JACKSON, Miss.--It seems as though the majority of Mississippians don't mind, appreciate or even love their guns. Since the Sandy Hook and Aurora shootings there has been increased pressure on gun owners from a variety of sectors. The pressure is to rid yourself of what some call "assault weapons", essentially guns that resemble M-16s.

Mississippi is not having any of it, though and House Speaker Phillip Gunn, one of the state's top lawmakers, has decided to jack up the gun friendly factor. In a letter sent out Thursday, he invited some of the country's top gun manufacturers to come to Mississippi to make their products.

Gunn (R-Clinton) sent letters to 14 gun makers in New York, New Hampshire, Colorado, Massachusettes, Connecticut, Maryland and North Carolina.

“Gun manufacturers are under attack in anti-Second Amendment states,” said Gunn in a statement. “I wrote a letter to CEOs of leading firearm manufacturers urging them to relocate to Mississippi where their industry and jobs will be appreciated.”

Since pressure began coming from different groups and the federal government Mississippi lawmakers have reacted with several bills they say are designed to protect the Second Amendment and the right to keep and bear arms. Some of those include money for armed guards in schools and protecting the privacy of gun owners by preventing the media from getting their names and publishing them, as was done in a New York newspaper.

Gunn said Thursday's action was to help the gun makers and Mississippi's economy.

“We need more businesses to establish home base in Mississippi,” he said. “We can provide these companies with an educated workforce, a superior quality of life, an evolving education system for their children, and the peace of mind that comes with knowing we support their industry.”