Most gun friendly state where there is no winter?

[Alaska444]

I grew up in Alaska so the winters here in Northern Idaho seem like summer to me.

 

[Okiegunner]

The summers have 4-6 weeks that are damn near unbearable hot. The winters are "fairly" mild. A couple of weeks of freezing rain/ice.

However, the gun laws in Oklahoma are 2nd amendment friendly. Oklahoma has a state holiday (2nd Amendment Day, every June 28) honoring the right of citizens to bear arms. Oklahoma has "open" carry. Housing is cheap and the people are friendly. Some of the gun ranges have "fully" automatic lanes. No ones blinks or thinks twice if you walk in with an AR or AK.

Our one (1) Democratic congressman is and has been very pro 2nd Amendment (hard to believe, yet true)

Firearmwise there are a "few" but not many states better to reside in.

 

[Water-Man]

South Florida meets all your criteria. Gun friendly, no winter, palm trees and beaches.

 

[Halal Pork]

There is nothing in Florida that I miss when I leave here....nothing. ...the crime(getting worse everywhere)...

I was a Florida resident for quite a while. I considered looking for a job back there. Then, I'd head down and visit some relatives. That would snap me back to reality. In my mind, I was imagining Florida 20 years ago. Going there, I'd see all these towns doubled in size in spite of a poor to non-existent economy, crime everywhere, decent neighborhoods become very rough. I don't imagine I'll ever be very tempted to move back there.

To the OP, I'd consider Texas. Since I'm not a Texan, I am allowed to say the place is not heaven on earth. However, their laws are respectful of the rights of their residents (relative to other states), there is no state income tax, the economy is growing. On the other hand, check property taxes in different places because it can be a tad bit high depending on where you find yourself.

 

[2zulu1]

I retired to a high desert valley in Southern Arizona, pristine air to breathe, my own well to drink from, no mosquitoes and no allergies. Lots of public lands nearby to recreate on without the crowds.

If I were to move to the city I'd pick Tucson over Phoenix, very laid back by comparison.

I've been spoiled by sunshine, blue skies and world class scenery, never get tired of visiting the Grand Canyon or mountains. Lake Powell is a blast and also a great place to fish.

 

[sonick808]

AZ. We don't even limit switchblades, knife carry, any of that dumb crap.

You don't need your CCW, but if you get it, you can avoid the NICS check each time your purchase.

Gun lovers, come to AZ. Gun-haters, stay the hell away, you wouldn't like seeing people packing everywhere you go.

EDIT: we have one dumb weapon law: Nunchaku are illegal. how is that for weird ?

 

[Deus Machina]

Looking back through this... I'll trade places with you once I'm done with college. Only one reason I miss Illinois.
Winters can be nice in Florida (for a day, then they snap one direction or another), but the sauna at the local pool is just a room with some rocks in the window.

 

[radiotom]

Is Utah the only one that doesn't have gun free zones?

 

[tarosean]

AZ.We don't even limit switchblades, knife carry, any of that dumb crap.

FWIW to those paying attention Texas does have lots of knife laws..

No State Income Tax thou

 

[Alaska444]

Is Utah the only one that doesn't have gun free zones?

Actually not even Utah falls into that category since they deny CCW in places of worship at the request of the Mormons.

 

[radiotom]

Actually not even Utah falls into that category since they deny CCW in places of worship at the request of the Mormons.

Yes but that doesn't apply to me.

My understanding is it is just Mormon temples, right?
Another thing, are there any states where your employer isn't allowed to tell you that you CANNOT carry your gun at work?

 

[joed]

Southern Ohio??? I live in the northern half of the state and wouldn't even consider Ohio to be gun friendly. You're 6 degrees warmer then Cleveland at 31 this morning, guess you can leave the jacket behind. I'll give you that the economy is better there though.

I'm not trying to put Southern Ohio down as I like it and wouldn't mind living there but you have to be realistic. I can't figure out the Southern Ohio mentality that those that do live there think they're in the tropics.

The problem with the Northern half of the state is Lake Erie becomes a refrigerator from January to April. But, that lake holds heat in the fall reversing the cold effect. But the economy is bad in the North.

The most gun friendly state I lived in was FL. And the weather was warm too. But the sourthern half of the state is like Cuba. The NW part is like Tobacco Road. Jobs come with 2 things, low pay and an excuse of why they can't pay you what you're worth. After living in FL a life lesson I learned if you are working age is never live anywhere that has lots of retired people. The problem is they are getting decent money but get bored. To get a job they can afford to work for half price. Keep that in mind while looking.

