What's a Gun-Friendly State to Move To?

[Michael Stern]

I moved to Connecticut nearly 50 years ago to attend college, and I stayed. Aside from great pizza, some of its appeal was the gun heritage: Colt, High Standard, Winchester, etc., etc. Connecticut has since become very gun-unfriendly (we've still got the "assault rifle" ban) and I fear that things may soon get much worse -- if not in the nation at large, then certainly here in this very, very blue state.

I am in the fortunate position of having a job I can do anywhere, and I have been entertaining the notion of finding a place that is more in line with my values. Aside from a state that honors the right to keep and bear arms, I'd want to find a place where I could practice my other passion, which is riding (fox hunting and/or western style).

Any suggestions?

 

[P&R Fan]

Iowa went "Shall Issue" a few years ago.
It ain't too warm here, but we're nice folks. Come on out, you'll like it here.
Jim

 

[Dashriprock]

Go west, sir. The Rocky Mountains beckon.

 

[Wingmaster]

I am kinda thinking any of the western states would be good. Except Kalifornia. I live in Wyoming and the laws here are very gun friendly. Lots of horses too, but they are mostly cowboy type of horse people.
Good luck on your adventure.

Wingmaster

 

[GKC]

I was thinking Texas (of course) or Arizona until I read the part about fox hunting (do you actually hunt the foxes, or is that just a style of riding?) I don't know how much of that we have here, but if you like riding western style, where else but Texas?

 

[Hyperion]

Try Arizona.

 

[kennyb]

virginia!!

 

[BearBio]

Washington == the dry side. Decent hunting, open carry allowed, shall issue. As of now, AR and silencer friendly.

 

[Alnamvet68]

I would say Virginia, but gee, we really have too many bad driving out of townee's already.

 

[feralmerril]

Part of the reasons we moved here to utah was its very gun friendly. Even have open carry although you seldom see it practiced except on the trails. Easy to get a concealed permit, which I have. Most of the state is BLM land with many ATV trails which is my thing. I cant vouch how you would do here work wise in whatever trade you do. I have heard 2nd hand storys that business`s that arent morman owned can have a tough time of it. Its been changing just in the short time we have been here. Lots of retirees are coming in from california and elsewhere. Glad I aint looking for a job here.

 

[9mmredneck]

think about the black hills of south dakota we are a shall issue state and as far as being gun friendly we are and we just passed a bill here to allow teachers or school staff to be armed

 

[Tom K]

Washington == the dry side. Decent hunting, open carry allowed, shall issue. As of now, AR and silencer friendly.

No full-auto allowed in WA though. Oregon allows full auto but already has a requirement for all gun sales to go through an FFL. Of course Kalifornia is ridiculous. So go west, but not too far west.

 

[Gunslinger808]

Arizona has the worse rating the Brady bucnh gives out!
Class 3, no problems.
No mag restrictions on hunting (w/exception of migratory birds) you can use a freakin Beta mag to hunt Whitetails if you want.
Suppressors are OK for hunting too.
No permit needed for concealed carry.
Castle doctrine in effect.
No restrictions on mag capacity or silly restrictions on those evil features (like a bayo lug or flash hider).

 

[RaceBannon]

"Washington == the dry side. Decent hunting, open carry allowed, shall issue. As of now, AR and silencer friendly."

Yea, come on out to Washington. It's surprisingly gun friendly, but we could certainly use the reinforcement.

 

[Michael Stern]

I was thinking Texas (of course) or Arizona until I read the part about fox hunting (do you actually hunt the foxes, or is that just a style of riding?) I don't know how much of that we have here, but if you like riding western style, where else but Texas?

I do love Texas and Arizona, and yes, we do really hunt foxes (or, more often, coyotes), although don't catch too many. It's more for the excitement of riding to the hounds, who have more fun than the horses and the people.

(For many years I rode only western and made fun of the English riders with their silly little saddles, but I have to say that when we really get on a fox and the hounds are making their music and the horses are going full bore, the thrill is hard to beat. I never did give up my western saddle ... which now seems so damn heavy! If occasionally the chase takes us through a field of cattle, though, I kinda wish I could stop and pen one.)

 

[A10]

The only problem with Washington is it is not Class III. Otherwise we do OK.

I was gonna say Orygun....times are changing there though.

 

[moe l.]

I'm in CA and TX is high on my list. The wife and I talk about moving to TX daily! We just need to talk to our kids to see if they'd be willing to move their families to TX also. We all have very respectable incomes and our tax dollars would be much better spent and appreciated in TX.

 

[CCWKY]

Look at Kentucky. We are one of the most gun friendly states in the U.S., We have the right to keep and bear arms in our state constitution as well along with a pre-emption statute that prohibits local governments and cities from enacting their own firearm laws also our lawmakers have done a good job protecting that right. We can open carry just about everywhere with just a couple of exceptions and have a good concealed carry law. No restrictions on firearms or mags.

 

[blujax01]

CCWKY is right. Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio still believe in "don't start none, won't be none."

The upside of living in "flyover territory" is you don't draw too much notice.

The cost of living is reasonable though jobs are hit and miss unless you're in a city. Sounds like you wouldn't be affected...

The land is beautiful AND STAYS PUT (unlike the west coast). Lots of folks with horses. We do get all four seasons too.

Check it out...

 

[doublesharp]

Southern Indiana is about perfect.