Move from CA to Oregon--still celebrating

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Guy B. Meredith

Guy B. Meredith

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2,383
Location
Salem, Oregon
When I first moved to Oregon I didn't realize how different the laws here are from California. I think I posted that the EBRs lining the walls of the local gun shop would make Pelossi and Co. dirty their pants. Then there are the full auto firearms on sale at the Albany gun show.

Somehow that all got pushed to the back of my mind as I went through the mundane daily tasks of transitioning, looking for a job an all, though I've kept an eye on some of the idiocy going on down south of the Oregon border.

Today I just happened to be in front of a local pawn shop/gun shop I hadn't seen and decided to drop in. Dejaveau all over again. The back wall is the first thing you see as you enter and look past the pawn goods and is a fine display of several AK and AR variants with full size magazines. I could feel the shock our California friends would experience coming upon that sight.

Celebrating my escape all over again.

It is just mind boggling that the politicos in California can't see Oregon as an example that people can get along just fine without the ton of restrictions on types of firearms, concealed carry and all.

I think I also bad mouthed the cost of membership in Oregon gun clubs. Turns out it's just a different way of paying for range time. Here you pay an annual fee and no daily charges. In California you pay a membership fee and then a daily use fee. Amounts to paying up front or as you go. Encourages more range time which is fine with me.
 
Oregon is pretty decent to gun owners.

No waiting period when you purchase a gun.

Pretty easy to obtain a concealed handgun permit.
 
One of my old home towns. Yep, had concealed carry before TX. BTW, when I was there - being from CA was not a good conversation starter with the natives. Very insular - but a beautiful but wet state.

Have fun.
 
Glad to hear you are liking things up here Guy.

Both ARPC and the EEGC in Marcola do have dues that most shooters do not actually realize during the course of the year.
Both have work bond requirements that I feel not enough take advantage of.

I say take advantage not because of the time/cost ratio which to most is a losing proposition, but because it offers the opportunity for one to meet and get to know fellow members.
I've made quite a few good acquaintances this way.
My years and years of membership in both bear out that many members who do not get involved at all do not remain long term members.
I'll bet you saw the same thing down South.

Now, since you mention the full auto aspect here in Oregon, you ought to come out to one of the sub gun matches like the one in February at ARPC.
Not Camp Perry competition, just some good old fun that is challenging and at times, embarrassing!
The setting with the guys and gals that come out is a much lower key event than the yearly big shoot on the main range.
Good chance to handle and bang away on somebody's Thompson or Uzi without the constant roar of the main shoot.

See you at the range, JT
 
I had always wanted to live in CA for most of my life. But as an adult I watched the stupid laws they passed and shook my head.

However, the icing on the cake for me was the OJ incident. When they failed to convict a guilty man I could not believe my eyes and ears. And when I talked to people from CA about it I realized that is no place I ever want to live.
 
I always figured I'd die in California after retiring form the Army - having grown up there - but conditions began to point towards other conclusions (excluding an untimely death or incarceration) over the course of the last couple years that I lived in San Diego County.

One was that regardless of whether or not I could afford it, I was unwilling to pony-up for the type of real estate I wanted.

The real heavy eye-opener though was after returning from a deserted beach (in winter) and after having a go-around with one of the recently LEO crowned life guards about my dog, I'm sitting in my house in Cardiff thinking... "What the hell am I doing here, in a state where I'm generally loathed?"

You see, in a rapid assessment of myself relative to California, I found no reason for me to stay and many reasons to leave. Each of these factors had been recently attacked in California around the time of my awakening. Towit;

-I was a single white heterosexual male. Don't read too far into that - it's just that as such, you are the only member of the populace without a franchise support group. and inherently in the wrong in any "interaction".

-Retired Military and (gasp) conservative

-Owned a Rottweiler (no kidding - one of the 5 "assault dogs" on a standard California ban list)

-Owned and traded in surplus military arms to include "assault weapons" and handguns

-Owned and enthusiastically engaged in the use of the following:
Motorcycles over 700cc's and over 100HP
2 stroke dirt bike
Jeep
4WD Ranger
A car manufactured prior to, well, whatever year they choose to randomly establish for targeting - in this case older than 15 years (a '72)

And many, many other conditions both small and large which could be encountered on a daily basis. Eventually I bailed (hence "Apachecotodd") and never looked back. Of the very few times in which I had returned, I ended up with issues with California DMV (twice) which took years to straighten out and a hellatious mess with a crazy animal control nazi over letting my dog off the leash in an abandoned rural field to get a stool sample for the vet.

One of the funniest aspects of getting out is in telling people that I didn't know how bad it was while living there - regardless of how bad I felt it was at the time. As the OP states more or less "you just don't know till you're out!"

I tell folk on a regular basis when they fantasize about leaving that they don't have a clue about how bad it really is and won't until they're out for a while. Of course, they always say something to the effect of "yes I do know exactly how bad it is - I haven't always lived here." But once they're out they eventually all come around to the point of "My God, I didn't know how bad it really was!"