 

[Halal Pork]

Somewhere your perceptions are being skewed.Floridas crime has been almost continuously dropping. In 1960 ,the state had 5 million people and 527 murders. In 2011 ,19 million people and 984 murders.

4 times the population and murder did not even double.

See this article for more proof.

I thought you must be full of it so I checked out some statistics available at the FDLE website. Sure enough, their numbers support your points. I'd have bet you money you were wrong. I guess it is just my perception regarding the situation there.

 

[meanmrmustard]

Realistically, you go where the money is.

Welcome to the real world.

AFS

There ain't a whole lot of it.

Hi, Real World!

 

[REDMASTA]

Georgia is a pretty nice place. I moved here from Ohio to get away from the winter weather and I didn't intend to stay long but I've been here 7 years now and I'm probably going to be here a lot longer.

Winter is nothing like the winters up north. It's mostly in the 50's and 60's with some rain and wind. We'll get a span of a week here an there with freezing temperatures, mostly in December and January. But, we also get spans of unseasonably nice weather too. In fact this last sunday 1/13 I was hiking around a state park in shorts and a t-shirt. It snows maybe once a year. I'm talking 1/2 inch in the morning and everything is closed for the day. So far it hasn't snowed this year. Sunshine is the norm, unlike the months of overcast nastiness near the great lakes. Summer is HOT and HUMID.

Beaches are on the east coast or down to Florida, both about a 5 hour drive. Likewise, you can ski in N Carolina about 5-6 hours away. If you like hiking in the mountains and camping in the forest you're looking at 2-3 hours north of Atlanta. There are a million state parks all around the city. If you like biking, the silver comet trail runs from the Alabama border to somewhere just west of the city, over 40 miles.

Speaking of the city, Atlanta is a pretty good market for jobs and weekend activities. Small businesses are very plentiful and several large corporations are based here like Coke, CNN, Chic Filet. GM has a plant and there is major warehousing and transportation thanks to the rail and the port in Savannah. The housing market is pretty stagnant like the rest of the country, but new construction is starting to pick up. The tech industry is great. This is a right-to-work state. There's a very dense population in the metro area which causes major traffic problems during rush hours, so choose your location very wisely. There is a N/S and E/W light rail which is great, but the buses are not so great. There is pretty average Big City crime around Atlanta and especially south of I-20 but I've never felt unsafe. Detroit seemed worse when I was there.

Firearms laws are very friendly. No waiting period or registration or any of that nonsense. Carry permits are shall-issue and you can carry loaded in your vehicle without a permit. We are a castle doctrine state and have stand your ground laws. State law preempts local ordinances. Sometimes I see people open carry but you need a permit for that. Public ranges are plentiful, both indoor and outdoor, and some of the state run ones are free. Shooting sports are pretty plentiful too. IDPA, bullseye, carbine courses, trap and skeet etc.

Hope this helps. Wherever you decide to go be sure and visit for a week and check it out first.

Great post, as much as I sometimes complain about living in Georgia (Atlanta) there really aren't many other places I would rather be when it comes down to it. You listed a lot of the reasons I've stayed here for so long.

 

[JBrady555]

There is nothing in Florida that I miss when I leave here....nothing. The climate(unbearable heat), the crime(getting worse everywhere), the ticket police(small towns extra "taxes"), the very elderly who still drive, the landscape(or lack of), the unfriendly demeanor of people, the crummy architecture, etc.....it all just is nothing to enjoy unless you like beaches. There are some nice beaches. That wears off in a couple years. It would be a nice place to visit during the Summer and not move to.

I always dread coming back home when I leave. As soon as my son graduates school, I'm out of here. See you later FL, you stinking hot box of slow boring death.

you must live in one of the south florida big cities. Northwest FL isn't near as bad as your making the state out to be. The beaches are our scenery, if you need mountains or hills move north.

 

[radiotom]

So when a business in Arizona posts a no gun sign, does that carry the weight of law?

 

[double bogey]

Texas. Short list of pros and cons. 8.25% sales tax in most places and no state income tax. 3 major metropolitan areas. Business friendly with an ok economy now. Mostly private property. You can get used to the heat by spending a lot of time outdoors from march until it gets hot. Not a problem for me as I am a hvac guy. Also like Alabama, but when I go there to visit cousins and hunt, I freeze when it isn't any colder than at home. Must be humidity.

 

[AJumbo]

Radiotom- yes, it does. It is private property, after all. They have to right to prohibit whatever they like, and I have the right to do business elsewhere. Suits me just fine.

I wish AZ's tax structure was more akin to that of FL, but I can't leave AZ at this time. Note also that the Tucson area is more than full of Lib moonbats.

Insofar as the climate..... yeah, the great Sonoran Desert doesn't get much of a winter, but summer lasts about five months and can get absolutely brutal for about two of those. Visit before you sign a lease!

