Would you let 2A be a factor in a major life decision?

[.cheese.]

If were in your mid to late twenties (I'm assuming many of you either are or were), and had to pick graduate school based upon that being where you'd spend the majority of your life (the state), would you let 2A be a factor in choosing the location?

For example, assuming you don't go to Harvard, Yale, or another ivy-league or similar school where you do have the option to move afterwards, and had to go a school ranked let's say somewhere from 20-70 instead of the top 20 where you'd end up working there (law school and the state bar pretty much solidifies that as your residence for the remainder of your working life), and were capable of avoiding writing ridiculously long run-on sentences like this, - would you let 2A be a factor in your decision as to where to go.

also, let's say you have a decent collection that includes 2 ARs a bunch of Glocks, and some more (my situation).

Basically, on one hand I think it would be incredibly foolish and immature of me to let this control my life, but on the other hand I recognize how important it is that I can protect myself in this day and age (talk about cliche).

I'm asking YOU specifically. Would you let it be a factor in choosing where to go to grad school assuming that you're stuck in that state forever afterwards.

This is not for ANY study, ANY project, or ANYTHING to be used as data. It's for me.

 

[Outlaws]

I really like shooting guns. That is my main hobby, not to mention my political views about the importance of gun ownership. So yes, a states gun laws mean a lot to me. If I was into deep sea fishing or surfing I would probably put living near the ocean as a priority, rather than open country, acreage, home size, politics, or a host of other less important things.

Its just a personal thing that only you can decide.

 

[Xenia]

I think that this is an important factor to consider.

I look at it this way, there is a place I could probably get a really good paying job in my field, but there is no Church of the kind I go within a three hour drive. (I think the closest is more like a five or six hour drive.) Since going to a certain kind of church is very very important to me, I don't even apply to that job.

It would be the same related to guns and 2a for me. Is 2a more important then being near the church of my choice? Absolutely not, but it is important to me enough that I would limited my choices of moves so I could carry. At least that is my first reaction to the question.

In the end, you need to do what you think is best in your life. Sometimes a career move is more important, sometimes family ties are more important. Your priorities are likely to change also as time goes by. (At least mine have changed over the years.)

It is possible to move to a different state after graduating from Law School after all.

 

[Feanaro]

It's my hobby. It's one of the cornerstones of my political advocacy. It's an extension of my right to life and my right to own property. Hell yes.

 

[.cheese.]

Your priorities are likely to change also as time goes by.

That's what I'm worried about. 2A seems very important to me right now, and doesn't seem arbritrary at all, but I recognize that I'm relatively young.

It is possible to move to a different state after graduating from Law School after all.

Yes, this is true. Unfortunately, though if you don't go to a top-top law school, it's MUCH more difficult to do. I have a large number of attorneys in my family and have asked all of them and all of their coworkers (also attorneys) about this and they tell me that it's possible, but doesn't happen very often unless you go to a top school.

On the other hand, a good friend went to Oxford law school (undergrad - they have a different system) in England, then practiced in London for a long time, and then tried to move to the US and take the NY state bar, practiced there for a few years, then moved back to London. So it's possible, but difficult. He failed the state bar 2 times while doing it, and the guy is one of the top attorneys in England.

 

[JKimball]

I voted yes, it would be a factor. But you could also take on the challenge to live where you want to live and be an active force to get the laws changed there to be more in concert with the 2nd amendment. I'm not sure I have the patience and fortitude to take that route though.

 

[RyanM]

Yes. Absolutely. I flat-out refuse to live in states that deny me the right to carry concealed, as well as "duty to retreat" states. Regardless of any job offer or whatever I might get, I absolutely will not live in those states, period. But I'm also in majors that give me a pretty wide latitude as to where I could move, even (or rather, especially) after grad school. Biology + nanotechnology. But even if I was in law, heck, there's gotta be at least one good (not necessarily prestigious, but good) university in every state.

 

[.cheese.]

But you could also take on the challenge to live where you want to live and be an active force to get the laws changed there to be more in concert with the 2nd amendment.

I do have thoughts of one day getting into politics, but yeah, that method would be a bit of a challenge without a doubt.

 

[JamesM]

I faced the exact decision you described and I chose to only look at states I considered to be a pro-2A (relatively). I do not think it is any different than picking a location based on weather. In the future, the 2A will be the primary factor looked at when choosing a final location to set up my "home base".

Grad school is a challenge and having your outlet hobby taken away from you will make the journey extra difficult. Plus you will be off to a bad start if you have to say goodbye to your prized possession right off the bat. Although you might not have the funds or time to do a lot of shooting it is still nice to know they are close by.

 

[.cheese.]

for lawschool JamesM?

how have you found WA? That was one of the states on the list.

