Once upon a time, when this map was made in the 1840s, New England was an important center of the American firearms industry. If you’re a firearms owner in New England and you’re concerned with the region’s existing and proposed laws affecting gun owners in individual states, then you have a chance soon to start doing something about it. The first-ever New England Firearms Advocacy Conference runs on Saturday, May 30, and it’s intended to bring firearms owners together to discuss how to handle problems.Guns in New England @ TFB: Stag Arms Plans Exit From Connecticut Hunting With A Suppressor Now Long-Term Legal In Vermont New 72-Hour Waiting Law Takes Effect In Maine From East To West, States Double Down On Gun Restrictions In 2026 The Decline and Fall Of The New England Firearms SceneAs the first region settled in the U.S., New England had a strong frontier firearms culture that transitioned into widespread civilian ownership of guns after the wars with the natives and other colonies had ended. American firearms manufacturing was born in New England, and for generations, there were factories all over the region—particularly Mossberg, Colt and Winchester in Connecticut, Savage and Smith & Wesson in Massachusetts and Remington just over the border in New York. As the firearms world grew with new companies, through the 20th century, many of those newer manufacturers set up shop in New England as well, or right next door in the Mid-Atlantic states. Mossberg, like most US manufacturers, based itself in New England, where they had a talented labor pool to draw from. [Zac K.] And now, they’re pulling out, with factories established in the Midwest or Southeast, with an unfriendly political climate partially to blame, while some individual states in New England introduce new laws that restrict firearms ownership or usage. Gun rights activists and the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms have decided to push back with their new New England Firearms Advocacy Conference on May 30 in Chicopee, Massachusetts. As imported firearms made manufacturing less profitable in the U.S., and then regulators introduced laws unfriendly to gun businesses and owners, manufacturers began relocating to other parts of the U.S. [Zac K.] If you’re wondering what’s on tap at the conference, here’s what their website says:“Join us as the New England Firearms Advocacy Conference where together some of the top minds and staunchest advocates from the New England states to discuss legislation, litigation, lobbying, and more! Speakers are to include Second Amendment giants, legislators, attorneys, and content creators. Participants will be provided coffee, pastries, and lunch as well as a program packed with quality presentations and speakers.” The conference has several Second Amendment-focused speeches on the schedule; they appear to be focused on restoring gun rights. If that happens, maybe manufacturing will return to the region, too? [Zac K.] Head to their site for a schedule of speakers and other details, including the location where it’s being held and a discount on rooms at a nearby hotel.