 

[gazpacho]

In 1998 I was pretty much making the same decision that you are today. I had it narrowed down to Houston and Phoenix. After a few job interviews in Phoenix, I decided to make a quick stop in Vegas.

One afternoon, I was sitting in a mall, enjoying some Starbucks hot chocolate. I looked up and noticed a "cowboy". He was walking through the mall, minding his own business, with a lit cigar in one hand, an open beer in the other, and a six gun strapped to his side.

I knew then that I had to move to Vegas.

Things aren't perfect, 2A wise. Clark county has handgun registration. But Nevada is a shall issue state, and is NFA friendly. Government buildings and schools are gun free zones. Other places have to ask you to leave before you can get sited for trespassing.

We have a good number of gun stores, a great shooting park, several indoor and outdoor ranges, and of course, shooting in the desert. Shot Show is easy to get into.

Vegas is typically 5 degrees cooler than Phoenix, year round. Summer lasts from April to October. None of the flying bugs bite, unless you are up in the mountains. We do have spiders and scorpions, but they are easy to avoid. We don't have Meijer's Thrifty Acres, or anything comparable to it. If you ever want snow in the winter, Mount Charleston is about an hour drive. There are ski areas and sledding areas.

 

[sonick808]

Phoenix area. Skiing and pine trees and snow 2 hours north. Desert majesty in your back yard. All the big Cali spots 6 hours west. Las Vegas 6 hours North.

Summer is hot, but not drenching in humidity. Winter is a constant 73/55 degrees.

Here is the sum total of our gun laws: YES, you may.

 

[sonick808]

FWIW to those paying attention Texas does have lots of knife laws..

Thanks for noting that tarosean; The knife laws state to state are FAR murkier than any gun laws tend to be! This type, not that. This with that length. None of those on a Tuesday. Yes, but in your home only. None those unless crafted by a hobbit. The knife laws around the US are horrible. AZ definitely keeps it simple. Yes, you can own it. Yes, you can carry it.

I still stumble over the AZ nunchaku law, talk about a far left turn

 

[Wyndage]

Based on your criteria (warm and gun-friendly), I'd go with Texas, Florida, and Tennessee in no particular order.

All of these states are pro-gun. Florida and Tennessee have two of the best carry permits in terms of reciprocity. Tennessee allows open carry.

None of these states have an income tax.

Insurance (both home and auto) can be expensive in Florida.

Tennessee has stupid alcohol laws, though they're getting better.

The humidity in Florida and Tennessee is worse than in Texas (unless you're talking about Houston, which can be pretty bad). Tennessee can still get pretty cold in the winter, though it doesn't snow much unless you're at high elevations.

I moved out of Georgia due to state income tax and ad valorem tax. However, if cost of living isn't a big issues for you, then most of the above applies to Georgia as well (pro-gun and usually pretty warm). The northeast of the state is the only part that I find beautiful. It is a much easier process to get a carry permit in Georgia than Tennessee or Florida, but the reciprocity isn't as good.

So yeah, Texas, Florida, or Tennessee, and then maybe Georgia, but I'd probably go west first.

 

[radiotom]

Radiotom- yes, it does. It is private property, after all. They have to right to prohibit whatever they like, and I have the right to do business elsewhere. Suits me just fine.

I wish AZ's tax structure was more akin to that of FL, but I can't leave AZ at this time. Note also that the Tucson area is more than full of Lib moonbats.

Insofar as the climate..... yeah, the great Sonoran Desert doesn't get much of a winter, but summer lasts about five months and can get absolutely brutal for about two of those. Visit before you sign a lease!

What happens if you don't see the sign? Are you still in trouble?

 

[hueyville]

Georgia is very gun friendly and even now there are still plenty of jobs in the Atlanta area. From ATL you are 4 hours from Georgia beaches without crossing a state line or 6.5 hours from the Gulf of Mexico. If you want just a taste of winter move to NE GA to the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns. If you want to probably never see any frozen precipitation of any type just move to the south side of the city. Of course I am biased. You can still put a gun rack in the back window of your pickup with an AR-15 without being hassled although it would be a high profile target for a smash and grab at any mall parking lot. Carry permits easy to obtain, can carry in State Parks or on State property unless otherwise posted. Walk in the gun store, before your done at the register all the paperwork is through the system. With a Concealed Permit it is an instant purchase. Carry own your personal property, work property or in vehicle is protected. No permit at all to carry concealed on your own property and open carry is legal except public property that is posted as such. Many hospitals, malls, etc post no carry signs. Basically unless there is an obvious sign that says you can't, your good to go.