors at the show are small, homegrown firms that have expanded into larger operations. He cited examples including Gunworks, Weatherbe, Keltech and Wyoming Arms, and described companies that began in garages and later secured contracts with police departments. “You have people go, ‘Oh, Wyoming. I love it. That’s the place I love to go hunting,’” Gordon said, arguing that cultural fit can help bring firms to the state.

The governor and the interviewer emphasized workforce and training as central to sustaining that growth. Gordon said Wyoming has focused on aligning education from K–12 through postsecondary with employer needs — naming gunsmithing and CNC operations as areas where local training is helping companies hire. He described a pattern in which companies initially worry about workforce availability but, after establishing in Wyoming, find they can hire and expand.

Speakers discussed how machining skills in the firearms industry can translate to other sectors, including optics and specialized milling, offering pathways for economic diversification. Gordon suggested that companies’ manufacturing capabilities make it easier to pivot into related industries, pointing to firms such as Magpole, Lucid, Maven and Revik as examples of businesses at the convention working in optics and related fields.

Gordon framed the state’s strategy as a blend of culture and practical supports: promoting outdoor amenities and a strong work ethic while investing in training so residents can ‘build the businesses they want.’ He said Wyoming should continue to compete at events such as the Shot Show to showcase innovation and meet potential recruits and partners.

The interview did not include any formal policy proposals, votes or announcements of new state programs. It concluded with thanks to the interviewer and an acknowledgment that the Business Council’s ongoing presence at the Shot Show offers exposure for Wyoming manufacturers.