 

[JamesM]

Not for law school, although I am thinking that would have been a better move because it would provide the tools required to fight for the 2A more effectively. WA is decent, as far as no real restrictions on what you can own (other than some NFA stuff, but I don’t have the cash for that right now anyways). It has been a struggle to find a place to shoot but I am making progress (on the west coast). It is a shall issue state and the permit is easy to obtain. There is a good training facility in the area to take classes (Firearms Academy of Seattle). Technically it is an open carry state but only if you are not “alarming” others. The political climate really depends on what side of the mountains you live on. There is an 8.9 % sales tax that really adds up if you want to buy a gun.

When looking at schools I also wanted to be around a lot of trees and I didn’t want to go to the east coast so I was fairly limited from the start. I hate to admit it, but the caliber of school didn’t really figure into my equation until the end when acceptance letters started coming in. Overall WA is a huge step up from the previous state I lived in but it might not be the most 2A friendly state (a lot of anti-2A people in the western part of the state). I have been happy with my decision so far. In the end I determined that it was not the name of the school that was important but what you accomplished while there. This will also depend on what your long term career goals are.

 

[General Geoff]

I look at it this way: Every day that I live in a state where I can't legally own and/or carry my choice of gun, is a day I resent.

Life's too short to choose to live in a place you dislike, for any reason.

 

[Soybomb]

I'd let anything that I love be a factor in a major life decision. If you really loved mountain biking would you move somewhere that didn't have any moutain biking?

 

[wjustinen]

Yes

will you? What are your priorities?

 

[Uenoparker]

Since I was in my 20s (I'm a couple decades beyond that now) I've made 2A considerations primary in determining where I'll live. I moved out of CA in the 90s because I was frustrated with that state's efforts at eliminating the 2A. Since then I've turned down jobs -- even when I've been out of work -- in NY, MA, PA, IL, OH and of course CA because of the status of the 2A in them. It's hard being in a line of work that's seemingly focused on big companies in big cities when most of those big cities are in states that are anti-2A. But when it comes right down to it, I'd rather be poor but (relatively) free than better off but a slave to the state.

 

[JamesM]

Well put Uenoparker. Golden is a nice area to end up in (and it has a national lab...). I gave Colorado State in Fort Collins a good hard look also.

 

[SAG0282]

I would not move somewhere without CCW, unless there were EXTREME situations. Living with Julia Stiles, being invited to study at Oxford or Stanford, etc.

 

[MarkinPNW]

Absolutely. When offered an opportunity to transfer other than be laid off, I deliberately left out Calif. as a choice primarily over 2nd Amendment concerns (also taxes and socialism). Where I ended up (WA state) is pretty good 2nd Amendment-wise, but still has a lot of taxes and creeping socialism.

 

[MisterPX]

It would be a factor, as well as other quality of life issues.

I don't like cetain states, like CA for instance, and wouldn't live there. Other factors are thigns like, we'll pay you $70K a year, but you live in NYC, etc, your cost of living would equate to a guy making $25K in TN.

 

[ExtremeDooty]

I wouldn't live in a state without CCW. Period.

 

[Prince Yamato]

I'm hoping to avoid moving anywhere that won't let me take my AKs

 

[Samuraigg]

Yes. I currently live and go to school in Illinois. When I graduate, I plan on moving to Indiana. This decision is largely based on 2A rights.

Granted I'm not totally cutting myself off, since I'm sure I'll still work in Chicago, but at least I escape this state for the most part.

I've already told myself that I'll never move to certain states or areas. You could offer me a 500k a year job where I would have to live and work in DC, and I would turn it down with no doubts.

 

[JWarren]

Absolutely.

I've done it on many levels in my life.

The most dramatic was ending a 2 year relationship over her stance on gun control -- coupled with a few social issues. I didn't want this woman raising my children to believe those ways.

Fortunately, I asked the now-Mrs. JWarren if it bothered here that I liked guns when we were dating. Her response was classic: "Frankly, I'd be worried if I was with a man who DIDN'T like guns."


Now, I will not live where the following doesn't exist:

CCW
Castle Doctrine
Assault Rifles
Class III options



-- John

 

[Deanimator]

My mother lives in Illinois (she just moved out of Chicago). She asked me what I'd do if she couldn't take care of herself, trying to get me to move back to Apartheid Chicago. I told her I'd NEVER live in Chicago again because I refuse to live some place where you can expect no "protection" from the police and aren't allowed to protect yourself. I told her that if she wanted to move to the United States (Ohio), I'd find some place for her to stay. That was the end of that.

 

[GhostlyKarliion]

.cheese, it is immature and foolish to choose to be denied human rights.

If you are concerned that your commitment to a basic human right may waver in the future then I would sit down and take a long look inside, do you cherish your freedom? Do you cling to it and hold on to it? Will you just give it up at the drop of a hat?

That is what is really at stake here, not the simple issue of owning guns, but the issue of being willing to just give up freedom without a fight.

I will never give up my right to even the most basic freedom, schools and everyone else be damned.