As far as those of you who have read and then repeat items you have heard or folk who lived there "back when"... trust me, you haven't a clue as to how bad it is either. Twelve years outa that suck-hole and there still isn't a month that goes by that one somethin' or other doesn't come up to make me ecstatic to be here rather than there.

The insidious, creeping and stealthy nature of the community, municipal, county and state machines of control and conformity are epic when viewed from outside with a former insiders perspective.

Any how, congrats Guy on your freedom - you know EXACTLY what I mean.
 
I grew up and now reside back in CA. I lived in WA state and love it there much for the same reasons u like OR. Unfortunately, I couldn't find steady work in WA and got frustrated after three jobs in four years. In CA, its much easier to find work. I'm looking forward to the day I can exit CA. I pay much in taxes and feel over regulated.
 
I too, have recently escaped CA. I was born and raised in L.A. County, even though I made several attempts to leave (did a few months in TX on a couple occasions, but always wound up back in LA). I got sober in '86 and got a really good job with the City of Los Angeles, and then I began learning just what a sh__ hole L.A. really is. The city government is as corrupt as any I've read/heard about, and is so "pro-illegal", a white Anglo-Saxon male with a job is actually worse off (in the eyes of the city fathers) than a barely dry emigrant from down south. Speaking/reading English is NOT a requirement to work for the City of Los Angeles! An interpreter will be provided to fill out forms or to take written tests.

My job was so good and I met a great woman, that I stayed for 25 years. But, and I thank God for this decision, I retired on Dec.1, '09 and moved into my new Oregon home Dec. 3, '09. I don't regret a minute of my time in Oregon and my life has improved 100 fold (even though I was diagnosed with throat cancer, had 4 surgeries, had 30 radiation treatments, had to drive 112 miles one way to the Dr., lost 50 lbs., and at times I'm weak as a kitten, I'm so happy to be here!).

The only thing L.A. has over Oregon is there were more places to shoot in L.A. than where I am in southern Oregon (I frequented 3 indoor ranges and one outdoor shooting range, and have found only one place to shoot here), but that's not enough for me to even think about going back! I have family and friends in So.CA, but that's not incentive enough to return even for a visit, and as I tell all of them, I've just provided them a great place to visit...
 
I live in CA, somewhat know how horrible it is to live here (have friends out of state, hear it from them all of the time), and am looking at a college in South Dakota :neener: Maybe I will like it so much that I find a place up there...
 
Mauser lover said:
I live in CA, somewhat know how horrible it is to live here (have friends out of state, hear it from them all of the time), and am looking at a college in South Dakota :neener: Maybe I will like it so much that I find a place up there...
Click to expand...
A fella could do waaaay worse than the Dakotas for freedom and opportunity these days. Just don't stray too close to Minnesota - yup - seen that movie too!
 
Hey, wait a minute! Someone has to stay there to fight the good fight. California is wonderful if SF and LA weren't wagging the dog. It's just that I cannot afford to live there.

The SF Bay area has great ranges despite the political climate. There are neat areas if you don't have to put up with the crowds and freeways.

I will say that as long as I am out from under the morass of restrictions it is really hard to think about putting myself through that again.
 
I don't know about the south end of the Bay area, but I was a member of Chabot, Richmond and USI/Diablo gun clubs which are all north of Fremont.

Chabot's public range is marksmanship only, but rents out all except the public range to clubs that sponsor action pistol, 3 gun, Cowboy, etc. They also have PPC open to the public. Great fun to stand in the PPC sign up line with the Feds and LEOs and listen to the gossip.

Diablo Gun club in Concord is a very active action shooting group, but membership is required. A great place for beginning shooters. Membership is $25 per year, gives you free time on holster practice range (if I remember correctly), cost plus 6% pricing on reloading components at the clubhouse and $20 per match. There are two matches per month with plaques given out.

Richmond has open public access to the action pistol practice range on Saturday. They only require that the range officer briefs you on safety and all which takes about 15 minutes. They have one bay set up with a silhouette target for each of about 12 lanes and informal firing periods. Falling plates are usually available as well. Another bay is set up with a standard action pistol scenario.

Richmond has the best shooters in the area and some of their names show up in national and international competition. They also host the Bay Bridge Classic which works with Target contributing to Toys for Tots.

The range at the south end of San Jose, the Livermore range, the Lions Club in San Leandro are all marksmanship as far as I know. Maybe some bowling pin, etc. Likewise the indoor ranges in San Jose and Milpitas.

Check out the web sites for more info.
 
Well, here's the view out my back door in northern California:

2239879480053667879S600x600Q85.jpg


With a job working out of my home at $75.00/hour in a "shall issue" county and having lived here 58 of my 62 years with no debt, I'll stay on my little farm. The less people we have here, the more open space and empty campgrounds I have to enjoy. So call all your friends and encourage them to leave also, I'll wave them goodbye.

It's all good.

Dan
 
Oregon isnt so great for gun ownership if you value privacy:(. Instead of using the free federal insta-check like most states, Oregon requires you to pay an additional $10 per transaction to the State Police to keep track of what you buy:what: It may be more now as when I last heard they were trying to bump it up to $20 per purchase for the nonsense(record keeping). Just remember, Oregon knows where your at and what firearms you have:uhoh:
 
Dan,

There are quite a few good areas in California outside the metro areas, but the proposed ammo laws (did they go into effect?), the extortion of manufacturers in "safety" testing of products, 11 day wait on purchase of firearms, the restrictions on EBRs affect everyone. Then you have to pick your area for CCW.

You can locate your business in Oregon if it's net based, be able to buy "assault weapons", "silencers", full auto, any firearm and the full state is "shall issue". CCW permit holders have just about full freedom on where they can carry (schools included) outside of Federal properties, it's okay to open carry everywhere except certain cities and the CCW gives you pass there, you don't get in trouble for printing as open and CCW are both legal. Many ranges welcome full auto. And on and on.
 
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I've never lived in CA but wouldnt like to live there.

I carry a loaded gun everywhere, can't do that in CA.

I have a pitbull, cant have one in some places in CA.

When I go shooting, a lot of my friends open up cases that say: "NOT FOR SALE IN CALIFORNIA"

I was going to say the weather is nice, but someone posted a pic of snow. It was sunny here today. If I want snow its a 45 min drive to the mountains.
 
springwalk,

From what I understand Vermont, Alaska and Arizona are probably closer to the ultimate, but the step up from California to Oregon or similar is a huge one. The step up to ultimate is smaller.
 
Guy B. Meredith said:
Dan,

There are quite a few good areas in California outside the metro areas, but the proposed ammo laws (did they go into effect?), the extortion of manufacturers in "safety" testing of products, 11 day wait on purchase of firearms, the restrictions on EBRs affect everyone. Then you have to pick your area for CCW.

You can locate your business in Oregon if it's net based, be able to buy "assault weapons", "silencers", full auto, any firearm and the full state is "shall issue". CCW permit holders have just about full freedom on where they can carry (schools included) outside of Federal properties, it's okay to open carry everywhere except certain cities and the CCW gives you pass there, you don't get in trouble for printing as open and CCW are both legal. Many ranges welcome full auto. And on and on.
Click to expand...

I don't disagree with anything you say here. I operate effectively in my business (Mechanical Engineering Consultant) due to high speed internet but my client is in Santa Clara (about a three hour drive away) and I need to be within driving distance for engineering and project reasons. Ukiah is not the end of the world but you can see it from here. I am generally the envy of the project team who wishes they could do what I do.

Personally, while I disdain restrictions (all of them) on RKBA, and actively fight for their reversal (ground is being won as I write this), I have no need for "assault weapons", "silencers", "full auto", etc. Lack of these do not cramp my style although philosophically they are indeed wrong.

California's CCW policies and laws are strong in the 41 out of 58 counties that are "shall issue". I can carry on school grounds, I think unloaded open carry is ridiculous and has no practical use whatsoever. Loaded open carry is still the same as it always was since I was a kid, and is the way it should be.

I am close to huge BLM land parcels, and a great National Forest (Mendocino). This area (and all lands north and west of here) is very pro-gun and pro-hunting.

I guess maybe I am at the age (62) where the firearms restrictions don't bother me as much as someone who is younger. I have my gun safe full of exactly what I want and have no needs. My kids (20, 22, 23) are in the thick of it and bemoan the very laws you speak of here. They may indeed flee the area at some point but we are enjoying ourselves immensly until that time as avid shooting/hunting/reloading/recreational firearms owners.

There is still a lot of this state that needs exploring on my high performance sport touring motorcycle and my wife and I, plus my long time good riding friends plan several expeditions each year to do so. My pilots license needs renewing and this excellent weather area is the ideal place to make that happen. I could make a few more parachute jumps before I leave this earth also, again, right here.

As I said, it's all good.

Dan
 
Yeah, the $10 background check is bunk.

If the OSP tried going to $20, I think the gun shops would revolt.
 
Dan,

I lived in Contra Costa county which is a "issue if you kiss my political behind big time, but more likely never" county.

I am primarily a revolver shooter with interest in marksmanship and action sports and use a shotgun for self defense. I may never carry concealed and might only carry open in the field. I have little use even for semi autos let alone full auto, though I have a soft spot for M1 Garands and Ruger .22 cal pistols.

However, I have a real problem with waiting for the next shoe to drop every time I turn around. Particularly when the laws are based on very elitist views. It is very refreshing to feel that I don't have to worry about a next shoe and am free to expand my interests without going through a minefield of regulation.

The ammo and brass ID type laws would be the only ones that would affect me directly. Extreme of that is my fear the idiots will realize that revolvers don't leave discarded brass at crime scenes and decide only semis are permitted to ensure evidence is left.
 
You guys are something else. For all your bitching and moaning about how bad things are/were in California, at least you had SOME form of carry that some of you were able to use. Compare that to those of us stuck here in the heartland where we have an entire state as crooked as "mdi's" description of L.A. and we STILL can't carry!
 
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